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Launch Attempt for Kodiak Star Tonight

Posted by timothy on from the launching-discoballs-from-alaska dept.

Jens Lönn writes: "The delayed Launch of the Kodiak Star is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29 (.pdf article). This is the first launch into Earth orbit from Kodiak Island. There is a three-hour launch window extending from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. The effect of the solar flare activity that forced launched cancellation earlier this week is being monitored. The weather forecast for Saturday is favorable for a launch attempt with approximately a 15% chance of weather criteria violation. However, after solar flare activity was factored in, the chance of not meeting the criteria is 60%. Launch coverage on NASA Television and NASA TV on the Web will begin at 8 p.m. EDT. So make sure you're seated, cuz now were gonna light those kick-ass engines and go out into space." Michael noted that this is the first launch from Alaska; one of the four science experiments on board will be the reflective Starshine 3, with mirrors ground and polished by students all over the world. Cross fingers for favorable launch.

4 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why Alaska? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Launching from the equator gives an initial velocity in the direction of the earth's motion. This is only useful if the desired orbit is in that direction.

    Many spacecraft are destined for a polar orbit (over the poles) rather than an equatorial orbit (guess over what). The choice of orbit depends on the mission of the spacecraft. Communication satellites typically use geosynchronous orbits (equatorial) while many earth observation satellites use a polar orbit.

  2. Re:Why Alaska? by Burnon · · Score: 5, Informative

    Ahh - here's the answer to my question about polar orbits, and some other interesting info on the launch site, at this link

    I had no idea what a polar orbit really was. I guess it really does get full earth coverage.

  3. You can listen to one of the other payloads by brassrat77 · · Score: 5, Informative
    PCSAT, designed and built by midshipmen at the US Naval Academy, carries an APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System) transponder. Downlink is 145.825 MHz, FM, 1200bps AFSK. (Uplink for licensed amateurs is on 70cm, don't have the info handy).

    If all goes well, you should be able to at least hear the downlink packets with a VHF scanner and 1/4 wave vertical antenna (YMMV). You will need a AX.25 TNC and terminal or comparable sound-card software to see the telemetry from the satellite and APRS position reports that get relayed through the satellite. Note that locations in the US will have to wait about 9 orbits before they can hear anything.

    More info on the PCSAT web page. You can learn more about amateur radio at the ARRL web page and about amateur satellites at the AMSAT web page.

    73, KA1LM

  4. Re: Flawless Liftoff. by deglr6328 · · Score: 5, Informative

    satellite is out of range at T+18 minutes. Next pass is in 1 hour over Kenya. Spaceflightnow has a status center here http://www.spaceflightnow.com/athena/kodiakstar/st atus.html

    --
    - "Hear that?! The percolations are imminent! Cease your ingress!"