Author Topic: Delta IV Heavy - NROL-68 - CCSFS SLC-37B - 22 June 2023 (09:18 UTC) (Read 122212 times)

Vahe231991 · « **Reply #20 on:** 02/12/2023 12:23 am »

Quote from: Conexion Espacial on 02/09/2023 01:01 pm

View of DIVH prior to its launch next month
https://twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1623680503013408769

At last, there is publicly released footage of the Delta IV Heavy rocket at Cape Canaveral waiting for the NROL-68 satellite to be stacked atop it before launch next month.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #21 on:** 03/10/2023 01:09 pm »

https://twitter.com/harry__stranger/status/1634192594728284160

Quote

ULA's Delta IV Heavy spotted inside the SLC-37B Mobile Service Tower yesterday at 16:01:22 UTC 🚀 The rocket is planned to launch the NROL-68 mission later this year🛰️

Vahe231991 · « **Reply #22 on:** 03/11/2023 03:19 am »

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 03/10/2023 01:09 pm

https://twitter.com/harry__stranger/status/1634192594728284160

Quote
ULA's Delta IV Heavy spotted inside the SLC-37B Mobile Service Tower yesterday at 16:01:22 UTC 🚀 The rocket is planned to launch the NROL-68 mission later this year🛰️

It'd be interesting to see if NROL-68 will launch later this month or in April, but it's good to see more evidence from visual satellite imagery of preparations being made for the penultimate launch of the Delta IV Heavy.

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #23 on:** 03/11/2023 03:43 pm »

Quote from: Vahe231991 on 03/11/2023 03:19 am

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 03/10/2023 01:09 pm
https://twitter.com/harry__stranger/status/1634192594728284160

Quote
ULA's Delta IV Heavy spotted inside the SLC-37B Mobile Service Tower yesterday at 16:01:22 UTC 🚀 The rocket is planned to launch the NROL-68 mission later this year🛰️
It'd be interesting to see if NROL-68 will launch later this month or in April, but it's good to see more evidence from visual satellite imagery of preparations being made for the penultimate launch of the Delta IV Heavy.

Usually the NRO announces the launchdate 2 or 4 weeks in advance, so a launch is March is starting to look less and less likely...

Newton_V · « **Reply #24 on:** 03/11/2023 06:15 pm »

Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 03/11/2023 03:43 pm

Usually the NRO announces the launchdate 2 or 4 weeks in advance, so a launch is March is starting to look less and less likely...

Still haven't had WDR yet.

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #25 on:** 03/12/2023 03:31 pm »

NextSpaceflight (Updated March 12th)
Launch NET June 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/141

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #26 on:** 03/12/2023 04:25 pm »

Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 03/12/2023 03:31 pm

NextSpaceflight (Updated March 12th)
Launch NET June 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/141

Update is from me, based on

Quote from: Newton_V on 03/11/2023 06:15 pm

Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 03/11/2023 03:43 pm
Usually the NRO announces the launchdate 2 or 4 weeks in advance, so a launch is March is starting to look less and less likely...

Still haven't had WDR yet.

and that Ben Cooper lists this as "first half of 2023".

Newton_V · « **Reply #27 on:** 03/13/2023 08:59 pm »

Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 03/12/2023 03:31 pm

NextSpaceflight (Updated March 12th)
Launch NET June 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/141

Not sure why they're saying June....

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #28 on:** 03/13/2023 09:24 pm »

Quote from: Newton_V on 03/13/2023 08:59 pm

Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 03/12/2023 03:31 pm
NextSpaceflight (Updated March 12th)
Launch NET June 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/141
Not sure why they're saying June....

This DB (and my) usual practice is to put them at the end of a given quarter/half-year until there are sources indicating a new date to the nearest month or even more precise.

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #29 on:** 03/14/2023 06:44 pm »

SpaceflightNow now has this for April: (March 13 update)

Quote

April | Delta 4-Heavy • NROL-68
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

But could be "not March, so NET April"

Conexion Espacial · « **Reply #30 on:** 03/20/2023 08:31 pm »

WDR underway
https://twitter.com/_mgde_/status/1637899175269482498

Vahe231991 · « **Reply #31 on:** 03/20/2023 09:04 pm »

Quote from: Newton_V on 03/13/2023 08:59 pm

Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 03/12/2023 03:31 pm
NextSpaceflight (Updated March 12th)
Launch NET June 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/141
Not sure why they're saying June....

The cited weblink now has the launch window for NROL-68 changed to NET April.

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #32 on:** 03/21/2023 03:08 am »

Quote from: Vahe231991 on 03/20/2023 09:04 pm

Quote from: Newton_V on 03/13/2023 08:59 pm
Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 03/12/2023 03:31 pm
NextSpaceflight (Updated March 12th)
Launch NET June 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/141
Not sure why they're saying June....
The cited weblink now has the launch window for NROL-68 changed to NET April.

Time to throw a slab of ice on the warm coals.

Citing my fellow mod up thread the launch date is NET 2023 because the range HAS NOT been informed to set a date and the notice of media accreditation HAS NOT been sent out so sites like these do the monthly slip scheme card every month at the poker table seeing if the NRO will catch the card trick and say something.

So far they are not biting the hook and are avoiding the jaw traps set by these sites that do not like the term TBD.

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #33 on:** 03/21/2023 07:22 pm »

Quote

LAUNCH UPDATE: #NROL68 is scheduled to launch the penultimate @ulalaunch #DeltaIVHeavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (@SLDelta45) on April 20!

https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1638274303937466374

Conexion Espacial · « **Reply #34 on:** 03/21/2023 07:36 pm »

A lot of images of the rocket before the WDR have also been published.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulalaunch/albums/72177720306885230

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #35 on:** 03/21/2023 07:43 pm »

ULA Artwork for this mission:

Conexion Espacial · « **Reply #36 on:** 03/21/2023 07:51 pm »

Web Version

Newton_V · « **Reply #37 on:** 03/21/2023 07:54 pm »

That's quite a pencil-neck dragon.

Targeteer · « **Reply #38 on:** 03/21/2023 11:54 pm »

Quote from: Conexion Espacial on 03/21/2023 07:51 pm

Web Version

A cynic might say the dragon resembles the reported payload. Got no clue about the giant, glowing egg...

April - NROL-68: Orion 11 (RIO 11, Mission 8307, Mentor 9) (TBD) - Delta IV-H [D-388] - Canaveral SLC-37B

https://satelliteobservation.net/2017/09/24/a-radiotelescope-in-the-sky-the-usa-202-orion-satellite/

Newton_V · « **Reply #39 on:** 03/22/2023 02:22 am »

Quote from: Targeteer on 03/21/2023 11:54 pm

Got no clue about the giant, glowing egg...

It's a dragon about to hatch. Maybe breathing fire already?