At the launch site, 0*N, 154*W, elevation ZERO.
We started performing our "L-3 Day" launch processing, BUT ULA is launching an Atlas-V with a TDRSS bird for NASA, and they have priority for use of the TDRSS network.
They were supposed to launch a day before us, but due to some problems with their launch vehicle, have slipped one day, and are jnow right "on top" of us.
SO....we'll go ahead and finish the L-3 day processing, and do about half the L-2 day processing, and then stand down until they either launch, scrub, or abort.
If they scrub the launch, we *might* be able to go ahead and launch, depending on what NASA decides to do. If they don't want to, or aren't able to, reconfigure for our launch, and meet their crew rest requirements, we'll just sit here and wait for the Atlas-V launch.
If they slip a day, then we slip a day, and so on, up to a 4 day maximum at which point they have to roll their launch vehicle back for various reasons.
We're hesitant to go ahead and finish L-2 and proceed to L-1, as this is when we roll the rocket out and stand it up. At that time we start using up liquid nitrogen to keep things purged and inerted, and since we have a finite supply with us, we'd rather not do that.
The "Saturday Night Movie" for me will be "Quigley Down Under", which I'm looking forward to watching.
I also brought "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" with me, and a whole back-pack full of other movies, so I should be able to keep busy!
In the meantime, we're all "Standing By To Stand By", as I'm sure some of you are very familiar with.....
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Yawn....just more Kabuki Theater, but interesting reading, nonetheless. Read All About It Here.....
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Every so often when I'm checking my PiAware ADSB receiver/display I'll notice an aircraft with a flight path that catches my eye. I...
"Hurry up and wait"
ReplyDeleteTBH and I love that Quigley flick. That, plus Tom Selleck is a known good guy.
ReplyDeleteTell ULA to sh*t or get off the pot. ;)
Hah!
ReplyDeleteThis a government launch, by a government contractor, using government facilities.
I don't think they'd listen to us........
As a former aerospace type in the satellite business, I have to agree with you. They operate on government standard time which is asynchronous with anything else.
ReplyDeleteBTDT, threw MULTIPLE t-shirts away... At least you're not on a four hour hook... Enjoy the movies!
ReplyDeleteMan, you really *are* in the middle of nowhere!
ReplyDelete@Minstrel.....Yep, I've got a tee shirt from every mission I've been on, including the sea trials, and "pathfinder" mission. Since the new owners took over, they've been really stingy, and you have to *sign* for your tee shirt now.
ReplyDelete@Ed......We're about 1400nm South of the big island of Hawaii. The closest land is Kiritimati, about 300nm away. We've had to evacuate ill people to there a few times, and the USCG sends down a C-130 to pick them up and fly them to Hawaii.
Looks like we'll be standing down today after completing half of the L-2 day operations. We may or may not roll out and erect the launch vehicle on Wednesday, depending on how well things are going at the Cape for the Atlas-V launch.
OOOPS...the tee shirt comment was directed at Old_NFO. Minstrel was also an Aerospace guy, and I haven't had enough coffee today!
ReplyDeleteThey had a "Captains Dinner" last night, and my cabin mate got totally hammered. He was up most of night making like Linda Blair in "The Exorcist", and I didn't get much sleep!