Author Topic: LIVE: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 - Vandenberg - January 12, 2018  (Read 135232 times)

Offline Targeteer

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This is the next Delta IV launch I see on the schedule...

https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/videos/10155981858874897/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED

A cargo ship, the MV Mariner, was unloaded at the Vandenberg Air Force Base dock, April 6. The MV Mariner made its way from a production facility in Decatur, Ala., to deliver a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket.

Various Air Force personnel were on site at Vandenberg's only dock, which solely exists to accommodate the Mariner's rocket deliveries. The Delta IV rocket is delivered by boat due to its massive size inhibiting other forms of travel.

Check out this time-lapse of the arrival and offloading!
« Last Edit: 01/13/2018 01:41 pm by input~2 »
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Offline pb2000

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 October 18 -Vandenberg SLC-6
« Reply #1 on: 04/09/2017 04:18 am »
Does ULA just like shipping things early, or does the trip through the Panama Canal necessitate installing all the ITAR sensitive items on site?
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Offline Newton_V

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 October 18 -Vandenberg SLC-6
« Reply #2 on: 04/09/2017 04:15 pm »
Does ULA just like shipping things early, or does the trip through the Panama Canal necessitate installing all the ITAR sensitive items on site?

It's not uncommon for hardware to be at the pad for awhile, especially if it's the next launch, and the Delta Mariner was available.

Offline IanThePineapple

Does ULA just like shipping things early, or does the trip through the Panama Canal necessitate installing all the ITAR sensitive items on site?

It's not uncommon for hardware to be at the pad for awhile, especially if it's the next launch, and the Delta Mariner was available.

Plus Vandy isn't used all that often, so why not stockpile a few boosters there to have a bit of room to breathe.

Offline edkyle99

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 October 18 -Vandenberg SLC-6
« Reply #4 on: 04/09/2017 05:14 pm »
The Mariner schedule has to be carefully arranged to get boosters to both coasts on time.

 - Ed Kyle

Offline AncientU

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 October 18 -Vandenberg SLC-6
« Reply #5 on: 04/09/2017 06:02 pm »
Does ULA just like shipping things early, or does the trip through the Panama Canal necessitate installing all the ITAR sensitive items on site?

It's not uncommon for hardware to be at the pad for awhile, especially if it's the next launch, and the Delta Mariner was available.

After this launch, how many Delta IV-Ms are remaining?  Have heard 2018 is final year...
Same for Delta IIs... one this year, one next, and done?
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Online Alter Sachse

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 October 18 -Vandenberg SLC-6
« Reply #6 on: 04/09/2017 07:16 pm »
Does ULA just like shipping things early, or does the trip through the Panama Canal necessitate installing all the ITAR sensitive items on site?

It's not uncommon for hardware to be at the pad for awhile, especially if it's the next launch, and the Delta Mariner was available.

After this launch, how many Delta IV-Ms are remaining?  Have heard 2018 is final year...
Same for Delta IIs... one this year, one next, and done?
http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/delta-4.htm
end of the list:"planned"
-at least 9 more launches
« Last Edit: 04/09/2017 07:49 pm by Alter Sachse »
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Offline ethan829

Does ULA just like shipping things early, or does the trip through the Panama Canal necessitate installing all the ITAR sensitive items on site?

It's not uncommon for hardware to be at the pad for awhile, especially if it's the next launch, and the Delta Mariner was available.

After this launch, how many Delta IV-Ms are remaining?  Have heard 2018 is final year...
Same for Delta IIs... one this year, one next, and done?


Looks like three more Delta IV Ms through 2018 (NROL-47, GPS IIIA-1, and WGS-10), with the last of the two remaining Delta IIs (aside from the spare) the same year.

Online Alter Sachse

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 October 18 -Vandenberg SLC-6
« Reply #8 on: 04/10/2017 07:13 am »
Does ULA just like shipping things early, or does the trip through the Panama Canal necessitate installing all the ITAR sensitive items on site?

It's not uncommon for hardware to be at the pad for awhile, especially if it's the next launch, and the Delta Mariner was available.

After this launch, how many Delta IV-Ms are remaining?  Have heard 2018 is final year...
Same for Delta IIs... one this year, one next, and done?


Looks like three more Delta IV Ms through 2018 (NROL-47, GPS IIIA-1, and WGS-10), with the last of the two remaining Delta IIs (aside from the spare) the same year.
Sorry - I have the question not read correctly.
Only 3 Delta 4M, the other Delta 4H.
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Offline vapour_nudge

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 December 20, 2017 -VAFB SLC-6
« Reply #9 on: 05/10/2017 10:39 pm »
According to SFN this launch has slipped to the 20th of December

Online zubenelgenubi

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 October 18, 2017 -VAFB SLC-6
« Reply #10 on: 06/09/2017 05:36 pm »
This is the next Delta IV launch I see on the schedule...

https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/videos/10155981858874897/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED

A cargo ship, the MV Mariner, was unloaded at the Vandenberg Air Force Base dock, April 6. The MV Mariner made its way from a production facility in Decatur, Ala., to deliver a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket.

Various Air Force personnel were on site at Vandenberg's only dock, which solely exists to accommodate the Mariner's rocket deliveries. The Delta IV rocket is delivered by boat due to its massive size inhibiting other forms of travel.

Check out this time-lapse of the arrival and offloading!
I saw the CBC unloaded, and the two halves of a payload fairing.  There was also a large container unloaded.  Did this contain the 5-meter diameter DCSS?

Also, this launch campaign will be the last for a Delta IV Medium from Vandenberg/SLC-6.
« Last Edit: 06/09/2017 05:39 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 October 18, 2017 -VAFB SLC-6
« Reply #11 on: 06/10/2017 12:24 am »
I saw the CBC unloaded, and the two halves of a payload fairing.  There was also a large container unloaded.  Did this contain the 5-meter diameter DCSS?

Also, this launch campaign will be the last for a Delta IV Medium from Vandenberg/SLC-6.
Yes.

Offline vapour_nudge

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 December 13, 2017 -VAFB SLC-6
« Reply #12 on: 06/10/2017 10:09 am »
According to SFN this launch has slipped to the 20th of December
SFN now has this launch listed as "moved up to the 13th of December"
« Last Edit: 06/10/2017 10:21 am by vapour_nudge »

Offline c3infinity

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 October 18, 2017 -VAFB SLC-6
« Reply #13 on: 07/02/2017 07:07 pm »
Patch

Online William Graham

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 October 18, 2017 -VAFB SLC-6
« Reply #14 on: 07/02/2017 10:07 pm »
Patch

Mali Nunquam Praevalebunt - Evil Will Never Prevail

The symbols look like fleurs-de-lis. There are five of them which could correspond to the fifth satellite in a series. Specifically Topaz, which is the only satellite that has ever used the Delta IVM+(5,2). The swing of the knight's sword looks like the retrograde orbit these spacecraft operate in.

Online gongora

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 October 18, 2017 -VAFB SLC-6
« Reply #15 on: 07/28/2017 01:53 am »
Spaceflight Now shows a Dec. 13 date for this launch.

Online abaddon

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 December 13, 2017 -VAFB SLC-6
« Reply #16 on: 07/30/2017 07:32 pm »
There are quite a few launches scheduled in the back half of the year, many of them SpaceX.  Seems like the range will be quite busy and it might not take much for launches to start slipping due to conflicts.

Unless you have data to suggest the delay is due to lack of capability on ULA's side, there's no good reason to assume it is that I am aware of.
« Last Edit: 07/30/2017 07:33 pm by abaddon »

Online gongora

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 December 13, 2017 -VAFB SLC-6
« Reply #17 on: 07/30/2017 07:48 pm »
There are quite a few launches scheduled in the back half of the year, many of them SpaceX...

There aren't many SpaceX flights from Vandenberg the rest of this year.  Any schedule conflicts would be more likely from missile testing or some other non-SpaceX source.

Online zubenelgenubi

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 December 13, 2017 -VAFB SLC-6
« Reply #18 on: 11/18/2017 05:54 am »
Are there any articles or blog posts that analyze the Topaz constellation orbits?

More particularly, how might Topaz 5 be added to the current 4 satellite constellation?

The orbits are all approximately 1100 km x 1105 km x 123 deg.  However, the right ascension at ascending node (RAAN) elements are separated by approximately 90 degrees.

From the www.heavens-above.com database:

Satellite                     RAAN
NROL-41, USA 215     268.7

NROL-25, USA 234     96.4

NROL-39, USA 247     6.6

NROL-45, USA 267     166.0

Will an intended RAAN be calculable once the approximate launch time is released?
***

Related question: Is this to be the final "block 1" launch of Topaz/FIA-R, according to the Snowden document leaks?
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Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Delta IV-M+(5,2) - NROL-47 December 13, 2017 -VAFB SLC-6
« Reply #19 on: 11/18/2017 10:32 am »
NROL-47 poster.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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