Arnhem Space Centre: Second rocket launch successfully launched on third attempt on Wednesday

It was third time lucky as NASA’s second rocket successfully launched from the Arnhem Space Centre. DETAILS HERE.

THIRD time was the charm for NASA’s second rocket, which successfully launched from the Arnhem Space Centre after delays.

The rocket was originally scheduled to take off at 8.24pm on Monday but due to weather had to be pushed.

It was again delayed on Tuesday as the launch faced more complications due to “extraordinary high winds” which were outside the mission’s safety limits.

The launch rescheduled for Wednesday and with promising conditions took off, making it the second successful rocket launch from Australian soil.

Equatorial Launch Australia announced the successful launch on social media.

“We’re excited to announce we successfully completed our second launch,” a post read.

“The NASA Sistine mission will help astronomers understand how starlight influences a planet’s atmosphere, possibly making or breaking its ability to support life as we know it.

“Thank you for your enthusiasm and support as we continue to make history in Australia.”

Weather delays second Territory lift-off, plans for third attempt

THE second rocket to be launched from the Arnhem Space Centre has had to be delayed for a second time.

But the NASA crew plan to make a third attempt on Wednesday at 8.24pm, depending on weather conditions.

The second attempted launch on Tuesday faced complications due to “extraordinary high winds” which were outside of the mission’s safety limits.

Equatorial Launch Australia executive chairman Michael Jones said the crew had been working with the Bureau of Meteorology and were hopeful to get the impressive aircraft into space on Wednesday night.

“There’s no pressure on us to get this done and we’ve got quite a good window,” Mr Jones said.

“The scientists are very relaxed about it because they want to do it properly and get it done right, rather than rush it and there is no imperative to do it fast.”

ELA executive chairman Michael Jones is getting keen for the second history-making rocket launch from Arnhem Space Centre on Monday night. Picture: ELA.

Mr Jones said the delays in the scheduled lift-offs were not a financial burden on the operation.

“We were all paid to be up here for the duration of the campaign anyway. There would be a few little things for NASA like bits and pieces servicing rockets but in the context of the whole program, it’s insignificant,” he said.

“There’s no imperative from anybody to push ahead with this. We want to get it right and safety always comes first.”

Mr Jones said similar to the two previous nights, the weather forecast again created some complications for the anticipated third attempt to launch.

“I think the wind is still going to be challenging for us,” he said. “We just make sure that we’re well within the safety limits, whereas we’ve been sitting well outside the red zone for the last three days, so that’s why we haven’t launched.”

When asked if the delays would impede on the scheduled third rocket launch date of July 12, Mr Jones said at this stage there was no pressure on the crew.

“We can go right up to the 11th (July) or even beyond that if we need to and then we could delay the third one,” he said.

Second launch abandoned

THE second rocket launch from the Arnhem Space Centre in Nhulunbuy was abandoned on Tuesday night because of weather conditions.

Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) announced on its Facebook page: “We have delayed tonight’s scheduled NASA SISTINE launch mission due to the impact of weather on the launch.”

ELA executive chairman and group chief executive Michael Jones said unprecedented weather conditions across the whole of the north and east of Australia were causing the delays but safety was the primary concern.

“We went through the countdown with every intent to launch, but the consistent winds were outside the parameters that we considered safe. On that basis, we made the decision to delay the launch tonight,” Mr Jones said.

Where to watch second rocket launch

ELA said it won’t be live-streaming Tuesday night’s launch but you can watch the video of the first launch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch

However, ELA said on its Facebook page that, if you’re in Nhulunbuy and surrounding areas and you have a direct line of sight into the sky, you will be able to see the rocket approximately 10 seconds after launch, and it will be visible for more than 30 seconds depending on cloud cover.

The first NASA rocket launching from Arnhem Space Centre on June 26. Picture: NASA / AFP.

Any location that has a good view of the sky looking south west from Nhulunbuy will be good for viewing the rocket launches.

The East Arnhem Land website has some maps and information about the best places to get a good view: https://www.eastarnhemland.com.au/where-to-watch-a-rocket-launch-in-east-arnhem

ELA said a successful launch was dependent on many things, including the weather.

“For this next launch, we have a launch window until just after midnight,” ELA said on its Facebook page.

“This means that if there are strong winds or others factors that delay the launch we just launch it a bit later that night.

“Otherwise, we can reschedule the launch for the following day. It is not uncommon for rocket launches to be rescheduled given the complexities involved.”

Second rocket launch imminent

HISTORY will again be made at the Arnhem Space Centre, with the second of three rockets to launch soon.

The launch will be almost identical to the first launch at the end of last month.

ELA executive chairman Michael Jones said the countdown will be two hours shorter than the previous launch, reducing the official countdown from eight to six hours.

“The countdown has been shortened by two hours because the NASA team is more used to dealing with each other, the team has now done four rehearsals and a live launch, so we now know we can do the checks and procedures better and it’s more streamlined,” Mr Jones said. “It will be exactly the same as last time, almost a carbon copy.”

Final checks before the rocket is propelled into space consist of examining the weather and meticulously making sure the range is clear.

“Then the last ten seconds is just like in the movies and that’s done verbally,” Mr Jones said.

The second launch rocket is called Sistine, which Mr Jones said was an acronym for the scientific process it would be using.

“It’s really loud on site and they can feel the vibration and shockwaves as it takes off. It’s a big feeling. Everyone was really pumped after the first launch,” Mr Jones said.

The final rehearsal that concluded on Sunday afternoon was an opportunity for any final changes to be made before the official live launch on Monday night.

When asked what it feels like to be involved in such a high-scale project Mr Jones replied: “I’m not like a rocket junkie. This is what I do, complex project management so it’s a feeling of relief but also you take pride in the achievement of making it go perfectly.”

“If there ever was a business where it was important to have good attention to detail, this is it,” he said.

To watch the livestream, click here.

Originally published as Arnhem Space Centre: Second rocket launch successfully launched on third attempt on Wednesday