NASA's Orion powered on for the first time

[funkyrobot]

Haven't watched a live launch since the last Shuttle one.

[ccr32]

graphene said:

ccr32 said:

Is it just spinning for anyone else, or is it the dodgy corporate wifi here blocking the video stream? Can't see anything at the moment...

Fine here. Yes, probably your corporate firewall running some sort of QoS. No doubt, a big red light has gone off in IT: 'Alert: User ccr32 is interrupting IT's bandwidth for youtube videos'

Bah, they get that daily anyway through my use of PH..!

Not to worry, will try it through 4G on the phone.

[Eric Mc]

funkyrobot said:

What were the flames that I just saw?

Edit - hang on, they are near the rocket, not on it. Camera angle.

Burn off of vented hydrogen.

You will see a lot of loose hydrogen igniting just as the rocket lifts off. The RS68 engines are liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen rocket motors and they vent a lot of hydrogen which ignites when the main engines light up.

[jingars]

Max_Torque said:

wow, check out the service module mass of Orion compared to Apollo!



Wonder where that enormous mass reduction comes from?

That service module is a cut-down "proof of concept" module designed only to facilitate the early unmanned tests. The European Space Agency will be building the man-rated module, which will be based upon systems derived from the ATV: details here

[ccr32]

Max_Torque said:

wow, check out the service module mass of Orion compared to Apollo!



Wonder where that enormous mass reduction comes from?

How can SM maximum thrust be a third of the Apollo SM if it is due to operate in similar environments/escape from the gravity of similar or larger celestial bodies as Apollo? Or will this misson-specific and will be ramped up in due course?

[MartG]

NTV-1 & 2 channels seems to be stalled, NTV-3 is OK

[Eric Mc]

Looks like somebody has encroached into the prohibited zone downrange of the launch pad. That automatically means "no launch" until the zone is cleared.

Probably a boat or light aircraft.

[jmorgan]

Getting peed off with my internet. Keeps freezing.

[ccr32]

graphene said:

ccr32 said:

graphene said:

ccr32 said:

Is it just spinning for anyone else, or is it the dodgy corporate wifi here blocking the video stream? Can't see anything at the moment...

Fine here. Yes, probably your corporate firewall running some sort of QoS. No doubt, a big red light has gone off in IT: 'Alert: User ccr32 is interrupting IT's bandwidth for youtube videos'

Bah, they get that daily anyway through my use of PH..!

Not to worry, will try it through 4G on the phone.

Have you tried the feed on the main page? http://www.nasa.gov/

Yes, and no-go in NASA speak.

However, I have got it working through here (http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv) if anyone else was having similar troubles to me

[MrCarPark]

Eric Mc said:

Looks like somebody has encroached into the prohibited zone downrange of the launch pad. That automatically means "no launch" until the zone is cleared.

Probably a boat or light aircraft.

It's a boat.

[Eric Mc]

ccr32 said:

Max_Torque said:

wow, check out the service module mass of Orion compared to Apollo!



Wonder where that enormous mass reduction comes from?

How can SM maximum thrust be a third of the Apollo SM if it is due to operate in similar environments/escape from the gravity of similar or larger celestial bodies as Apollo? Or will this misson-specific and will be ramped up in due course?

As has been mentioned, the graphic relates to an early test SM and not the actual one that will be used on the manned missions (which will also use the SLS booster and not the Delta IV Heavy).

Don't forget that the main engine of the Apollo Service Module (the SPS or Service Propulsion System) was NOT used to fire the Apollo spacecraft to the moon. That was done by a second firing of the upper stage of the Saturn V rocket. The SPS system WAS used to send the Command/Service Module out of LUNAR orbit back to earth and also for mid-course corrections to and from the moon.

It was also used for the de-orbit burn on earth orbiting only Apollo missions.

[funkyrobot]

Eric Mc said:

Burn off of vented hydrogen.

You will see a lot of loose hydrogen igniting just as the rocket lifts off. The RS68 engines are liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen rocket motors and they vent a lot of hydrogen which ignites when the main engines light up.

Nice.

[MartG]

Eric Mc said:

ccr32 said:

Max_Torque said:

wow, check out the service module mass of Orion compared to Apollo!



Wonder where that enormous mass reduction comes from?

How can SM maximum thrust be a third of the Apollo SM if it is due to operate in similar environments/escape from the gravity of similar or larger celestial bodies as Apollo? Or will this misson-specific and will be ramped up in due course?

As has been mentioned, the graphic relates to an early test SM and not the actual one that will be used on the manned missions (which will also use the SLS booster and not the Delta IV Heavy).

Don't forget that the main engine of the Apollo Service Module (the SPS or Service Propulsion System) was NOT used to fire the Apollo spacecraft to the moon. That was done by a second firing of the upper stage of the Saturn V rocket. The SPS system WAS used to send the Command/Service Module out of LUNAR orbit back to earth and also for mid-course corrections to and from the moon.

It was also used for the de-orbit burn on earth orbiting only Apollo missions.

The Apollo SPS was actually vastly over-specced for the job it ended up doing. The SM & SPS were originally designed for the 'direct ascent' mission so had enough thrust and fuel to lift off from the moon and return to earth

[ccr32]

Eric Mc said:

As has been mentioned, the graphic relates to an early test SM and not the actual one that will be used on the manned missions (which will also use the SLS booster and not the Delta IV Heavy).

Don't forget that the main engine of the Apollo Service Module (the SPS or Service Propulsion System) was NOT used to fire the Apollo spacecraft to the moon. That was done by a second firing of the upper stage of the Saturn V rocket. The SPS system WAS used to send the Command/Service Module out of LUNAR orbit back to earth and also for mid-course corrections to and from the moon.

It was also used for the de-orbit burn on earth orbiting only Apollo missions.

Gotcha, thanks.

And yes, realised that about getting Apollo out of LEO (and assumed the same for Orion), was more thinking about the return journey.

[Eric Mc]

People often don't realise that the Apollo |Command and Service Module had already been specced two years BEFORE Kennedy told NASA to land on the moon.

[Eric Mc]

ccr32 said:

Eric Mc said:

As has been mentioned, the graphic relates to an early test SM and not the actual one that will be used on the manned missions (which will also use the SLS booster and not the Delta IV Heavy).

Don't forget that the main engine of the Apollo Service Module (the SPS or Service Propulsion System) was NOT used to fire the Apollo spacecraft to the moon. That was done by a second firing of the upper stage of the Saturn V rocket. The SPS system WAS used to send the Command/Service Module out of LUNAR orbit back to earth and also for mid-course corrections to and from the moon.

It was also used for the de-orbit burn on earth orbiting only Apollo missions.

Gotcha, thanks.

And yes, realised that about getting Apollo out of LEO (and assumed the same for Orion), was more thinking about the return journey.

For the today's mission, the Service Module is inert and contains no engine. The Orion Command Module will simply FALL back to earth from 3,600 miles out and natural acceleration under gravity will mean it enters the atmosphere at 20,000 mph. I think it will get a small boost from the firing of the attitude control thrusters on the spacecraft to ensure at least 20,000 is achieved.

20,000 mph is slower than what it would re-enter from a lunar or Mars flight, which would be closer to 25,000 mph.

[funkyrobot]

It's still there.

[jmorgan]

Eric Mc said:

People often don't realise that the Apollo |Command and Service Module had already been specced two years BEFORE Kennedy told NASA to land on the moon.

Power of politics. All Kennedy did was give it a boost with loot and timings. The loot was needed from taxes and the excuse to spend had to be got through. As I understand it.

[Eric Mc]

More or less correct.

The original Apollo programme was a bit vague (a bit like Orion) with the moon as a possible target for orbit and/or landing missions.

Gagarin's flight in April 1961 and the public's reaction to Shepard's sub-orbital flight in May 1961 suddenly meant that Apollo had a much more focussed target.

[jmorgan]

Twitter feeds showing absolute retards trying to say it blew up.