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Live Broadcast of Satellite Launch

Posted by michael on from the better-than-bottle-rockets dept.

MonolithicX writes "International Launch Systems is launching AMC11, an Atlas II class rocket, this Wednesday May 19th from Cape Canaveral, FL. You can watch the live broadcast here, coverage begins at 5:25 EDT and launch is scheduled for 5:42pm. Interesting facts about the launch can be found in the news release."

8 of 17 comments (clear)

  1. And if you miss it this time by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There will certainly be several thousand more chances:

    With a 100 percent success rate and 61 consecutive successful launches, the Atlas II family has a reliability record unmatched in the industry.

    If I was going to spend several million to launch a Satellite, this would certainly be the system I'd use- and it's reliability means there will be live reruns of this for every launch until they can't make money launching satellites anymore.

    --
    SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    1. Re:And if you miss it this time by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Atlas family has perfect record in 71 consecutive flights says the actual article as opposed to the press release- even more proof that this will happen again in the future.

      So this will hardly be a unique show.

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
  2. 5:42pm EDT by sjoplin · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's 14:42 on the west coast, not a very good time for broadcasting something other than infomercials, soaps, and Judge Judy. If this is to increase awareness by other than those already interested, schedule a launch for when broadcasters could easily switch over only for the duration of the launch, such as during morning/midday/evening/latenight news broadcasts. Better yet, make a FOX special out of this.

    1. Re:5:42pm EDT by another_henry · · Score: 4, Insightful
      I do hope that was a joke.

      You can't schedule a launch based on TV times. Even Judge Judy cannot trump the laws of physics... to get the satellite in the right spot in its orbit there is a narrow launch window.

      --
      "Studies have shown that people who eat peanuts live longer than those who do not eat."
  3. More info by travisbecker · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A small nitpick: AMC-11 is the payload, not the rocket.

    A realtime status log is available at Spaceflight Now.

    Travis

  4. Launch window opens *52* minutes after the hour .. by Hulkster · · Score: 5, Informative
    The launch window actually open at 1752 EDT and is 174 minutes (a rather long one) until 2046 EDT (2152-0046 GMT).

    And the rocket would properly be called AC-166.

    This can all be seen at the SpaceFlightNow URL allready mentioned which is an EXCELLENT resource and really does have close to real-time updates when the bird is about to leave the pad.

  5. LMAO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    The Atlas Centaur launch vehicle is manufactured and operated by Lockheed Martin Astronautics Operations (LMAO).

    I wonder what's so funny about it.

  6. Why a launch window? by golo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I understand that for some missions there are launch windows (interplanetary probes, space rendezvous), but I wonder why does the launch of a geostationary satellite limited to a time window? I would assume that the spot where you want to place the spacecraft stays 'stationary' relative to the launch site? What am I missing?
    Thanks