SDO / Solar Dynamics Observatory.

[MeteorWayne]

Scrub for the day since launch was targeted at very end of the launch window.

 

[EarthlingX]

Tomorrow then ..

 

[MeteorWayne]

Launch Window tomorrow 10:23-11:23 AM EST (1523-1623 GMT/UTC)

 

[EarthlingX]

Winds, 40% chance of no - go .. :|

 

[Zipi]

Winds, 40% chance of no - go .. :|

There were also some consern about clouds tomorrow... But lets see. At least it is 20% higher probability for acceptable weather than today (60% for go tomorrow).

 

[EarthlingX]

Winds, 40% chance of no - go .. :|

There were also some consern about clouds tomorrow... But lets see. At least it is 20% higher probability for acceptable weather than today (60% for go tomorrow).

Better safe than sorry They will go up, eventually ..

 

[EarthlingX]

www.spaceflightnow.com[/url]":xtexll6q]
0925 GMT (4:25 a.m. EST)
Weather forecasters now predict a 60 percent chance that conditions will permit the Atlas 5 rocket to launch during today's one-hour window opening at 10:23 a.m. EST.

The official outlook includes scattered mid- and high-level clouds, good visibility, north-northwesterly winds from 330 degrees of 16 gusting to 20 knots and a temperature of 45 degrees F.

The winds will be gusting near the limit and there's also a lesser concern for violating the thick cloud rule.

If the launch slips to Friday morning, rain and extensive cloudiness is forecast at the Florida spaceport, dropping the odds of meting the weather rules to just 40 percent.

 

[EarthlingX]

www.spaceflightnow.com[/url]":2z0y9ons]
1226 GMT (7:26 a.m. EST)
Current winds at the launch pad are hovering right around the 20-knot limit for launch as forecast. The weather officer predicts a 40 percent chance of winds being out limits during today's launch window.

 

[EarthlingX]

Got out of hold, prepping LO transfer lines ..
T-01:48:00
.. LO filling has begun ..
T-01:39:00
..
1st stage LO switching to fast-fill ..
T-01:22:00
.. topping off process started ..
T-01:17:00
.. still 40 % of no-go, winds ..
.. currently green, but bad prognosis ..
.. also off-shore clouds ..
(Weather chart, not too good quality)

.. upper stage LO full ..
..
T-01:14:00
..
T-01:11:00
..

..
.. no technical issues ..
..
T-01:07:00
..

.. beginning to load LH ..
..
T-01:00:00
..
.. Centaurs LH tank 40 % full ..
..
T-00:48:00
..

..
T-00:44:00
..

..
.. topping has begun on upper stage LH tank ..
.. 1st stage LO tank at 90 % ...
..
T-00:39:00
..

1440 GMT (9:40 a.m. EST)
Current winds at the launch pad are around 19 knots. The redline limit is 20 knots.

T-00:31:00
..
.. winds around limit ..

..
T-00:27:00
.. weather prognosis reservedly optimistic ..
..

..
T-00:22:00
..

..
.. tanks are full, no technical issues ..
T-00:12:00
..
.. weather remains go, wind speed has down trend ..

.. tracking sites ready ..
T-00:06:00
..

..
T-00:04:00 and holding
..

 

[EarthlingX]

1509 GMT (10:09 a.m. EST)
T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the planned 10-minute hold to give the launch team a chance to review all systems before pressing ahead with liftoff.

..
T-00:04:00 and holding
...
.. spacecraft going on internal power ..

..
.. on internal power ..
..
.. all systems go ..
.. 2 min remain in hold ..
..
.. countdown starts at 15:19 GMT ..
..
.. counting ..

 

[Zipi]

Now let's hope wind stays calm and no gusts appear...

 

[MeteorWayne]

Liftoff

 

[MeteorWayne]

12 miles altitude 11 m iles downrange

 

[EarthlingX]

up and awaaaay

 

[MeteorWayne]

Atlas MECO

 

[MeteorWayne]

Centaur ignition...this burn is for 11 minutes

 

[EarthlingX]

I will put pics in later ..
.. over Antigua ..

 

[Zipi]

Nice launch! I must say that elliptical flame of RD-180 since it has two nozzles looks pretty cool. And it sounds also elegantly powerful too.

 

[EarthlingX]

I m still watching it have to check what i shot ..

 

[MeteorWayne]

Centaur MECO 1, now 87 minutes to the 195 second final burn.

 

[EarthlingX]

Launch and some flight pictures:





I hope, that's not too much .. :roll:

 

[Zipi]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16e1K0WBzgQ[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL-FwBJv-nw[/youtube]

 

[MeteorWayne]

Second Burn Complete.

Spacecraft Sep

 

[MeteorWayne]

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:23:25 PM EST


Shortly after separation, the team confirmed the spacecraft's solar arrays deployed correctly and are generating power. All the crucial post-separation events "happened like clockwork," said NASA Launch Director Omar Baez.

 

[Zipi]

Official NasaTV HD quality video from the launch:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdnxze8f7xU[/youtube]