LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - UPDATES

• #40 by FutureSpaceTourist on 29 Apr, 2017 22:37
• Clearest shots yet
  
  

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  Visiting the @SpaceX Falcon 9 before tomorrow's @NatReconOfc mission. 2-hr Launch window opens at 7AM ET. Booster landing will occur at LZ-1

  
  https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858448732387454976

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• #41 by Flying Beaver on 29 Apr, 2017 22:54
• @SpaceX on Twitter
  
  Falcon 9 and NROL-76 vertical on Pad 39-A. Launch window opens tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. EDT, 11:00 UTC.
  
  

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• #42 by Chris Bergin on 29 Apr, 2017 23:12
• William Graham with the launch preview overview - and with his amazing NROL info per his ULA features, so a combination of both of his skills here! Heck of a read:
  
  https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/04/spacex-falcon-9-first-nro-mission-nrol-76/
• #43 by KaiFarrimond on 30 Apr, 2017 09:10
• Launch seems to have been pushed 15 minutes into the window at 11:15 UTC
• #44 by FutureSpaceTourist on 30 Apr, 2017 09:28
• Source:
  
  

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  @SpaceX #Falcon9 will launch @NatReconOfc #NROL76 in just under two hours. Shooting for a T-0 of 7:15 a.m.!

  
  https://twitter.com/45thspacewing/status/858611257271824384
• #45 by ChrisGebhardt on 30 Apr, 2017 09:58
• I will hopefully have the Launch Director loop soon.... but you know, NRO and all.
• #46 by ChrisGebhardt on 30 Apr, 2017 10:09
• NRO PAO.  NRO did not directly contract with SpaceX.  They contracted with a private company who secured the contract to launch NROL-76 on a Falcon 9.
• #47 by ChrisGebhardt on 30 Apr, 2017 10:10
• Also, webcast would confirm if this is the first flight of the new Block upgrade Falcon 9.
• #48 by ChrisGebhardt on 30 Apr, 2017 10:11
• We have signs the fueling is underway!
• #49 by ChrisGebhardt on 30 Apr, 2017 10:15
• I will have Launch Director loop in a few minutes -- which will help us confirm where we are with activities.
• #50 by vanoord on 30 Apr, 2017 10:16
• Twitter:
  
  

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  SpaceX:
  1 hour until Falcon 9 launch of NROL-76. Updated launch window opens at 7:15 a.m. EDT, 11:15 UTC.
• #51 by ChrisGebhardt on 30 Apr, 2017 10:17
• Quote from: vanoord on 30 Apr, 2017 10:16

  Twitter:
  
  

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  SpaceX:
  1 hour until Falcon 9 launch of NROL-76. Updated launch window opens at 7:15 a.m. EDT, 11:15 UTC.

  
  That confirms that fueling began on time at 6:05a this morning.
• #52 by ChrisGebhardt on 30 Apr, 2017 10:31
• Launch Director loop connection being made now. Should have confirmation of what's going on in the next few minutes.
• #53 by jacqmans on 30 Apr, 2017 10:33
• https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155053563945937&id=83300095936
  
  Live video from Florida Today
• #54 by FutureSpaceTourist on 30 Apr, 2017 10:33
• Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 30 Apr, 2017 10:09

  NRO PAO.  NRO did not directly contract with SpaceX.  They contracted with a private company who secured the contract to launch NROL-76 on a Falcon 9.
  

  
  

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  The SpaceX NROL-76 launch was not contracted to SpaceX directly by the NRO but through Ball Aerospace.

  
  https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858629314341896192
• #55 by Steven Pietrobon on 30 Apr, 2017 10:33
• T-43 minutes. The Sun is coming up.

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• #56 by Steven Pietrobon on 30 Apr, 2017 10:35
• T-40 minutes.

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• #57 by ChrisGebhardt on 30 Apr, 2017 10:40
• So far, all is quiet (which is good).
• #58 by Steven Pietrobon on 30 Apr, 2017 10:40
• T-35 minutes. Sky is now blue. Seeing puffs of LOX venting every few minutes.

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• #59 by FutureSpaceTourist on 30 Apr, 2017 10:44
• Quote

  Also, the NRO public affairs team is super cool about answering questions. They are stoked to be launching with SpaceX. We're having donuts

  
  https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858630395860054016
  
  

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  NRO: "we can't talk about the satellite" .... So it's a satellite then.

  
  https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858631034455326720