Old Project Avalon Forum (ARCHIVE) - View Single Post - Nasa - why is shuttle placed on 'rescue' launch pad??

10-18-2008, 01:58 AM

The OTHER Space Program

Shuttle Missions that were launched in public view but were DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SECRET MISSIONS

They ONLY had American Military Crew.

The Payload was top secret

The Orbital Inclination of some is STILL top secret

The Return Weight of some is STILL top secret

The Missions...

STS-51C - January 24, 1985
5 crew listed but 7 seats 'identified'
Landing Weight: Classified

STS-51J - October 7, 1985
payload, orbital parameters and mission objectives remain classified
Launch Weight: Classified
Landing Weight: 190,400 pounds
Empty weight: 151,205 pounds

STS-27 - December 2, 1988
Orbit altitude: Classified
Launch Weight: Classified
Landing Weight: 190,956 pounds
Empty weight: 151,205 pounds

STS-28 - August 8, 1989
Orbit altitude: Classified (although based on distance traveled and number
of orbits, this would be between 220 and 380 km)
Launch Weight: Classified
Landing Weight: 190,956 pounds
Empty weight: 151,205 pounds

STS-33 - November 22, 1989
Launch Weight: Classified
Landing Weight: 194,282 pounds
Empty weight: 151,205 pounds

STS-36 - February 28, 1990
Orbit inclination: 62.0 degrees NOTE The shuttle should NOT be able to go
into this inclination. At the very least highly risky
See also below

STS-38 - November 15, 1990
Launch Weight: Classified
Landing Weight: 191,091 pounds
Empty weight: 151,205 pounds

STS-39 - April 28, 1991
Orbit inclination: 57.0 degrees
Classified payload consisted of Multi-Purpose Release Canister (MPEC). As
part of the sophisticated experiments, five spacecraft or satellites were
deployed from the payload bay, and one was retrieved later during the
mission.
Landing diverted to KSC because of unacceptably high winds at planned
landing site, Edwards.
Landing weight: 211,512 lb (95,940 kg).
Empty weight: 151,205 pounds
This mission also made several orbit changes with addition burns of the
OMS, proving that the Shuttle CAN change orbit. They also did this on
STS 36, the "MISTY' flight

STS-44 - November 24, 1991
Landing Weight: 193,825 pounds
Empty weight: 151,205 pounds
See payload photo below

STS-53 - December 2, 1992
Orbit inclination: 57 degrees
Landing Weight: 193,215 pounds
Empty weight: 151,205 pounds

STS-53 was the last fully DoD dedicated Shuttle Mission. While the new missions carry some payloads for the military, most secret packages are launched now by 'other' means

STS-36 - February 28, 1990
This was the mission that deployed 'MISTY' a very contraversial craft that involved steath techniques provide by Robert Bigelow of Bigelow Aerospace. The 'story' was that soon after deployment it was self propelled to another orbit... where it malfunctioned and exploded.

Only problem was that several amateur astronomers tracked it AFTER the explosion and it is still up there. It was further an embarassment to the DoD because the designers of the stealth device went and patented it without permission

MISTY 2 was supposedly canceled by Kennedy

Also this is very important...

The launch trajectory was unique to this flight, and allowed the mission to reach an orbital inclination of 62°, the deployment orbit of its payload, while the normal maximum inclination for a shuttle flight is 57°. This so-called "dog-leg" trajectory saw Atlantis fly downrange on a normal launch azimuth, and then maneuver to a higher launch azimuth once out over the water. Although the maneuver resulted in a reduction of vehicle performance, it was the only way to reach the required deployment orbit from the Kennedy Space Center (originally, the flight had been slated to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, until the shuttle launch facilities there were mothballed in 1989). Flight rules that prohibit overflight of land were suspended, with the trajectory taking the vehicle over or near Cape Hatterras, Cape Cod, and parts of Canada. The payload was considered to be of importance to national security, hence the suspension of normal flight rules.

STS-44: Unclassified DOD Mission

This mission has now been declassified...

Here is the payload

Deployment... This one has the capability to maneuver on its own once deployed

Image Description: STS-44 Defense Support Program (DSP) / Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) spacecraft, with forward airborne support equipment (ASE) payload retention latch actuator released (foreground), is raised to a 29 degree predeployment position by the ASE aft frame tilt actuator (AFTA) table in the payload bay (PLB) of Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104. Underneath the DSP / IUS combination, the umbilical boom is connected to the IUS. DSP components include Infrared (IR) sensor (top), AR I, SHF Antenna, EHF Antenna, Link 2 High-Gain Antenna, star sensor, and stowed solar paddles (box-like structure around the base). The Earth's limb and the blackness of space create the backdrop for this deployment scene.

This is the DoD extra mission patch that was worn on these missions

People need to stop thinking that NASA has anything to do with the REAL space program

They merely run support and public opinion

Clementine Satellite was a DoD/ US NAVY satellite... NASA only ran mission control

Two months after STS-75 had problems with the tether... the NAVY flew another tether, this one was successful and flew for two years... they fired lasers at it from AMOS in Maui and Starfire in Kirtland AFB... the purpose was to test transmitting of power via laser from Earth stations to satellites

12/13/2007 - CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. -- Shortly after the Atlas V rumbled off the pad late Monday afternoon, Maj. Dewitt Morgan "high-fived" Rick Day in the Morrell Operations Center's mission control room and said, "Great launch! Way to turn the Range."

The two members of the 1st Range Operations Squadron were in celebratory moods as the Atlas V carried a National Reconnaissance Office payload into space. The reason: In the wake of NASA's scrubbing of the STS-122 space shuttle mission early Sunday morning, 1 ROPS led the 45th Space Wing's charge to get the Eastern Range reconfigured in less than 36 hours to support the Atlas V launch.

THIS is the OTHER space program!!! 36 hours record reconfig of the pad so they could launch the NRO satellite on time...

WHY WAS IT A RUSH???

Patrick AFB outside Kennedy Space Port is home to the most important wing of Space Command the 45th Wing. One of our Pegasus Research Consortium's member's husband is 'highly placed' there

Here is the OTHER Mission control that launched the reconfigured mission

Image Courtesy Patrick AFB (Click for larger image)

Atlas V pre-launch operations
(l to r) 1st Lt. Georgene Hilb, Maj. Eric Amissah, Capt. Davina Fallaw, Capt. Bai Zhu and Stephen Anstey work on console at the Technical Support Facility during Atlas V pre-launch operations Dec. 10. (Courtesy photo)

Though most of what I have shown you here is declassified now... it is still 'sensitive' and not generally known to the public.

Hopefully a few will get some understanding of the REAL SPACE PROGRAM from this... and stop the silly notion that NASA is in control of anything...

but I know many will just breeze on by to the next Oct 14th GFL rendezvous...
Well they say you can lead a horse to water... but you can't make him drink..

One last patch for the serious ones amongst you to think about...

And THIS one is directly related to the OP Title

..

10-18-2008, 01:58 AM	#23
zorgon Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Nasa - why is shuttle placed on 'rescue' launch pad?? The OTHER Space Program Shuttle Missions that were launched in public view but were DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SECRET MISSIONS They ONLY had American Military Crew. The Payload was top secret The Orbital Inclination of some is STILL top secret The Return Weight of some is STILL top secret The Missions... STS-51C - January 24, 1985 5 crew listed but 7 seats 'identified' Landing Weight: Classified STS-51J - October 7, 1985 payload, orbital parameters and mission objectives remain classified Launch Weight: Classified Landing Weight: 190,400 pounds Empty weight: 151,205 pounds STS-27 - December 2, 1988 Orbit altitude: Classified Launch Weight: Classified Landing Weight: 190,956 pounds Empty weight: 151,205 pounds STS-28 - August 8, 1989 Orbit altitude: Classified (although based on distance traveled and number of orbits, this would be between 220 and 380 km) Launch Weight: Classified Landing Weight: 190,956 pounds Empty weight: 151,205 pounds STS-33 - November 22, 1989 Launch Weight: Classified Landing Weight: 194,282 pounds Empty weight: 151,205 pounds STS-36 - February 28, 1990 Orbit inclination: 62.0 degrees NOTE The shuttle should NOT be able to go into this inclination. At the very least highly risky See also below STS-38 - November 15, 1990 Launch Weight: Classified Landing Weight: 191,091 pounds Empty weight: 151,205 pounds STS-39 - April 28, 1991 Orbit inclination: 57.0 degrees Classified payload consisted of Multi-Purpose Release Canister (MPEC). As part of the sophisticated experiments, five spacecraft or satellites were deployed from the payload bay, and one was retrieved later during the mission. Landing diverted to KSC because of unacceptably high winds at planned landing site, Edwards. Landing weight: 211,512 lb (95,940 kg). Empty weight: 151,205 pounds This mission also made several orbit changes with addition burns of the OMS, proving that the Shuttle CAN change orbit. They also did this on STS 36, the "MISTY' flight STS-44 - November 24, 1991 Landing Weight: 193,825 pounds Empty weight: 151,205 pounds See payload photo below STS-53 - December 2, 1992 Orbit inclination: 57 degrees Landing Weight: 193,215 pounds Empty weight: 151,205 pounds STS-53 was the last fully DoD dedicated Shuttle Mission. While the new missions carry some payloads for the military, most secret packages are launched now by 'other' means STS-36 - February 28, 1990 This was the mission that deployed 'MISTY' a very contraversial craft that involved steath techniques provide by Robert Bigelow of Bigelow Aerospace. The 'story' was that soon after deployment it was self propelled to another orbit... where it malfunctioned and exploded. Only problem was that several amateur astronomers tracked it AFTER the explosion and it is still up there. It was further an embarassment to the DoD because the designers of the stealth device went and patented it without permission MISTY 2 was supposedly canceled by Kennedy Also this is very important... The launch trajectory was unique to this flight, and allowed the mission to reach an orbital inclination of 62°, the deployment orbit of its payload, while the normal maximum inclination for a shuttle flight is 57°. This so-called "dog-leg" trajectory saw Atlantis fly downrange on a normal launch azimuth, and then maneuver to a higher launch azimuth once out over the water. Although the maneuver resulted in a reduction of vehicle performance, it was the only way to reach the required deployment orbit from the Kennedy Space Center (originally, the flight had been slated to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, until the shuttle launch facilities there were mothballed in 1989). Flight rules that prohibit overflight of land were suspended, with the trajectory taking the vehicle over or near Cape Hatterras, Cape Cod, and parts of Canada. The payload was considered to be of importance to national security, hence the suspension of normal flight rules. STS-44: Unclassified DOD Mission This mission has now been declassified... Here is the payload Deployment... This one has the capability to maneuver on its own once deployed Image Description: STS-44 Defense Support Program (DSP) / Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) spacecraft, with forward airborne support equipment (ASE) payload retention latch actuator released (foreground), is raised to a 29 degree predeployment position by the ASE aft frame tilt actuator (AFTA) table in the payload bay (PLB) of Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104. Underneath the DSP / IUS combination, the umbilical boom is connected to the IUS. DSP components include Infrared (IR) sensor (top), AR I, SHF Antenna, EHF Antenna, Link 2 High-Gain Antenna, star sensor, and stowed solar paddles (box-like structure around the base). The Earth's limb and the blackness of space create the backdrop for this deployment scene. This is the DoD extra mission patch that was worn on these missions People need to stop thinking that NASA has anything to do with the REAL space program They merely run support and public opinion Clementine Satellite was a DoD/ US NAVY satellite... NASA only ran mission control Two months after STS-75 had problems with the tether... the NAVY flew another tether, this one was successful and flew for two years... they fired lasers at it from AMOS in Maui and Starfire in Kirtland AFB... the purpose was to test transmitting of power via laser from Earth stations to satellites 12/13/2007 - CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. -- Shortly after the Atlas V rumbled off the pad late Monday afternoon, Maj. Dewitt Morgan "high-fived" Rick Day in the Morrell Operations Center's mission control room and said, "Great launch! Way to turn the Range." The two members of the 1st Range Operations Squadron were in celebratory moods as the Atlas V carried a National Reconnaissance Office payload into space. The reason: In the wake of NASA's scrubbing of the STS-122 space shuttle mission early Sunday morning, 1 ROPS led the 45th Space Wing's charge to get the Eastern Range reconfigured in less than 36 hours to support the Atlas V launch. THIS is the OTHER space program!!! 36 hours record reconfig of the pad so they could launch the NRO satellite on time... WHY WAS IT A RUSH??? Patrick AFB outside Kennedy Space Port is home to the most important wing of Space Command the 45th Wing. One of our Pegasus Research Consortium's member's husband is 'highly placed' there Here is the OTHER Mission control that launched the reconfigured mission Image Courtesy Patrick AFB (Click for larger image) Atlas V pre-launch operations (l to r) 1st Lt. Georgene Hilb, Maj. Eric Amissah, Capt. Davina Fallaw, Capt. Bai Zhu and Stephen Anstey work on console at the Technical Support Facility during Atlas V pre-launch operations Dec. 10. (Courtesy photo) Though most of what I have shown you here is declassified now... it is still 'sensitive' and not generally known to the public. Hopefully a few will get some understanding of the REAL SPACE PROGRAM from this... and stop the silly notion that NASA is in control of anything... but I know many will just breeze on by to the next Oct 14th GFL rendezvous... Well they say you can lead a horse to water... but you can't make him drink.. One last patch for the serious ones amongst you to think about... And THIS one is directly related to the OP Title .. Last edited by zorgon; 10-18-2008 at 02:05 AM.