Author Topic: Delta IV-H - NROL-82 - Vandenberg SLC-6 - 26 April 2021 (20:47 UTC)  (Read 57066 times)

Offline Mammutti

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R/S RocketShip: Road to Vandenberg

Navigating both rivers and open oceans, the highly maneuverable R/S RocketShip plays a critical role in all missions launched by United Launch Alliance (ULA). Let’s take a ride with the vessel as it leaves Decatur, AL to deliver the Delta IV Heavy rocket for the National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-82 mission to Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA.

Offline catdlr

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This additional video (from another NRO Launch (NROL-71) would complete the great video above.

Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Offline Newton_V

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This additional video (from another NRO Launch (NROL-71) would complete the great video above.
Love that video.  Good times...

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/1384220218277253124

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🚀LAUNCH UPDATE: Our #NROL82 mission launch is still targeting NET next Monday, April 26, with a targeted liftoff of 1:46 p.m. PDT. Follow along on launch day with live updates here and on @ulalaunch's live broadcast: ulalaunch.com/missions/next-…  @30thSpaceWing @USSF_SMC

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/chrisg_nsf/status/1384216932824481798

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With #NROL82 next week, & given the eventful campaign of NROL-44 last year, we spoke with @ulalaunch on how they're ensuring those same issues won't happen at Vandenberg & won't recur in Florida. #DeltaIVHeavy

From Joseph Navin (@josephanavin) & myself⬇️

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/04/delta-iv-vandenberg-pad-work/

Offline Eric Hedman

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Re: Delta IV-H - NROL-82 - Vandenberg SLC-6 - Q4 2020
« Reply #45 on: 04/19/2021 11:40 pm »
Any history buffs know who this is?  (No internet cheating.  I was actually surprised how well facial recognition websites work)
Is this why there is a picture of a Corsair on ULA's website for this mission?  My dad's cousin  flew one in the South Pacific - just not in the same squadron.  They would sometimes outfit one with a reconnaissance pod on some missions.  And I did recognize the person in the photo.  Because of my dad's cousin's adventures I have dug up a bit about those times.

Offline sdsds

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I've been excited about spaceflight since Apollo 11, and have been an active participant (on and off) here on the NSF forums since 2007. But I've never seen an orbital rocket launch LIVE!

I'm well aware for any launch there are posts like this one that annoy people, but ... I really want to see this one. So much so that I've arranged air travel arriving into LAX at 7:30 am the morning of the scheduled launch. I'm hopping into a rental car and driving towards Vandenberg.

But I would gladly stop along the way to pick up an experienced "guide" who knows the good spots for VAFB launch viewing. There'll be plenty of space in the "Chevrolet Equinox or similar, make/model not guaranteed" for photographic gear, etc. If you know the places to drive to, no need to even chip in for gas....

Any takers? Private message replies are likely the best way to go. I'll volunteer to coordinate up to 4 respondents for a carpool....
— 𝐬𝐝𝐒𝐝𝐬 —

Offline Newton_V

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This was on the L-71 thread:

"Assuming it's not closed down in town, jump on San Miguelito Road and drive as far south down it as you can. It was open for the Heavy launches in 2011 and 2013."

The road goes farther than the point in this pic, but it drops lower from this point.  I have no idea if they block this road, or when if they do.  It's a really nice drive too.  Just head south out of downtown Lompoc.

Offline xcel102

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So much so that I've arranged air travel arriving into LAX at 7:30 am the morning of the scheduled launch. I'm hopping into a rental car and driving towards Vandenberg.
I admire your determination ;D I wouldn't fly to see any launch other than Atlas V -- since it has the least chance of delay/scrub.

That said, I'll be driving from San Diego to see this one! I haven't seen a Delta IV launch, let alone Heavy. The last attempt (NROL-71) I was all the way to Oxnard/Ventura when they scrubbed. I've been to Vandenberg a few times but not sure about a good spot for Delta IV. Maybe we can rendezvous somewhere and head together, will PM you later.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1385331207399825413

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ULA says there's a 40 percent chance of acceptable weather for the April 26 launch attempt of a Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the NROL-82 satellite. Mission is from Vandenberg in California. Launch time is 1:46 p.m. PT (20:46 UTC).

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1385331946318749696

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Forecast is unfortunately the same for 24 hours later.
« Last Edit: 04/22/2021 09:09 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline hoku

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ULA says there's a 40 percent chance of acceptable weather for the April 26 launch attempt of a Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the NROL-82 satellite.....

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Forecast is unfortunately the same for 24 hours later.

This gives a probability of 1-0.6*0.6 = 64% for acceptable weather on at least one of the days of April 26 and 27 (and a 36% change that the weather will be below limits on both days).  8)

Offline catdlr

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April 22, 2021, @ 7:32 PM PST

The following is an update from the United Launch Alliance:


Hello,

Everything is progressing toward the ULA Delta IV Heavy launch carrying the NROL-82 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. The mission is set to lift off on Monday, April 26 from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Today’s forecast shows a 40 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. The launch time is 1:46 p.m. PDT.


Launch Forecast Summary:

Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 60%

Primary concerns: Surface winds, Thick clouds


Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24 hour delay: 60%

Primary concern: Surface winds, Thick clouds


Hashtags

The hashtags for this launch are: #DeltaIVHeavy #NROL82


Launch Broadcast

Live broadcast coverage of launch will begin at 1:26 p.m. PDT on April 26.

Live launch updates and webcast available at: www.ulalaunch.com


ALL TIMES PACIFIC


MONDAY, APRIL 26

BARS + TONE – 12:56 P.M.

PROGRAM START – 1:25 P.M.


DIGITAL SATELLITE C-BAND DOWNLINK

HD FORMAT

SATELLITE — G3
TRANSPONDER — 7A
BAND — C-BAND DIGITAL
ORBITAL POSITION — 95°W
HD BANDWIDTH — 9 MHz

UPLINK — 6,051.5 MHz (Vertical)

DOWNLINK — 3,826.5 MHz (Horizontal)
SYMBOL RATE — 7.5
FEC — ¾
DVB-S2 – 8PSK
MPEG 4
AUDIO EMBEDDED


Webcast available at www.ulalaunch.com and www.youtube.com/unitedlaunchalliance
Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.


Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1385643561656274944

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Leadership from ULA, @NatReconOfc and @SpaceForceDOD held the Launch Readiness Review for the #NROL82 mission today and gave a unanimous "ready" for Monday's countdown to liftoff of #DeltaIVHeavy. #PartnersInSpace
https://www.ulalaunch.com/missions/next-launch/delta-iv-heavy-nrol-82


Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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This gives a probability of 1-0.6*0.6 = 64% for acceptable weather on at least one of the days of April 26 and 27 (and a 36% change that the weather will be below limits on both days).  8)

If only that were true! The maths is only correct if the weather on each of the 2 days is completely independent of the weather on the other day.

I guess given how changeable Vandenberg weather can be, that might be true ...

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Offline catdlr

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The United Launch Alliance (ULA) provided the following update this afternoon:

"The ULA Launch Readiness Review was completed today and everything is progressing toward the ULA Delta IV Heavy launch carrying the NROL-82 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. The mission is set to lift off on Monday, April 26 from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Today’s forecast shows a 30 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. The launch time is 1:46 p.m. PDT."

----------

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The following is a news release from the ULA:

United Launch Alliance to Launch NROL-82 Mission to Support National Security
Delta IV Heavy heavy-lift performance required for mission

Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., (April 23, 2021) – A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket is in final preparations to launch the NROL-82 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to support national security. The launch is on track for April 26 from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Launch is planned for 1:46 p.m. PDT. The live launch broadcast begins at 1:26 p.m. PDT on April 26 at www.ulalaunch.com.

“ULA is proud of our long-standing history supporting national security space. The unmatched performance of the Delta IV Heavy is essential for launching some of our nation’s most critical national security space missions and we look forward to delivering this critical asset to space,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “It takes a cross-functional team to support a national security launch and we would like to thank our mission partners for their continued trust, collaboration and teamwork.”

The Delta IV Heavy is the nation’s proven heavy lifter, delivering high-priority missions for the U.S. Space Force, NRO and NASA. The vehicle also launched NASA's Orion capsule on its first orbital test flight and sent the Parker Solar Probe on its journey to unlock the mysteries of the Sun.

This Delta IV Heavy is comprised of three common core boosters each powered by an Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68A liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine producing a combined total of more than 2.1 million pounds of thrust. The second stage is powered by an AR RL10B-2 liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine.

This will be the 42nd launch of the Delta IV rocket and the 13th in the Heavy configuration. To date ULA has launched 142 times with 100 percent mission success.

With more than a century of combined heritage, ULA is the nation’s most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 140 missions to orbit that aid meteorologists in tracking severe weather, unlock the mysteries of our solar system, provide critical capabilities for troops in the field, deliver cutting-edge commercial services and enable GPS navigation. For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321).

Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch
Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1385962240277467139

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🚀✨ Wonder when you will see the #DeltaIVHeavy near you? Our visibility graphic shows when the rocket will rise into view during its #NROL82 mission ⬇️

Offline input~2

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04/159 (A1565/21) - AIRSPACE DCC 2ROPS DO-2102 AREA B STNR ALT
RESERVATION WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 2257N12046W TO 2347N12518W TO
2627N12445W TO 2536N12008W TO POINT OF ORIGIN SFC-UNL. 26 APR 20:46 2021 UNTIL
26 APR 22:21 2021. CREATED: 23 APR 10:20 2021



EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS:
A. 2016Z TO 2257Z DAILY 26 THRU 28 APR
IN AREA BOUND BY
34-38N 120-40W, 34-36N 120-30W,
34-07N 120-39W, 34-08N 120-44W.
B. 2016Z TO 2257Z DAILY 26 THRU 28 APR
IN AREA BOUND BY
22-57N 120-46W, 23-47N 125-18W,
26-27N 124-45W, 25-36N 120-08W.
C. 2016Z TO 2257Z DAILY 26 THRU 28 APR
IN AREA BOUND BY
13-28S 121-20W, 10-47S 138-34W,
00-47S 136-41W, 03-52S 119-54W.
D. 2253Z TO 0029Z COMMENCING DAILY
26 THRU 29 APR IN AREA BOUND BY
63-14S 174-16W, 32-49S 159-58W,
33-23S 156-28W, 64-16S 168-07W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 300129Z APR 21.//
Authority: WESTERN RANGE 121647Z APR 21.
Date: 220446Z APR 21
Cancel: 30012900 Apr 21
« Last Edit: 04/24/2021 04:33 pm by input~2 »

Offline Star One

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If this is a KH-11 going into a ‘traditional’ eastern plane orbit. It suggests USA 290 was not a KH-11.

Source: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2021/0069.html

Further to the above here is an estimated elset:

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2021/0110.html

More on the links below:

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2021/0121.html

https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2021/04/nrol-82-upcoming-new-kh-11-evolved.html?m=1
« Last Edit: 04/24/2021 04:32 pm by Star One »

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