After a scrub last Wednesday, Orbital Sciences will make another attempt to launch the Space Technology 5 (ST5) micro-sats for NASA on a air-launched Pegasus XL rocket Wednesday morning (03-22), stagged from Vandenberg Air Force Base off the California coast.
The scrub was called after a problem prevented a locking pin from retracting on the Pegasus first stage starboard fin before launch. There is 90 seconds to launch from time of activation of the on-board fin batteries to ensure safe flight battery voltage. If the launch cannot be achieved within that time it has to be aborted and the battery replaced. Engineers investigating why the pin failed to retract on the starboard fin in the final minute of the countdown has been inconclusive to uncover why. The most likely culprit is the formation of ice. The pin mechanism was removed and replaced in hopes that whatever the cause, it would not be a issue for the next attempt. The drop from the L-1011 aircraft and Pegasus launch window is 8:57 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. EST. The target drop time and ignition scheduled for 9:02 a.m. EST. with the first microsat release 9:31 after launch, the second one 12:41 and the third one is deployed 15:51 after launch. Space Technology 5 is three micro-satellites that will test and validate new technologies for future science missions. The goal of ST5 is to demonstrate the benefits of a group of small low-cost spacecraft taking measurements at the same time in different locations. Broadcast coverage: NASA TV MPEG2 available on AMC-6 at 72° W, transponder 17C (4040 V) SR: 26665 VPID: 273 APID: 276 PCR: 273 NASA TV MPEG2 available on AMC-7 at 137° W, transponder 18 (4060 V) SR: 26665 VPID: 273 APID: 276 PCR: 273 Broadcast starts at 7:15 a.m. EST. with launch launch commentary Don't have a dish? Webcast is available at: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ Additional coverage at: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/pegasus/st5/status.html http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/launches/next_launch.html http://www.nasa.gov/st5 -- 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/ Sat subcarrier and net streaming audio programming and locations: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BROADCASTFINDER/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TVRO/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
