12:30 p.m. EDT update. FLORIDA TODAY Space Online Delta/Globalstar 3 Launch Journal
flatoday.com
Monday, June 7, 1999
Update for 12:30 p.m. EDT
From countdown through spacecraft separation this page will keep you informed with the
latest on the flight of a Boeing Delta 2 rocket on the third satellite delivery mission for
Globalstar. These updates are prepared by Space Online's Justin Ray.
For complete stories, images and multimedia files from FLORIDA TODAY, as well as
official news releases, see our Space Today page.
Monday, June 7, 1999
Update for 12:30 p.m. EDT
Boeing is continuing with preparations for tomorrow's launch of a Delta 2 rocket
loaded with four Globalstar satellites. This morning, officials held their launch
readiness review. "We basically got a thumbs up from everybody to launch. The
only thing on the horizon that bothered me was the weather report," said Rich
Murphy, the Boeing mission director.
This morning's updated weather forecast from the 45th Space Wing Weather
Squadron showed a 40 percent chance the launch weather rules will be violated.
The main concerns will be cumulus cloud avoidance and thick clouds. Here is an
overview of the situation from the forecast:
"Combination of surface high pressure to the north and lower pressure to the south
to result in a continuation of moist, easterly flow over the Cape over the next few
days. Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms that develop over the Atlantic
will move onshore during the morning hours. Upper level low pressure over the
eastern Gulf of Mexico will advect upper level moisture into FL and aid in
enhancing the scattered showers and thunderstorms. Main concern for launch will
be cumulus avoidance and thick cloud associated with the scattered showers that
develop over the near shore waters of the Atlantic."
The forecast calls for clouds scattered at 2,000 feet, broken at 5,000 feet, and
broken at 15,000 feet, visibility of 10 miles or better, winds from the east at 12
gusting to 20 knots, temperature of 80 to 82 degrees, humidity of 80 percent and
the possibility of scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms in the local area.
Should the launch slip to Wednesday or Thursday for some reason, there is also a
40 percent chance of bad weather with similar conditions and concerns expected.
Workers are expected to arrive at the Cape around midnight tonight to begin final
pre-launch preparations. Retraction of the mobile service tower from around the
rocket at pad 17B is expected at 2 a.m. EDT. Officials have decided to load
RP-1 fuel aboard the rocket's first stage before tower removal. The increased
weight of the rocket will raise the acceptable limit for high ground winds. Winds
are forecasted to be gusty on Tuesday, but within limits.
The terminal count will be started at 7:20:50 a.m. EDT from T-minus 150 minutes.
Thirty minutes of hold time is built into the countdown.
Update for 12:01 a.m. EDT
The first launch for Boeing's Delta rocket family following the failed mission of the
second Delta 3 booster last month is scheduled for Tuesday morning from Cape
Canaveral Air Station, Fla. The Delta 2 rocket carrying four satellites for the
Globalstar telecommunications system is slated to lift off from pad 17B at
10:20:50 a.m. EDT, the opening of a three-minute launch window.
Air Force meteorologists, however, say weather conditions could be a problem
for the launch. As of Friday, there was a 60 percent chance weather conditions
would scrub the mission on Tuesday morning. The forecast calls for clouds
scattered at 3,000 feet, broken at 7,000 feet, and broken at 15,000 feet, visibility
of 10 miles or better, winds from the northeast at 15 gusting to 25 knots,
temperature of 80 to 82 degrees, humidity of 80 percent and the possibility of
showers or thunderstorms in the local area.
Should the launch slip to Wednesday or Thursday, there is a 40 percent chance
ground winds would be higher than the acceptable limit on both days.
The Globalstar spacecraft will join 20 already in space. The company plans to
deploy a constellation of 48 satellites to provide cellular phone and paging services
worldwide. The satellites, mounted to their dispenser, were mated to the rocket
last Tuesday. The 10-foot diameter composite payload fairing was then installed at
the end of the week.
A pair of Boeing Delta 2 rockets successfully carried out two launches for
Globalstar on Feb. 14 and April 24, 1999, placing a total of eight satellites into
space. In addition, three Starsem Soyuz rockets, each loaded with four satellites,
were safely launched on Feb. 8, March 14 and April 14, 1999, from Baikonur
Cosmodrome, Kazakstan.
-Justin Ray
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