LIVE: Delta IV Heavy - NROL-15 - June 29, 2012

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Has ULA declared launch success yet? Sounds like indeed it's going to geostationary orbit if it takes so long....

[FinalFrontier]

Did anyone else think the RS-68 exhaust looked "cleaner" on this launch than previous launches? I remember watching some previous D4H launches and thinking about how orange the exhaust looked, especially compared to the near-invisibility of the SSME exhaust flame. The plumes on this launched were still pretty visible, but they looked more purple than orange to me. Maybe it's just the lighting.

That's because this was the first launch of the new RS68A engine.

More powerful and higher isp hence "cleaner" exhaust plume, so to speak.

[kevin-rf]

Has ULA declared launch success yet? Sounds like indeed it's going to geostationary orbit if it takes so long....

Or an inclined HEO... But you are right, a delay like this implies they are waiting for the circularization burn. I am just waiting for the Pratt and Wittney press release. I would be willing to bet they declare it the first successful flight of the new RS-68a 

[Targeteer]

From memory: RS-68 - 650k thrust & 409 seconds Isp. RS-68A - 700k+plus thrust and 414 seconds Isp. The main method to get more Isp would be to go to a regeneratively-cooled nozzle. But that's a billion dollar plus program

PWR should get its act together and (re)learn how to do engine modifications for less than $1b per one change.

Or prepare to become obsolete.

Why, name an existing payload that needs something larger than the Delta IV Heavy with RS-68a.

Will a regeneratively-cooled nozzle cost less to make?

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but this is the heaviest NRO payload ever flown.

The imagery bird out of Vandenberg? 

If the upper stage is included as payload since it also reaches geo-synch (assuming that's where they are going), then maybe...

[Chris Bergin]

Has ULA declared launch success yet? Sounds like indeed it's going to geostationary orbit if it takes so long....

They usually send out a presser, and usually with a nice launch photo. Nothing yet.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Has ULA declared launch success yet? Sounds like indeed it's going to geostationary orbit if it takes so long....

They usually send out a presser, and usually with a nice launch photo. Nothing yet.

I checked the previous launches, and for the two that are publicly announced launching to GSO, the 2004 Heavy Demo launch have the dummy payload separated at 5 hours 49 minutes after launch, and in the 2007 DSP launch the satellite separated 6 hours 15 minutes into the flight. We're now at 4 hours 45 minutes after launch, so...

[Jim]

PWR should get its act together and (re)learn how to do engine modifications for less than $1b per one change.

Or prepare to become obsolete.

Another unqualified quote. 
1.  It wasn't one change
2. It worked the first time with an important customer

[Downix]

From memory: RS-68 - 650k thrust & 409 seconds Isp. RS-68A - 700k+plus thrust and 414 seconds Isp. The main method to get more Isp would be to go to a regeneratively-cooled nozzle. But that's a billion dollar plus program

PWR should get its act together and (re)learn how to do engine modifications for less than $1b per one change.

Or prepare to become obsolete.

It effectively re-designed whole systems, without harming the few systems remaining. That is an expensive change.

[sdsds]

Now that RS-68A has flown, apparently successfully, is "the anticipated change [...] to an RS-68A+ that adds startup H2 release mitigation" a certainty, or is that work still awaiting funding? Related: is it possible the observations of today's launch (saying there seemed to be less charring) are due to increased thrust from RS-68A moving the vehicle out of the flame ball more quickly?

[Nick L.]

Has ULA declared launch success yet? Sounds like indeed it's going to geostationary orbit if it takes so long....

They usually send out a presser, and usually with a nice launch photo. Nothing yet.

I checked the previous launches, and for the two that are publicly announced launching to GSO, the 2004 Heavy Demo launch have the dummy payload separated at 5 hours 49 minutes after launch, and in the 2007 DSP launch the satellite separated 6 hours 15 minutes into the flight. We're now at 4 hours 45 minutes after launch, so...

With L-32, which is believed to have the same payload as this launch, they put out their press release within 30 minutes of the webcast ending. I wonder why the change this time.

[Targeteer]

Has ULA declared launch success yet? Sounds like indeed it's going to geostationary orbit if it takes so long....

They usually send out a presser, and usually with a nice launch photo. Nothing yet.

I checked the previous launches, and for the two that are publicly announced launching to GSO, the 2004 Heavy Demo launch have the dummy payload separated at 5 hours 49 minutes after launch, and in the 2007 DSP launch the satellite separated 6 hours 15 minutes into the flight. We're now at 4 hours 45 minutes after launch, so...

With L-32, which is believed to have the same payload as this launch, they put out their press release within 30 minutes of the webcast ending. I wonder why the change this time.

Maybe they realized it wasn't successful until the payload reached it's planned orbit

[Jim]

ULA news release says it is successful

[Downix]

Now that RS-68A has flown, apparently successfully, is "the anticipated change [...] to an RS-68A+ that adds startup H2 release mitigation" a certainty, or is that work still awaiting funding? Related: is it possible the observations of today's launch (saying there seemed to be less charring) are due to increased thrust from RS-68A moving the vehicle out of the flame ball more quickly?

The H2 mitigation can be handled on the pad, just as it is for the Shuttle and Ariane. But, the less char was not for time on pad, as the char happens before release. It looks that the RS-68A released less free H2 before it fully ignited, a good thing.

[kevin-rf]

Jim's right, ULA's presser is out:

http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/109/

[kevin-rf]

Pratt and Whitney presser out, and says RS-68A, and says developed for NROL-15!

http://www.pw.utc.com/media_center/press_releases/2012/06_jun/06-29-2012_00002.asp

Three Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68A Engines Power Delta IV Heavy Upgrade Vehicle on Inaugural Flight

CANOGA PARK, Calif., June 29, 2012 – The sky rumbled and the ground shook as the three most powerful hydrogen-fueled liquid rocket engines ever built successfully boosted a U.S. government satellite into orbit. Developed by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, the RS-68A engines thundered into the sky on their inaugural launch, boosting a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket from the pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Once above Earth’s atmosphere, the reliable Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10B-2 engine provided upper-stage propulsion. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

“The RS-68A engines were specifically developed for this mission, and to watch them fly successfully for the first time, with so much power, is truly gratifying,” said Steve Bouley, vice president, Launch Vehicle & Hypersonic Systems, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. “This launch is testament to the reliability of our propulsion systems, and the capabilities of the talented people who make them a reality. We are proud to help place these critical national security payloads into orbit to support our service men and women worldwide.”

“The RL10B-2 performed exactly as planned, boosting a payload that will benefit the United States and its allies,” said Christine Cooley, RL10 program manager, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne.

The RS-68A is a liquid-hydrogen/liquid-oxygen booster engine designed to provide increased thrust and improved fuel efficiency for the Delta IV family of launch vehicles. It evolved from the RS-68 engine, which was developed and certified for commercial use with private company funds. Each RS-68A provides 702,000 pounds of lift-off thrust, or 39,000 more pounds of thrust than the RS-68 engine, with increased combustion efficiency as well. During hot-fire tests, the RS-68A engine demonstrated the ability to operate for 4,800 seconds of cumulative run time – more than 10 times what’s needed to boost the Delta IV Heavy rocket into space.

The RS-68, RS-68A and RL10 engines will power the Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles through the decade.

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, a part of Pratt & Whitney, is a preferred provider of high-value propulsion, power, energy and innovative system solutions used in a wide variety of government and commercial applications, including engines for launch vehicles, missile defense systems and advanced hypersonic engines. Behind its successful designs, manufacturing processes, and hardware are Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne’s research and development engineers, who solve tough problems in extreme environments. For more information, go to www.PrattWhitneyRocketdyne.com. Follow us at www.Twitter.com/PWRocketdyne and www.Facebook.com/PWRocketdyne.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.

###

[FinalFrontier]

The RS-68A engines were specifically developed for this mission

Now that is very interesting. Begs, the question, we will get to see them fly again right?

That said congratulations to ULA and PWR on a successful flight.

[Halidon]

Love that Heavy. Congrats to all involved, especially the engineers and technicians that made RS-68A's first flight a smashing success.

[Jim]

The RS-68A engines were specifically developed for this mission

Now that is very interesting. Begs, the question, we will get to see them fly again right?

on every vehicle for 2015 and on

[Tcommon]

That's a beautiful rocket -- Congratulations ULA!

[baldusi]

The RS-68A engines were specifically developed for this mission

Now that is very interesting. Begs, the question, we will get to see them fly again right?

on every vehicle for 2015 and on

On every Heavy from now on, or only from 2014 for Heavies too?