Sea Launch User's Guide
Sea Launch User's Guide
Sea Launch User's Guide
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
8.4 Flight Operations<br />
Range tracking<br />
and telemetry<br />
Range tracking and telemetry return is provided is provided by <strong>Sea</strong><br />
<strong>Launch</strong> using assets on board the ACS and the launch platform through<br />
the tracking and data relay satellite system (TDRSS).<br />
Ground monitoring installations include the launch control center on<br />
board the ACS and the Russian ground tracking station in Korolev,<br />
outside Moscow.<br />
Line-of-sight telemetry coverage is continued through payload fairing<br />
jettison. TDRSS telemetry is routed through the central communication<br />
node in Brewster, WA.<br />
Range<br />
coordination<br />
<strong>Sea</strong> <strong>Launch</strong> provides all necessary range coordination functions<br />
independent of the eastern or western range sites in the United States.<br />
These include<br />
• FAA (air traffic).<br />
• Defense Mapping Agency (notice to mariners).<br />
• NASA (orbital collision avoidance).<br />
There is never a problem with range availability since there are no other<br />
launches competing for <strong>Sea</strong> <strong>Launch</strong> assets at the same time.<br />
Weather<br />
The ACS includes<br />
• Self-contained weather station with C-band Doppler radar.<br />
• Upper atmospheric balloon release capability.<br />
• Surface wind instruments.<br />
• Wave radar.<br />
• Ambient condition sensors.<br />
• Satellite imagery.<br />
A full-time meteorologist is stationed on the ACS while at sea.<br />
REV B D688-10009-1 8-25