The manufacturer of the Delta 4 launcher, the ULS company, decided to give up, after several attempts to prepare the rocket and the Orion spacecraft for launch, due to a malfunction in the liquid hydrogen feed system for the second stage of the launcher. More attempts will be made tomorrow.
Update 16:40. Fear of a malfunction in the system that feeds the liquid hydrogen to the Delta 4 launch rocket, caused ULS, the manufacturer of the launcher, to completely cancel today's launch attempts of the Orion spacecraft.
Update: 16:00
A few minutes ago, the launch of the Orion spacecraft was postponed again when the clock showed three minutes before the launch due to a valve that regulates the flow of liquid oxygen to the second stage of the Delta 4 rocket, which did not close properly. The engineers are investigating the malfunction. As mentioned, the launch window is open until 16:44 (Israel time).
Updates 14:00-15:00
NASA's new manned spacecraft, Orion, is scheduled to take off today, but the launch has been postponed twice - first it was scheduled for 07:05, then it was postponed to 07:17 and now it has been postponed again, at an unknown time.
The first 12-minute delay was due to the need to check some issue in the second stage of the launcher, as well as due to a boat entering the sterile area near the launch pad, a place where its people could be harmed by the fire and smoke emitted from the launcher during the launch. After that the wind on the ground got stronger than allowed.
In the absence of a target, the spacecraft has a long launch window, two hours and 34 minutes (until 09:44 EST). The reason for choosing these hours and not earlier or later is due to the need to carry out the launch in daylight, as well as the five and a half hours of the operation and finally, also Land in the Pacific Ocean in the sunlight.
Orion will go on its first comprehensive test flight of course without crew members. It will take off into space aboard the Delta 4 launcher in the heavy configuration of the ULS company ((United Lunch Alliance). NASA emphasizes that this is a spacecraft that will in the future also be able to leave the earth's orbit towards the moon, Mars, asteroids and more, carrying four astronauts inside.
In the experiment known as EFT-1, the launcher and many parts developed for Orion as well as the connections between the spacecraft and the launchers will be tested for the first time (the use of Delta 4 is temporary, the aerospace manufacturers are jointly developing a new heavy launcher for NASA)
Orion will then take off on launch 37 at the US Air Force Base in Cape Canaveral to an altitude orbit of about 5,800 kilometers above the Earth. You will make two laps, and you will land in the Pacific Ocean. The first 15 minutes, until it reached the requested height, it will perform together with the upper stage of the launch rocket. This is an orbit 15 times higher than the orbit of the International Space Station and higher than any spacecraft capable of transporting humans has reached in the last 40 years since the end of the Apollo mission.
"This is an important operation that should not be underestimated." NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said yesterday to journalists reporting from Cape Canaveral, including Universe Today correspondent Ken Cramer.
More of the topic in Hayadan:
Boeing and Space-X won the NASA tender to fly astronauts
26 תגובות
Tell me, how does the US put a space telescope into orbit tomorrow morning without the shuttle and without the Russians?
Life
The Orion is designed for flights of up to 21 days with 4 crew members, or shorter flights with more people.
Miracles
As for the Orion spacecraft itself I am very skeptical. To put 5 and a half astronauts into a small box with an area of about 4 square meters for a period of one year, I didn't know how it would work. The psychological factor is weighty. I think that we have to act differently with the technology that exists today and we don't have to wait about 25 years. I have an article about that. A link is attached.
http://www.yekum.org/2014/04/%D7%9B%D7%99%D7%A6%D7%93-%D7%90%D7%A4%D7%A9%D7%A8-%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%99%D7%A2-%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%93%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%91%D7%98%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%92%D7%99%D7%94-%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%99/
Life
This is the fourth launch that I can see. On the one hand, you are not as close as you see on TV, on the other hand, it is much more exciting to see the whole place, the hustle and bustle... The launch site is inside a nature reserve, and you see crocodiles, manatees and dolphins, and many other types of birds.
Miracles
I suppose you wouldn't mind describing the launch from space. A once in a lifetime experience and describe the launch using a selfie camera.
there is!!!!!!!!
Life
Of course 🙂
From Raphael's point of view - it is impossible to fly into space, because there is a firmament. The truth is, without core studies, how can one know that the meaning of "sky" is "hard"
Miracles,
Perhaps Raphael prayed that the launch would be delayed
Miracles
In a humorous spirit, it starts to sound like a broadcast of the football games by Nehemiah ben Avraham. I remember it. Do you remember him too?
cancelled. Another attempt tomorrow
There are a trillion people here... there is no shortage of pressure. Lockheed must be very careful now, especially after the recent accidents. Meanwhile I'm looking at manatees and dolphins.
wind wind wind wind
Why don't you lie down to rest?
From the morning you will go wild,
And now the night has come.
Miracles, tell them if they don't launch in 10 minutes you're leaving.
(apply some pressure)
6 more minutes.
And it's a car, not a plane...
Professional exhibition in Orlando
Miracles, what brought you there?
(No, I'm not asking about the plane)
Another countdown (4 minutes) stopped after 55 seconds…
4 more minutes…
In the meantime, look at the pelicans trying to fish
Expected launch in 8 minutes
I am now a few kilometers from the launch site
Direct broadcast here:
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4599646,00.html
Countdown (4:00 minutes) started and stopped due to strong winds, pending a recount.