DMSP Flight-18 spacecraft Shipped to Vandenberg

Officials at the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Systems Group announced today they have successfully shipped the DMSP Flight -18 spacecraft from a Lockheed Martin Space Systems facility in Sunnyvale, Calif., to Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

The spacecraft was shipped aboard a C17 Globemaster III assigned to the 21st Airlift Squadron at Travis Air Force Base and departed Moffett Field, Calif., early this morning.

"Shipment of F-18 from the factory to VAFB is a significant milestone in the launch preparation process," said Col. Bradley Smith, commander, Defense Meteorological Systems Group. "F-18 has completed several retrofits, modifications, sensor integrations and a full gambit of mechanical, electrical and environmental testing over the past 18 months at Lockheed Martin Space Systems."

The successful shipment and placement of the spacecraft into the Payload Integration and Testing Facility at VAFB signifies completion of all environmental testing. The spacecraft will continue to undergo final preparation for launch processing.

The 30th Launch Support Squadron is responsible for the care and handling of the vehicle from the moment it arrives at VAFB to launch. At VAFB, F-18 will undergo routine integration and testing, including integration of the ultraviolet sensor from Northrop Grumman and flight battery integration and checkout.

Then it will be transported to an encapsulation facility where it will be mated with the Atlas V booster. F-18 is scheduled to be launched next summer and will replace DMSP F-16 which was launched in 2003.

NROL-24 Launch Today - Possible SDS Commsat

Based on latest public information from the Cape, the launch of NROL-24 is still on. Launch time is 1704 EST (2204 UTC) from launch complex 41.

The following information was posted by the dean of the visual satellite observers -Ted Molczan on the SEESAT-L newsgroup late last night. Very interesting observation and thanks Ted for the insight.

NROL-24 is scheduled for launch on 2007 Dec 10, between 21:15 and 23:15 UTC, on an Atlas V-401 (Production number AV-015). The Atlas 5 401 configuration is a 4-meter wide payload fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a Centaur upper stage powered by a single RL10A-4-2 engine.

The most likely target plane appears to be that of 90028 / 04846A, believed to be an aging SDS communications satellite:

1 90028U 04846A 07319.29116097 .00001407 00000-0 46120-2 0 06
2 90028 64.2504 305.9703 7445669 256.2170 103.7830 2.00633719 06

The most recent similar launch was NROL-1, aka USA 179 / SDS 3-4 / 04034A / 28384, on 2004 Aug 31, on an Atlas 2AS.

An exact repeat of NROL-1's launch, but targeting 90028, would result in launch on 2007 Dec 10 at about 21:57:28 UTC and the following orbits:

MES2
1 79000U 07344.96253472 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 05
2 79000 57.3981 308.5215 0001000 113.4954 176.8000 16.05000000 07

1st ascending node
1 79001U 07344.97396991 .00017925 00000-0 14828-2 0 00
2 79001 57.3981 308.5150 5327478 293.4985 20.3013 5.13214280 05

USA 179 remained in the 5.13 rev/d intermediate orbit for about 7 days, before manoeuvring to its Molniya orbit.

Since NROL-24's booster has about 35 percent greater performance than that of
NROL-1, it may not follow the same initial trajectories. Perhaps it will steer into some combination of a more nearly 63 deg initial orbit and a MECO2 orbit of much greater apogee. Upon receipt of the actual planned launch time, I will revise the above search elements, and possibly add others to help bracket the search.

The ascent trajectory will be north-eastward along the east coast of North America. If the launch occurs after sunset, as seems likely, then I will post estimated trajectory information.

The launch period is such that visual observers in parts of North America may be able to observe the Centaur's propellant dump soon after MECO2, as occurred with NROL-1.

And from Bob Christy via the SEESAT newsgroup:

USA-125/90028 is a second-generation SDS satellite. It is a spin-stabilised design with a de-spun aerial array.

Another piece of evidence that the upcoming NROL-24 is a replacement for this satellite comes from the fact that the de-spin mechanism of 90028 seems to have been turned off quite recently. The array is currently (2007 Dec 7, 16:00 UTC) rotating once every 19.8s. If it follows the lead of 90004 and 90020, friction will cause it to spin up and match the body with a rotation period near 5s.

90004 and 90020 each reportedly show visual variability with a 5s component in their light curves. 90028 may join them in this.

The evidence for the spin-up comes from radio observation. It was originally reported by Greg Roberts of South Africa 2007 Dec 7 and I confirmed it from the UK thanks to Greg's timely 'heads-up'.

Military Satellite Launch Schedule

Here is the latest military satellite launch schedule for the US Department of Defense.

2007
Sep 21/22 -- Wideband Gapfiller Satellite F1 -- Atlas 5 -- CCAFS -- Mil Comsat

Sep ? -- Celestis 05 and TacSat 1 -- Falcon 1 -- Kwajalein -- Experimental Comsat

Oct 4 -- DSP 23 -- Delta 4 Heavy -- CCAFS -- Missile Early Warning Satellite
Oct 17 -- GPS 2R-17 (M4) -- Delta 2 -- CCAFS -- Navsat
Nov 17 -- NRO 24 -- Atlas 5 -- CCAFS -- US NRO Spy Satellite
Nov 25 -- Block 2006: Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) -- Delta 2 --CCAFS -- Missile Defense Technology Satellite

2008
Jan 25 -- NRO 26 -- Delta 4 Heavy -- CCAFS -- US NRO Spy Satellite
Feb 21 -- Block 2010: Spacecraft Risk Reduction -- Delta 2 -- VAFB -- Technology Satellite
Mar 15 -- TacSat 3 -- Minotaur -- Mid-Atlantic, Wallops -- Technology Research Satellite
Apr 1 -- Block 06: STSS -- Delta 2 --CCAFS -- technology demonstrator for ballastic missile tracking.

Military Satellite Launch Manifest Update

Here is the latest US Military Satellite Manifest courtesy of Steven S. Pietrobon at Small World Communications, in Payneham South SA, Australia. Source: http://www.sworld.com.au/steven/space/usmil-man.txt

UNITED STATES MILITARY MANIFEST (18 Jun 2007)
 USA     Date    Launch Vehicle      
                 Payload
---------------------------------------------
  -    9 Mar 07  Atlas V401 (AV-013) 
                 STPSat 1, Orbital Express
                 (NEXTSat-CSC, ASTRO), STPSat
                 1, CFESat, Falconsat 3,
                 MidSTAR 1, MEPSI Picosat (2)
* -   20 Mar 07  Falcon I F2         
                 DemoSat
  -   24 Apr 07  Minotaur I F7       
                 NFIRE (Near-Field Infrared
                 Experiment)
 194  15 Jun 07  Atlas V401 (AV-009) 
                 NROL-30R (Ocean Surveillance)
         Jun 07  Delta IVM           
                 NROL-25
         Jul 07  Delta II (732X)     
                 SBIRS II
       1 Aug 07  Minotaur I          
                 MDA-DST
      10 Aug 07  Atlas V421 (AV-011) 
                 WGS-1
         Sep 07  Delta IVH/4050H     
                 DSP-23
         Sep 07  Falcon I            
                 TacSat 1, [Celestis 05]
         Sep 07  Delta II (7925)
                 NAVSTAR/GPS IIRM-4
      24 Oct 07  Atlas V401
                 NROL-24
         Oct 07  Delta IVM
                 NAVSTAR/GPS IIF-1
       8 Nov 07  Delta II
                 Block 2010 Spacecraft
                 Risk Reduction
      25 Nov 07  Delta II
                 STSS 1, STSS 2 (Block 2006)
         Nov 07  Atlas V521
                 NROL-29
         Nov 07  Delta II (7925)
                 NAVSTAR/GPS IIRM-5
         Dec 07  Minotaur I
                 TacSat 3
         Dec 07  Delta IVH
                 NROL-26
         Dec 07  Atlas V411 (AV-006)
                 NROL-28
         Dec 07  Delta II
                 XSS-12
         Dec 07  Atlas V401
                 SBIRS-High F-1
             07  Atlas V521
                 WGS-3
             07  Delta II (732X)
                 SBIRS I
---------------------------------------------
         Jan 08  Delta II
                 NAVSTAR/GPS IIRM-6
         Jan 08  TBD
                 MPE (Multiple Payload Ejector)
#        Feb 08  Delta IVM
                 WGS-2
#        Apr 08  Delta II
                 NAVSTAR/GPS IIRM-7
#        Apr 08  Falcon IX
                 US Government
#        Apr 08  Minotaur IV
                 TacSat 4
         Apr 08  Atlas V501
                 NROL-39
         Apr 08  Atlas V531
                 AEHF F-1            
         Apr 08  Atlas V401
                 DMSP-5D3 F18
      18 Jun 08  Pegasus XL
                 C/NOFS (P00-3, CINDI)
         Dec 08  Minotaur IV
                 SBSS
             08  Atlas V401
                 NAVSTAR/GPS IIF-2
             08  Atlas V401
                 NAVSTAR/GPS IIF-3
             08  Atlas V401
                 NAVSTAR/GPS IIF-4
             08  Delta IVM
                 NAVSTAR/GPS IIF-5
             08  Atlas V401
                 SBIRS H-2
             08  Atlas V401
                 NAVSTAR/GPS IIF-6
---------------------------------------------
              09  Atlas V401
                  NAVSTAR/GPS IIF-7
              09  Atlas V401
                  NAVSTAR/GPS IIF-8
              09  Delta IVM
                  NAVSTAR/GPS IIF-9
---------------------------------------------
              10  Delta IVM
                  NAVSTAR/GPS IIF-10
              10  Delta IVM+(4,2)
                  SBIRS H-3
---------------------------------------------
                  Minotaur    MightySat-II.2
                  Atlas V501  NROL-41
                  Atlas V501  NROL-45
---------------------------------------------
*       Launch failure
-       No USA number assigned
#       Change since beginning of month
AEHF    Advanced Extreme High Frequency
        Satellite
ASTRO   Autonomous Space Transporter and
        Robotic Orbiter
CFESat  Cibola Flight Experiment Satellite
C/NOFS  Communication/Navigation Outage
        Forecasting System
DMSP    Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
GPS     Global Positioning System
MDA-DST Missile Defense Agency Direct to
        Satellite Telemetry
METOC   Naval Meteorological and Oceanography
        Command
MLV     Medium Launch Vehicle
NEXTSat-CSC  Next Generation Satellite and
        Commodities Spacecraft
NROL    National Reconnaissance Office Launch
SBIRS-H Space Based Infra Red Sensor -
        High Altitude
SBSS    Space Based Surveillance System
STPSat  Space Test Program Satellite
STSS    Space Tracking and Surveillance System
SVN     Space Vehicle Number
WGS     Wideband Gapfiller Satellite
XSS     Experimental Satellite System

The dates listed are those for GMT. All information was obtained from public sources. If anyone can fill in the question marks or provide corrections which is public knowledge please let me know. Square brackets indicate secondary non-military payloads.

Steven S. Pietrobon, Small World Communications, 6 First Avenue, Payneham South SA 5070, Australia fax +61 8 8332 3177 mailto:steven@sworld.com.au http://www.sworld.com.au

Boeing Satellite Launch Schedule

From the Boeing folks (current as of April 2007)

Satellite      Model Owner Launch Date Launch Vehicle 
1 WGS-F1        702 U.S. Air Force 2007 Atlas V 
2 GOES O        601 NASA/NOAA 2007/DIO Delta IV 
3 Spaceway F3   702 Hughes Network Systems TBD/DOG Ariane 5 
4 Thuraya-D3    702 Geo-Mobile Thuraya Sat Telecom TBD/DIO Sea Launch 
5 DIRECTV 10    702 DIRECTV, Inc. 2007/DOG Proton 
6 DIRECTV 11    702 DIRECTV, Inc. TBD/DOG Sea Launch 
7 DIRECTV 12    702 DIRECTV, Inc. Ground Spare TBD 
8 WGS-F2        702 U.S. Air Force 2008 Atlas V 
9 GPS IIF SV-1  GPS U.S. Air Force 2008 Atlas V 
10 WGS F-3      702 U.S. Air Force 2008 Delta IV 
11 GOES P       601 NASA/NOAA 2008/DIO Delta IV 
12 GPS IIF SV-2 GPS U.S. Air Force 2009 Delta IV 
13 GPS IIF SV-3 GPS U.S. Air Force 2009 Atlas V 
14 GPS IIF SV-4 GPS U.S. Air Force 2009 Atlas V 
15 GPS IIF SV-5 GPS U.S. Air Force 2009 Delta IV 
16 MSV-1        702 Geo-Mobile Mobile Satellite Ventures 2009/DIO TBD 
17 MSV-2        702 Geo-Mobile Mobile Satellite Ventures 2010/DIO TBD 
18 GPS IIF SV-6 GPS U.S. Air Force 2010 Atlas V 
19 GPS IIF SV-7 GPS U.S. Air Force 2010 Atlas V 
20 GPS IIF SV-8 GPS U.S. Air Force 2010 Atlas V 
21 WGS-F4       702 U.S. Air Force 2011 EELV 
22 GPS IIF SV-9 GPS U.S. Air Force 2011 Delta IV 
23 GPS IIF SV-10 GPS U.S. Air Force 2011 Delta IV 
24 GPS IIF SV-11 GPS U.S. Air Force 2011 TBD 
25 WGS F-5      702 U.S. Air Force 2012 EELV 
26 GPS IIF SV-12 GPS U.S. Air Force 2012 TBD 
27 WGS F-6 opt  702 U.S. Air Force 2013 EELV 
28 MSV-SA opt   702 Mobile Satellite Ventures TBD TBD 

DIO -- Delivery in Orbit
DOG -- Delivery on Ground