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#300
by
Chris Bergin
on 21 Nov, 2010 22:45
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Nice!
Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., (Nov. 21, 2010) - A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy launches with a National Reconnaissance Office payload at Space Launch Complex-37 at 5:58 p.m. EST. The Delta IV Heavy with its nearly 2 millions pounds of thrust is America’s most powerful liquid fueled rocket. This was the fourth launch of a Delta IV heavy in program history. Photo by Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance.
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#301
by
stockman
on 21 Nov, 2010 22:49
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current live shot of the now empty pad
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#302
by
mike robel
on 21 Nov, 2010 23:03
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I watched from my usual place on the SR 528 Causeway about 20 miles south of the pad. Observation across the River was good, but sadly limited by the clouds, making for a short observation. Still, got some good photos of the launch (3 attached). The clouds and winds were favorable for a throaty roar as the vehicle lifted off, I would say about like a Saturn IB (for those that remember - or think they do, remembering sounds is sort of hard.).
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#303
by
M_Puckett
on 21 Nov, 2010 23:07
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Hey! It isn't charred!
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#304
by
the_roche_lobe
on 21 Nov, 2010 23:10
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Exactly what I was thinking M_Puckett!
Has something changed about the way the heavy is hadled at launch?
P
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#305
by
kking
on 21 Nov, 2010 23:20
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Hope somebody can post the full broadcast. I missed it.
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#306
by
butters
on 21 Nov, 2010 23:20
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You can really see the flow separation of the over-expanded nozzles at liftoff. RS-68 has much lower chamber pressure than SSME, so it doesn't make those tight mach diamonds. It's a pillar of flame shaped like a series of hourglasses.
I've been wondering why they dump hydrogen into the nozzle so much earlier than the oxygen during engine start (which is why Delta IV always looks like it's lighting itself on fire when the free hydrogen hits the ROFI sparklers). I suppose it must have something to do with the injector and the fact that the hydrogen enters the combustion chamber as a cryogenic liquid rather than as a hot gas as with SSME.
Anyway, very impressive looking launch vehicle. Not a big fan of the RS-68, but obviously SSME would only worsen the economics of Delta IV.
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#307
by
alexw
on 21 Nov, 2010 23:41
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"At the request of our customer, this concludes our live coverage."
Great line
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#308
by
Antares
on 21 Nov, 2010 23:41
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It chills the rest of the fuel flow path past the valve that had been holding it back. Also, the RS-68 start sequence is simple simple simple, unlike the SSME that was guess and check. Big reason why there have been nearly 20 SSME tests that burned up at least part of an engine versus zero for RS-68.
Given where engine prices have gone, I mentioned that a dual SSME CBC is worth an academic study at least (cost, structural mods, performance gain), especially if SLS raises the flight rate.
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#309
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 22 Nov, 2010 01:10
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damn that was loud!!
See the light pulses (from the engines)?? Strange
We saw those pulses very clearly from across the water. And there was a corresponding 'popping' sound with those light pulses as well.
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#310
by
Walter S
on 22 Nov, 2010 01:46
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#311
by
Walter S
on 22 Nov, 2010 01:54
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I viewed the launch from KARS Park which is about 8 miles away unwound say.
That should read... which is about 8 miles away from the pad I would say. That is what I get posting from my iPhone. Hah
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#312
by
Art LeBrun
on 22 Nov, 2010 01:58
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Very good image AND exposure, Walter. Love the well illuminated Delta 4.
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#313
by
Nick L.
on 22 Nov, 2010 02:10
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#314
by
landofgrey
on 22 Nov, 2010 03:02
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I think the view from KARS Park was better than the official press viewing location next to the LC-39 viewing gantry. But, that when you need access to the ULA and NRO reps, you go wherever they take you. So anyway, here are a couple videos I shot from the KSC press area tonight...
And a camera more zoomed-out:
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#315
by
ELinder
on 22 Nov, 2010 03:03
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Very nice photo set Walter. I had a slightly different perspective from Port Canaveral along 401.
Erich
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#316
by
Robotbeat
on 22 Nov, 2010 03:06
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High inclination "Heavy" payloads have flow from the cape in the past. Lacrosse comes to mind.
The highest inclination orbit the Lacrosse flew out of the Cape was 57 degrees. Not even that different from ISS, at 51.6. Nothing close to polar orbit. What's the inclination of this launch? (it's GSO, so never mind)
STS-36 flew at an inclination of 62 degrees
Quite right, thanks!
Does anyone know the general direction this payload was headed? 28 degrees? Or higher? (no speculation needed, public info only, of course)
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#317
by
Walter S
on 22 Nov, 2010 03:17
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Very nice photo set Walter. I had a slightly different perspective from Port Canaveral along 401.
Erich
Thanks guys!
Great shot Erich, I almost viewed from that same location!
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#318
by
landofgrey
on 22 Nov, 2010 03:20
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High inclination "Heavy" payloads have flow from the cape in the past. Lacrosse comes to mind.
The highest inclination orbit the Lacrosse flew out of the Cape was 57 degrees. Not even that different from ISS, at 51.6. Nothing close to polar orbit. What's the inclination of this launch? (it's GSO, so never mind)
STS-36 flew at an inclination of 62 degrees
Quite right, thanks!
Does anyone know the general direction this payload was headed? 28 degrees? Or higher? (no speculation needed, public info only, of course)
This one went to geostationary orbit, so it started out at liftoff with 28.5 degrees but then eventually altered inclination during the ascent and final orbital insert to reach GEO, 0 degrees. I'm not sure (it's late and I'm tired) if there was an intermediate Geostationary Transfer Orbit, but that's the norm. The upper stage can fire multiple times to get to GTO and then GEO and can also go direct to GEO with multiple firings (some consider that also stopping in GTO but for a shorter duration before heading to GEO). Specifics about specific postlaunch profile are speculative. The NRO representative I talked to tonight (briefly, of course) wouldn't give any details like that (again, of course).
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#319
by
Rocket Guy
on 22 Nov, 2010 03:31
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The charring was only on the first one. They fixed it long ago.
