Orbital Antares User Manual
Page 62
Antares
®
OSP-3
User’s Guide
Section 7.0
– Ground and Launch Operations
Release 1.1
July 2013
51
7. GROUND AND LAUNCH OPERATIONS
Antares ground and launch operations are conducted in three major phases:
Launch Vehicle Processing/Integration: Includes receipt and checkout of the launch vehicle
components, followed by assembly and test of the Antares vehicle.
Payload Processing/Integration: Includes receipt and checkout of the payload, payload inter-
face verification, mate to the payload adapter followed by integration with Antares launch vehicle,
and encapsulation within the Antares fairing.
Launch Operations: Includes completion of readiness reviews and rehearsals, transport of the
integrated launch vehicle to the launch pad, arming, erection, checkout, fueling, countdown activi-
ties, and launch.
7.1. Antares Launch Processing and Integration Overview
The Antares launch system is designed to minimize vehicle and payload handling complexity and launch
site integration effort. The Antares program utilizes horizontal integration to simplify integration proce-
dures, increase safety, and provide improved access for the integration team. The Antares vehicle
processing methodology is also designed to reduce the time between spacecraft integration and launch
operations. The concept of operations for the launch vehicle maximizes processing and testing done in
parallel to payload operations, reducing the duration and complexity of joint operational requirements. In
addition, Orbital’s established mechanical and electrical interfaces and checkout procedures reduce ve-
hicle and payload integration times, increase system reliability and minimize vehicle demands on payload
availability.
The Antares launch vehicle horizontal integration process also eliminates the need for a mobile service
tower or large cranes at the launch pad. Vehicle components including motor stages, engines, fairing,
avionics, payload adapter, separation system and all structures are received and integrated at the HIF.
At approximately L-20 days, the payload arrives at the HIF for integration to the payload adapter, inter-
face verification testing, mission simulation testing, and encapsulation within the fairing. At approximately
L-3 days, the integrated vehicle is transported to the launch pad on a TEL, rotated to vertical, and in-
stalled on the launch mount. After umbilical connections are completed and vehicle checks are per-
formed, the first stage is fueled starting approximately 90 minutes before launch.
The Antares integration and test process ensures that all vehicle components and subsystems are tho-
roughly tested at successive levels of integration to reduce risk in the schedule closer to launch. Orbital
maintains launch site management and test scheduling responsibilities throughout the entire launch oper-
ations cycle. Antares integration activities are controlled by a comprehensive set of Antares Work Pack-
ages (WPs) that thoroughly describe and document every aspect of integrating the Antares launch ve-
hicle and the payload. Mission-specific work packages are created, as required, to handle Mission-
Unique, payload-specific, or one-time vehicle configuration procedures. Payload and launch vehicle inte-
grated procedures are formally reviewed with the customer during the MIWGs.