R/S RocketShip: Road to VandenbergNavigating 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.
This additional video (from another NRO Launch (NROL-71) would complete the great video above.
🚀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
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. #DeltaIVHeavyFrom Joseph Navin (@josephanavin) & myself⬇️
Any history buffs know who this is? (No internet cheating. I was actually surprised how well facial recognition websites work)
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.
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).
Forecast is unfortunately the same for 24 hours later.
QuoteULA 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.....QuoteForecast is unfortunately the same for 24 hours later.
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.....
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 cloudsOverall probability of violating weather constraints for 24 hour delay: 60%Primary concern: Surface winds, Thick cloudsHashtagsThe hashtags for this launch are: #DeltaIVHeavy #NROL82Launch BroadcastLive broadcast coverage of launch will begin at 1:26 p.m. PDT on April 26.Live launch updates and webcast available at: www.ulalaunch.comALL TIMES PACIFICMONDAY, APRIL 26BARS + TONE – 12:56 P.M.PROGRAM START – 1:25 P.M.DIGITAL SATELLITE C-BAND DOWNLINKHD FORMATSATELLITE — G3TRANSPONDER — 7ABAND — C-BAND DIGITALORBITAL POSITION — 95°WHD BANDWIDTH — 9 MHzUPLINK — 6,051.5 MHz (Vertical)DOWNLINK — 3,826.5 MHz (Horizontal)SYMBOL RATE — 7.5FEC — ¾DVB-S2 – 8PSKMPEG 4AUDIO EMBEDDEDWebcast available at www.ulalaunch.com and www.youtube.com/unitedlaunchalliance
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. #PartnersInSpacehttps://www.ulalaunch.com/missions/next-launch/delta-iv-heavy-nrol-82
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).
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."
The following is a news release from the ULA:United Launch Alliance to Launch NROL-82 Mission to Support National SecurityDelta IV Heavy heavy-lift performance required for missionVandenberg 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
🚀✨ Wonder when you will see the #DeltaIVHeavy near you? Our visibility graphic shows when the rocket will rise into view during its #NROL82 mission ⬇️