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Streamlining Space Launch Range Safety (2000) / Chapter Skim
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5 Incursions
Pages 36-42

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 36...
... A launch scrub typically increases launch costs by at least $100,000 and increases risk, especially if it is necessary to de-fuel the launch vehicle or offload the payload. Space launches typically require a huge investment of time and effort on the part of designers, manufacturers, testers, and support personnel to reduce the likelihood of failures and anomalies.
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From page 37...
... These areas are also conservatively sized and include buffer zones of five miles or more. No other warnings to commercial traffic are invoked outside of these areas, and air lanes around the world continue to operate normally below the flight paths of space and missile launches.
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From page 38...
... However, the use of collective risk in the Eastern Range ship exclusion process is not consistent with either the corresponding Western Range process or accepted guidelines for the evacuation of hazard areas, which are both based on individual risk. Aircraft avoidance criterion are not specified by EWR 127-1, are applied differently at the Eastern and Western Ranges, and are not supported by analyses showing that they are consistent with other range safety criteria.
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From page 39...
... Principal sites at the ER that actively support launches include the radar approach control facility at Patrick Air Force Base and FAA radars at the Miami and Jacksonville air route traffic control centers. These radars provide aircraft surveillance within a 50-nautical mile radius of the launch site.
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From page 40...
... As a result, considerable time and manpower are needed to integrate and interpret this information before it can be acted upon. The committee believes radar data from current ATC and military air surveillance radars may not be adequate under maximum traffic loading to provide an integrated display of aircraft position and tracking information for timely and efficient air surveillance and control purposes, especially at the ER.
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From page 41...
... Attorney's Office, and other regulatory and law enforcement agencies, AFSPC should initiate administrative and regulatory changes to facilitate enforcement action against intruders who were afforded ample, timely launch notifications. REFERENCES EWR 127-1 (Eastern and Western Range Safety Requirements)
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Key Terms

  • air surveillance
  • eastern range
  • launch risk
  • range safety
  • overpressure limits

  • launch vehicle
  • oil platforms
  • traffic controllers
  • oil platform
  • individual risk

  • launch holds
  • interdiction capabilities
  • risk standards
  • launch operations
  • current guidelines

  • space launches
  • western range
  • hazardous launch
  • risk criteria
  • launch hazard

  • buffer zones
  • military aircraft
  • range surveillance
  • launch hold
  • force base

  • aircraft intruders
  • risk standard
  • coast guard
  • collective risk
  • surveillance radar


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