Author Topic: Delta IV-H - NROL-82 - Vandenberg SLC-6 - 26 April 2021 (20:47 UTC) (Read 73607 times)

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #60 on:** 04/25/2021 07:17 am »

Photos from ULA

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #61 on:** 04/26/2021 06:42 am »

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1386484736701341697

Quote

Just finished remote camera setup for NROL-82/Delta IV Heavy ahead of launch tomorrow from legendary SLC-6 at Vandenberg AFB. Fingers crossed the weather cooperates and we get some great imagery! @NASASpaceflight @ulalaunch @NatReconOfc #NROL82

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1386530856680910856

Quote

Really nice touch on the NROL-82 Delta IV Heavy from @ulalaunch. "Salute to our front-line medical workers! In harm's way to keep us healthy while we flight to keep America safe." @NASASpaceflight #NROL82

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #62 on:** 04/26/2021 09:24 am »

https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1386611832601780226

Quote

Today’s the day. #NROL82. Improved, but still pretty windy out there. Everyone continue to think calm, still thoughts...

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #63 on:** 04/26/2021 12:00 pm »

https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1386647738901798912

Quote

#DeltaIVHeavy is powering up for launch and preparations are underway at Space Launch Complex-6 for retraction of the Mobile Service Tower. The latest weather forecast for the 1:46pmPDT (4:46pmEDT; 2046 UTC) launch time indicates a 40 percent chance of acceptable conditions.

huggy · « **Reply #64 on:** 04/26/2021 12:23 pm »

This is the ULA live blog that they are running on website.

https://v.24liveblog.com/iframe/?id=2737171997667847814

huggy · « **Reply #65 on:** 04/26/2021 12:24 pm »

https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1386654740294033408

huggy · « **Reply #66 on:** 04/26/2021 12:49 pm »

From ULA

Quote

The Mobile Service Tower is a critical part of Space Launch Complex-6, providing the primary access and weather protection during a rocket's stay on the launch pad, and its overhead crane system serves a vital role in vertical integration of payloads onto the Delta IV Heavy.

Activities remain on schedule for a liftoff at 1:46 p.m. PDT (4:46 p.m. EDT; 2046 UTC).

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #67 on:** 04/26/2021 01:14 pm »

https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1386669006996885506

Quote

The Mobile Service Tower at Space Launch Complex-6 has been retracted and secured in the launch position, revealing the United Launch Alliance #DeltaIVHeavy rocket for today's #NROL82 launch. Follow our live launch blog for updates: bit.ly/div_nrol82

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #68 on:** 04/26/2021 01:38 pm »

https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1386675840948318208

Quote

Activities are on schedule and the weather is GO for the #DeltaIVHeavy launch. ULA is running the #NROL82 countdown from the Remote Launch Control Center, about 11 miles from the pad. Live countdown updates: http://bit.ly/div_nrol82

huggy · « **Reply #69 on:** 04/26/2021 02:09 pm »

ULA has now done gimbal tests and is now starting to prepare for cryogenic loading.

huggy · « **Reply #70 on:** 04/26/2021 03:03 pm »

From ULA Live Blog

Quote

In the pre-fueling weather briefing, conditions along the Central Coast of California are acceptable for proceeding into cryogenic tanking operations at Space Launch Complex-6.

Launch Weather Officer Lt. Max Rush from the 30th Weather Squadron also reports that the winds are trending in our favor so far today for the flight of Delta IV Heavy.

This is Delta Launch Control at T-minus 4 hours, 15 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the first of two planned, built-in holds that are scheduled in today's timeline. Each is a block of time that gives the countdown some margin to resolve issues or catch up on work could be running behind.

This particular hold serves as a margin before fueling operations begin. At the present time, however, all activities are progressing well and no significant problems are being addressed by the launch team.

The final hold occurs at T-minus 4 minutes.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #71 on:** 04/26/2021 04:05 pm »

https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1386711957710032898

Quote

The countdown has resumed and we are GO to fuel #DeltaIVHeavy with 470,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. Activities are progressing smoothly here in the launch control center and at the Space Launch Complex-6 pad for today's launch. bit.ly/div_nrol82

huggy · « **Reply #72 on:** 04/26/2021 05:10 pm »

As per the ULA live blog.

The CBC's are at 20% of Hydrogen loading.

The liquid oxygen chilldown is complete for the booster cores, allowing 120,000 gallons of super-cold LOX to begin transferring into the rocket for today's launch under the control of LOX1 console operator. The liquid oxygen is chilled to Minus-298 degrees F.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #73 on:** 04/26/2021 05:21 pm »

Launch article from William Graham.

https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1386731825125593090

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #74 on:** 04/26/2021 05:37 pm »

https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1386735111333314563

Quote

Booster tanking underway and nominal. The board is green. The team is not working any issues at this time. #NROL82

meekGee · « **Reply #75 on:** 04/26/2021 05:54 pm »

The guy is actually called Max Rush? And they let him next to the launch team?

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #76 on:** 04/26/2021 06:32 pm »

twitter.com/galxtech/status/1386737750368456706

Quote

hey tory, is the weather optimistic for the launch?

https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1386748168197472259

Quote

Iffy. Still pretty windy

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #77 on:** 04/26/2021 06:48 pm »

https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1386753492182786052

Quote

The countdown is exactly two hours away from the #NROL82 liftoff time. We have a green status board for #DeltaIVHeavy, ground systems and the weather. bit.ly/div_nrol82

hoku · « **Reply #78 on:** 04/26/2021 07:06 pm »

Apr 26 19:00
1 min adjustment of liftoff due to a Collision Avoidance (COLA) closure, now at 20:47 UTC

https://www.24live.co/live/UMdPK?n=2773514423206537373
---
Apr 26 19:06
" ... final built-in hold at T-minus 4 minutes will be extended by one minute to 31 minutes in total duration today."
---
Apr 26 19:22
The launch team is setting up for flight slews, the next major milestone in the countdown. This is the steering test patterns for the Delta IV Heavy's engine nozzles to ensure proper gimbaling during the ascent.
---
Apr 26 19:47
We are exactly one hour away from liftoff time of the Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a national security payload designed, built and operated by the National Reconnaissance Office.
The rocket is fueled and its 8 cryogenic tanks are being conditioned for launch.
---
Apr 26 20:02
.. the countdown is proceeding toward a liftoff of Delta IV Heavy at 1:47 p.m. PDT (4:47 p.m. EDT; 2047 UTC). We continue to have a green board with no issues being worked. The launch webcast begins at L-20 minutes.
---
Apr 26 20:05
The Automatic Determination and Dissemination of Just Updated Steering Terms, better known as the ADDJUST file, is being loaded into the Delta IV Heavy rocket's Inertial Navigation and Control Assembly (INCA) flight computer by the flight control operator here at the Launch Control Center. This is the planned steering parameters for the INCA to use based on today's upper level wind conditions.
A series of weather balloons has been launched throughout the countdown from the Range weather station at Cape Canaveral to collect measurements of wind speeds and directions to determine if conditions aloft violate the controllability or structural loads on the rocket during ascent. The balloon data was transmitted to ULA engineers in Denver to select a steering profile that minimizes launch vehicle responses.
---
Apr 26 20:12
Countdown Holding
This is Delta Launch Control at T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the 31-minute built-in hold designed to give a bit of margin to deal with any problems. Also during this time, the final readiness polls of the launch team and members of the Mission Management Team will be performed.
We continue to target a liftoff at 1:47 p.m. PDT (4:47 p.m. EDT; 2047 UTC) from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
---
Apr 26 20:17
We are 30 minutes away for liftoff time for the Delta IV Heavy rocket and NROL-82 for the National Reconnaissance Office. Standing by for the final weather briefing. No technical issues are being worked.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #79 on:** 04/26/2021 08:09 pm »

https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1386774088161521665

Quote

8.5 min to the planned hold. The board is green. The net is quiet