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Subject: GPS satellite launched
EW3    9/26/2006 8:02:07 AM
We never see much about the successes we are having in space. The US is just walking away from everyone else in space. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ Delta 2 rocket soars to space with GPS satellite Boeing's workhorse Delta 2 rocket launched on time at 2:50 p.m. EDT (1850 GMT) Monday afternoon carrying a fresh replacement satellite for the Global Positioning System. Follow the flight in our status center: MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates QUICK-LOOK: GPS 2R-15 CUE CARD
 
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EW3       9/26/2006 8:03:08 AM
 
 
 
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EW3       9/27/2006 3:17:38 AM
 
that should give us about 30 publicly announced GPS.  Is China going to catch up with us soon?
 
This is a schedule of launch events over the next few months http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
US space operations are sure going to be busy.   Some of these boosters have enormous payloads.  The can put up to 10 tons into GEO or almost 25 tons into LEO.  What can the military do with a network of 25 ton satellites in LEO?   
 
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reefdiver       9/27/2006 4:42:47 PM

... The US is just walking away from everyone else in space. ...

Can you provide a bit more detail on how the US is "walking away from everyone else in space"? Stats would be quite useful. I haven't looked at any launch stats and wonder how there're stacking up these days.
 
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VelocityVector       9/27/2006 4:57:25 PM

Can you provide a bit more detail on how the US is "walking away from everyone else in space"? Stats would be quite useful. I haven't looked at any launch stats and wonder how there're stacking up these days.

Tables of operational military satellites

TED MOLCZAN and JOHN PIKE*

Table 1. US operational military satellites, as of 31 December 2004a 

 

Common                Official                    Intl                NORAD   Launched                              Launch        Perigee      Apogee      Incl.        Period

name                       name                       name             design.       (date)            Launcher          site              (km)          (km)          (deg.)      (min.)     Comments

 

Navigation satellites in medium earth orbit                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

GPS 2-02               SVN 13
 
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EW3       9/27/2006 5:03:00 PM
Actually if you follow the link to spaceflightnow.com I provided it will show you the launch schedule for the next 6 months, and that will give you an idea. 
It's not just about launches, it's about tonnage and payload quality into space.  Both of which the US wins hands down.  The latest ISS mission to put the solar array up was for all practical purposes US only.  The next 6 ISS missions will be the same way. 
Then there are the Martian landrovers, which are still going strong after almost 3 years on the surface of mars:  http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/home/
And Cassini is still doing a lot of science. - http://www.space.com/cassini/
Yes it is a bragadocious, but the truth is China is working on getting their 3rd man mission going.  Russia is reduced to using sub missiles to try and get satellites into orbit.  EU is the closest, but they are not exactly launching that many rockets anymore.
 
 
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EW3       9/27/2006 5:09:36 PM
Actually if you follow the link to spaceflightnow.com I provided it will show you the launch schedule for the next 6 months, and that will give you an idea. 
It's not just about launches, it's about tonnage and payload quality into space.  Both of which the US wins hands down.  The latest ISS mission to put the solar array up was for all practical purposes US only.  The next 6 ISS missions will be the same way. 
Then there are the Martian landrovers, which are still going strong after almost 3 years on the surface of mars:  http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/home/
And Cassini is still doing a lot of science. - http://www.space.com/cassini/
Yes it is a bragadocious, but the truth is China is working on getting their 3rd man mission going.  Russia is reduced to using sub missiles to try and get satellites into orbit.  EU is the closest, but they are not exactly launching that many rockets anymore.
 
 
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reefdiver       9/29/2006 1:17:54 AM
Very cool stats - thanks for elaborating!
 
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