This Saturday morning (11-04) a Delta IV (Medium booster) rocket is scheduled to launch the DMSP F17 weather satellite for the U.S. military, from SLC-6, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
Launch opens at 8:52 a.m. EST. with a 10 minute window to 9:02 a.m. EST. Currently there is a 60% violation of upper clouds and winds in the area, and Sunday launch attempt is forcasted to be 80% violation. Satellite separation is scheduled for 18 minutes after launch. DMSP F17 Block 5D-3 (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F17), built by Lockheed Martin, accommodates larger sensor payload than earlier generations. Also feature a larger capability power subsystem; a more powerful on-board computer with increased memory -- allowing greater spacecraft autonomy -- and increased battery capacity that extends the mean mission duration. F-17attitude control subsystem has also been enhanced with the integration of a second inertial measurement unit using ring laser, versus mechanical, gyros to provide greater precision pointing flexibility. This will be the 44th DMSP satellite launched by the U.S. Air Force since 1965. The last launch of a DMSP spacecraft took place on October 18, 2003 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, on the final Titan II booster flown. Satellite Broadcast Coordinates: AMC-1 @ 103.0°W Transponder 17C (4040 H) Analog Coverage is expected to start at 8:30 a.m. EST. Webcast Available: Visit http://www.boeing.com/news/feature/livewebcast/delta_webcast.html Additional coverage at: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d320/status.html http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/launches/next_launch.html http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/delta/delta4/dmsp-17/index.html -- Dishnut-P ==================================================================== Operator of RadioFree Dishnuts - Producer of The Dishnut News heard Saturdays at 10pm EST. on RFD, W0KIE Satellite Radio Network IA-6 (T6) Transponder 1 / 6.2 & 6.8Mhz (4DTV T6-999) WTND-LP 106.3, and many micro LPFM stations. http://dishnuts.net RFD Listen Links: http://dishnuts.net/#Listen Show Archives: (Partly Up) http://dishnuts.net/archive/ **In Loving Memory of Mom (Dishnut Gerry)** _______________________________________________ Wildfeeds mailing list [email protected] http://twiar.org/mailman/listinfo/wildfeeds_twiar.org Send unsubscribe request to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives at http://twiar.org/pipermail/wildfeeds_twiar.org
