Atlas 5 rocket put through full countdown rehearsal
BY JUSTIN RAY
SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Posted: May 19, 2002

  Atlas 5
The Atlas 5 rocket arrives at the launch pad atop its mobile launch table. Photo: Lockheed Martin
 
Lockheed Martin's new Atlas 5 rocket has passed another key milestone on the road to its maiden voyage this July with the completion of a full launch day simulation.

Before dawn last Wednesday, May 15, the 191-foot tall rocket was moved atop a mobile transporter from its vertical hangar to the launch pad, signalling the start of the second so-called Wet Dress Rehearsal for Atlas 5.

As the day progressed, the launch team inside the new Atlas 5 Spaceflight Operations Center control room followed a countdown timeline very similar to the one for the rocket's inaugural flight. By late afternoon, super-cold liquid oxygen had been loaded into the first and second stages and liquid hydrogen propellant was nearly all aboard when a problem occurred.

Following a successful first countdown dress rehearsal in March, engineers changed a valve setting, believing it would be for the better. However, the change caused a rise in pressure that tripped up computer software monitoring the rocket, forcing a hold.

"We had made a change to try to make an improvement on the transfer line chilldown," Adrian Laffitte, Lockheed Martin's director of Atlas launch operations, said in an interview Saturday. "It was one of those things that worked the last time (but) let's see if we can make it better. The way we made the change, it created a back pressure that the software detected and immediately put us into a safe condition."

Already 14 hours into the countdown simulation, officials made the decision to basically scrub for the day and drain the cryogenics from the Atlas and Centaur stages.

ASOC
The Atlas 5 Spaceflight Operations Center, or ASOC. Photo: Lockheed Martin
 
With analysis in hand to show what caused the glitch, the launch team changed the setting in preparation for another countdown attempt on Friday.

Fueling went well the second time around and the launch team guided the countdown to the T-minus 4 minute mark where a 10-minute hold was planned.

With all in readiness, clocks resumed ticking.

"We counted down from T-minus 4 and had a planned abort at T-45 seconds," Laffitte said.

The abort was designed to give the launch team practice in dealing with problems. The countdown was recycled to T-4 minutes and the rocket was put back into a launch posture for another try.

"We executed the abort, recycled and did count down from T-minute 4 all the way up to one second, aborted and recycled. Everything worked like a charm," said Laffitte.

"We executed two aborts and two recycles. There are over 500 redlines that we could get and we got none," Laffitte said of the parameters placed on systems to ensure all is working properly. "We were extremely happy."

The liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen supplies were offloaded from the rocket Friday evening, and on Saturday the RP-1 kerosene fuel in the Atlas first stage that had been pumped into the rocket previously was drained. By mid-day Saturday, the rocket had completed the 1,800-foot roll back to its Vertical Integration Facility hangar to bring the Wet Dress Rehearsal No. 2 to a close.

Lockheed Martin officials have debated whether to do another full rehearsal between now and launch. Laffitte says a final one might be scheduled for late June.

  Atlas 5
Atlas 5 on the launch pad at sunset. Photo: Lockheed Martin
 
"From a technical point of view, we are happy we did two WDRs and we're pleased with all the technical data. But I think what we are going to end up doing is probably having what we call a Launch Campaign WDR with the customer."

The customer for the first Atlas 5 is Paris-based Eutelsat, which operates an orbiting fleet of commercial communications satellites. The company's Hot Bird 6 direct-to-home TV broadcasting satellite will ride the rocket into space.

The spacecraft is due to arrive from Europe on June 13 and be taken to a processing building for final pre-launch preparations.

While Hot Bird 6 is getting ready, the third countdown test could be performed, Laffitte said, giving the entire team one more opportunity to practice before the real launch day arrives.

Launch is still officially scheduled for July 8, with backup attempts available on July 9 and 10. But a couple-week delay may be in the offing.

Lockheed Martin has formally submitted a request to the Air Force-controlled Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral to take any open dates later in July.

The Range provides safety, tracking and communications services to all rocket and space shuttle launches from the Cape, and can only support one launch or major event at a time.

"We did put a request on the Range that said we want any dates between the 19th and 26th -- whatever becomes available," Laffitte confirmed.

"We want to give ourselves a little bit of contingency time," Laffitte explained. "It is just a matter of building a little bit of margin."

At present, the week of July 19th is all booked up on the Range with planned liftoff of space shuttle Columbia July 19 from Kennedy Space Center, followed by scheduled tests that need Range support involving Titan 4 and Delta 4 rockets for their upcoming summer launches.

The shuttle launch date has the potential of being delayed or the other rocket tests could also slip. Lockheed Martin's request would allow the Atlas 5 launch to fill whatever hole opens up on the Range.

DVD is here!
The first in a series of space DVDs is now available from the Astronomy Now Store. Relive shuttle Columbia's March flight to refurbish the Hubble Space Telescope in spectacular DVD quality.
 U.S. STORE
 U.K. & WORLDWIDE STORE


For Spaceflight Now+Plus service (subscribers only):


As the Atlas 5 rocket was preparing to roll off its launch pad for return to the Vertical Integration Facility to conclude the first countdown dress rehearsal, Spaceflight Now was there to capture this 360-degree panorama.
  VIEW (QuickTime file)


With the Atlas 5 rocket back inside the Vertical Integration Facility about 1,800 feet away, Spaceflight Now captured this 360-degree panorama from the base of the launch pad at Cape Canaveral's Complex 41.
  VIEW (QuickTime file)

NEW! Mission Report
Apollo 11 - The NASA Mission Reports Vol. 3 is the first comprehensive study of man's first mission to another world is revealed in all of its startling complexity. Includes DVD!
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Apollo patches
The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Columbia Report
A reproduction of the official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Mars Panorama

DISCOUNTED! This 360 degree image was taken by the Mars Pathfinder, which landed on the Red Planet in July 1997. The Sojourner Rover is visible in the image.
 Choose your store:
U.S.

Apollo 11 Mission Report
Apollo 11 - The NASA Mission Reports Vol. 3 is the first comprehensive study of man's first mission to another world is revealed in all of its startling complexity. Includes DVD!
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Rocket DVD
If you've ever watched a launch from Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg Air Force Base or even Kodiak Island Alaska, there's no better way to describe what you witnessed than with this DVD.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Final Shuttle Mission Patch

Free shipping to U.S. addresses!

The crew emblem for the final space shuttle mission is now available in our store. Get this piece of history!
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

STS-134 Patch

Free shipping to U.S. addresses!

The final planned flight of space shuttle Endeavour is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-134. Available in our store!
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Ares 1-X Patch
The official embroidered patch for the Ares 1-X rocket test flight, is available for purchase.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Apollo Collage
This beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Project Orion
The Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon.
 U.S. STORE


Fallen Heroes Patch Collection
The official patches from Apollo 1, the shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews are available in the store.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Apollo 12 tribute DVD set

New! Featuring the jovial crew of Pete Conrad, Dick Gordon and Alan Bean, the Apollo 12 mission was struck by lightning shortly after liftoff but proceeded on the second successful exploration voyage to the lunar surface. This three-disc DVD brings the mission to life with extraordinary detail.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Fallen Heroes special patch
This special 12-inch embroidered patch commemorates the U.S. astronauts who made the ultimate sacrifice, honoring the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Women in Space
Women of Space: Cool Careers on the Final Frontier is for girls, young women, and anyone else interested in learning about exciting careers in space exploration. Includes CD-ROM.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Mars rover poster
This new poster features some of the best pictures from NASA's amazing Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
 Choose your store:
U.S.

Apollo 16
NEW! The latest in Apogee Book's acclaimed NASA Mission Reports series features the Apollo 16 expedition to the lunar highland area of Descartes. Includes CD-ROM.
 U.S. STORE
 U.K. & WORLDWIDE STORE

Hubble Posters
Stunning posters featuring images from the Hubble Space Telescope and world-renowned astrophotographer David Malin are now available from the Astronomy Now Store.
 U.S. STORE
 U.K. & WORLDWIDE STORE

Get e-mail updates
Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop (privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose).
Enter your e-mail address:

Station Calendar
NEW! This beautiful 12" by 12" wall calendar features stunning images of the International Space Station and of the people, equipment, and space craft associated with it, as it takes shape day by day in orbit high above the Earth.
 U.S. STORE
 U.K. & WORLDWIDE STORE
MISSION STATUS CENTER

INDEX | PLUS | NEWS ARCHIVE | LAUNCH SCHEDULE
ASTRONOMY NOW | STORE

ADVERTISE

© 2012 Spaceflight Now Inc.