H-IIA F3 Daily Report, 08-09-2002
Y-1 Countdown Operations are on Schedule — 2 days before a launch —
NASDA has only two more days to launch H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.3 (H-IIA F3)
on September 10 (Tue).
Y-1 (L-1, one day prior to the launch day) operations were started for
launching the Data Relay Test Satellite and Unmanned Space Experiment
Recovery System (USERS) Spacecraft.
Today’s Y-1 countdown operations began at 6:00 a.m. and were smoothly
progressing.
The operations are mainly for the launch vehicle today. From 6:00 a.m., the
radio frequency system was inspected last time befor launch for making sure
that the ground facilities properly receive telemetry from the launch
vehicle and data from radars.
Today was the last chance for propulsion system (such as engines) operators
to phisicaly access to the launch vehicle. The access doors to the inside
were closed and scaffolds were removed.
In parallel, the launch pad is also under the final preparation operations
to welcome the launch vehicle on the launch day. Thorough checking was
performed for all parts of the ground facility including the pad itself,
where the launch vehicle will be fixed, supply lines of propellannt, and
detaching mechanicms of the gorund facility and launch vehicle at liftoff.
Thus the pad is also in the final launch phase. The storages for luqid
oxygen, liquid hydrogen, and helium are also ready for the final launch
operations.
The environment data of DRTS and USERS Spacecraft in the fairing are
monitored all times while their batteries are being harged.
466 launch operators were involved in today’s countdown operations at the
Tanegashima Space Center.
The countdown operations are named acooding to how many days to the launch
day. The operations three days prior to the launch day were called “Y-3 (Y
minus three) operations”, then Y-2, Y-1, and Y-0 as they come closer to the
launch day.. The launch time for H-IIA F3 is scheduled at 5:20 p.m. on Sep.
10, and that means Y-0 operations for H-IIA F3 will start on the 9th (Mon),
then will contiunue through the 10th (Tue).
Countdown Operations Schedule
Y-3 (L-3) / September 6 (Fri) [Launch Vehicle] First and second stage propulsion systems inspection, electrical system inspection
Y-2 (L-2) / September 7 (Sat) [Launch Vehicle] Pyrotechnics connection, 2nd stage gas-jet propellant loading
[Payloads] DRTS battery charge
Y-1 (L-1) / September 8 (Sun) [Launch Vehicle] Facility preparation, mechanical system/umbilical separation system final preparation
[Payloads] DRTS battery charge
Y-0 (L-0)/ September 9 (Mon) [Payloads] DRTS and USERS battery charge, arming operations (pyrotechnics connection)
Y-0 (L-0)/ September 10 (Tue) [Launch Vehicle] Launch pad facility final preparation, propulsion system final preparation, moving the launch vehicle, terminal countdown
[Payloads] DRTS battery charge, final close
USERS battery charge, final close
* Y-0 (L-0) countdown operations will start in the late evening of the
previous day of the launch day
Weather information/forecast
Wind direction/velocity weather highest/lowest temperature warning
Today, Sep 8 (Sun) North-east wind with east wind at times 2 to 4 m/s Sunny, partly cloudy in the evening 31°C 24°C –
Tomorrow, Sep. 9 (Mon) Light wind, then north-west wind North-east wind at times during the day of 2 to 4 m/s Sunny 31°C 24°C –
Launch day, Sep. 10 (Tue) North-west wind, then north-east wind of 3 to 5 m/s Sunny, partly cloudy in the afternoon 30°C 23°C –
