For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM
CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, FL – Weather is looking very good for the dinnertime launch of the oft delayed United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket hosting a top secret spy satellite payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on Thursday, Dec. 10, from Florida’s spaceport.
To date the launch of this triple barreled ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket has been scrubbed five times in August and September for a variety of reasons related to both the weather but more often related to rocket and ground systems issues at the pad 37 complex on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
“No open issues. Pgo at 90%. L44 is looking good,” tweeted ULA CEO Tory Bruno.
No open issues. Pgo at 90%. L44 is looking good
— Tory Bruno (@torybruno) December 10, 2020
“Everything is progressing toward the ULA Delta IV Heavy launch carrying the NROL-44 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office,” ULA confirmed.
“Leadership from ULA, the National Reconnaissance Office and the Space Force today held the Launch Readiness Review (LRR) for the NROL-44 mission by a Delta IV Heavy rocket. The meeting concluded with a unanimous “ready” to begin Thursday’s countdown.”
The forecast shows a 90 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.
Everything is progressing toward the #DeltaIVHeavy launch of the #NROL44 mission for the @NatReconOfc. The mission is set to lift off on Thurs., Dec. 10 from SLC-37. The launch time is 6:15 p.m. EST. Today’s forecast shows a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. pic.twitter.com/lyjXxWCzxM
— ULA (@ulalaunch) December 8, 2020
Liftoff of the 23-story tall triple stick United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket on the NROL-44 intelligence gathering mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has been re-slated for 6:15 p.m. EDT (2315 GMT) Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 from seaside Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida – following earlier scrubs for a hot fire abort, faulty ground launch pneumatic systems and the swing arm problem as well as weather.
If all goes well this week would be an extremely busy one at the Cape with 3 rockets in total lifting off from Florida’s Space Coast.
The powerful ULA Delta IV Heavy would be followed on Friday with the SXM-7 radio satellite payload as the third of three launches this week, following the successful SpaceX CRS-21 Cargo Dragon launch completed Sunday, Dec. 6 and the looming, oft delayed ULA Delta IV Heavy launch targeted for Thursday evening Dec. 10 with a top secret spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
SpaceX is targeting Friday, Dec. 11 at 11:20 a.m. EST (1620) for launch at the opening of a 2 hour window of the SMX-7 satellite from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, in Florida.
You can watch the Delta IV Heavy rocket launch live on a ULA webcast beginning about 20 minutes before liftoff at 5:55 p.m. EST on Dec. 10., available at :
www.ulalaunch.com and www.youtube.com/unitedlaunchalliance
At the request of the NRO, live coverage will conclude after payload fairing jettison, approximately seven minutes into flight.
The weather odds for the ULA Delta IV Heavy are excellent at 90% GO for conditions at launch time on Thursday, Dec. 10.
The primary concern is the Cumulous Cloud Rule.
The weather odds for the SpaceX Falcon 9 are also very good at 80% GO for conditions at launch time on Friday, Dec. 11.
The primary concern is the Cumulous Cloud Rule.
Check out our #NROL44 mission logo! The five wolves show the solidarity across the FVEY community. The wolf's howl represents a warning to the pack as the first point of detection of signs of trouble. 🐺 🚀 pic.twitter.com/xgOErKNNAa
— NRO (@NatReconOfc) December 9, 2020
Watch Ken’s continuing reports about SpaceX Cargo and Crew Dragons, Starlink, Commercial Crew and Artemis and onsite for live reporting of upcoming and recent SpaceX and ULA launches including Crew-1, Starlink, X-37B, Solar Orbiter, Mars 2020, NRO spysats and more at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
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Dr. Kremer is a research scientist and journalist based in the KSC area, active in outreach and interviewed regularly on TV and radio about space topics.
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