WGS-8 - Delta IV-M+(5,4) - Canaveral SLC-37B - 07.12.2016 23:53 UTC

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SMC Commander ‏@SMC_CC  11 ч.11 часов назад  
WGS-8 arrived safely in Florida. Thanks @Travis60AMW, @45thSpaceWing, @ulalaunch & @BoeingDefense. WGS-8 provides warfighter wideband comm
 

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8 декабря в  02:53-03:42 ДМВ.

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http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/10/18/delta-4-rocket-on-the-pad-for-military-satellite-launch-in-december/

Delta 4 rocket on the pad for military satellite launch in December             
October 18, 2016 Justin Ray

File photo of Delta 4 rollout. Credit: Justin Ray/Spaceflight Now

CAPE CANAVERAL — The Delta 4 rocket that will launch the U.S. military's highest capacity communications satellite ever built was rolled to the pad this week.
The two-stage booster moved from the Horizontal Integration Facility to the Complex 37B pad and erected on the launch table to begin preparations for flight.
Liftoff is scheduled on or about Dec. 7 during a window of 6:53 to 7:42 p.m. EST (2353-0042 GMT), a duration of 49 minutes.
Over the next two months, using the classic launch pad design with a mobile service gantry, the rocket will undergo installation of four strap-on solid-fuel boosters, a rigorous checkout and testing campaign and mating of the satellite cargo.
The launcher will deliver the Wibdeband Global SATCOM satellite No. 8 into a supersynchronous transfer orbit for the U.S. Air Force.
WGS 8 will join seven previous sister-craft, all built by The Boeing Co., in geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the planet that provide communications used by soldiers, ships, aircraft and drones.
But starting with the $426 million WGS 8 satellite, Boeing has included a significant upgrade to boost the spacecraft's capacity even further.
"WGS 8 includes an enhanced channelizer that provides a 90 percent improvement in satellite-available bandwidth compared previous WGS satellites," said Col. Timothy Sejba, the MILSATCOM Systems Directorate's deputy director at the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base.
The improvement is created by Boeing's new Wideband Digital Channelizer, a feature that will be included in the final three satellites in the series.
The channelizer is the heart of the satellite's communications package.
 
WGS in space. Credit: Boeing

WGS uses the Boeing 702HP satellite design, which includes a xenon-ion propulsion system, highly efficient triple-junction gallium arsenide solar cells and deployable radiators with flexible heat pipes.
The WGS satellites serve as the backbone of the DOD communications infrastructure, suppling data to the battlefield, relaying video from unmanned aerial reconnaissance drones, routing voice calls and data messaging, and even offering quality-of-life considerations like television broadcasts and email delivery to the troops.
Worldwide coverage is provided by the WGS spacecraft constellation. Each craft provides shaped, steerable spotbeams of bandwidth wherever requested across its field-of-view for X- and Ka-band frequencies, plus the onboard capability to switch signals from one band to the other.
X-band communications allow data, photos and video to be relayed to troops and Ka-band enables high-volume broadcasting to user terminals across the reception area.
The exact location in the geosynchronous belt for WGS 8 has not been revealed. The satellite's mission will further bolster the overall system's capacity.
"WGS 8 is the continued expansion of the WGS constellation," Sejba said.
WGS also supports several allied nations — Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and New Zealand. The countries have contributed to buying two of the satellites in the series in exchange for access to the constellation.
WGS 8 arrived in Florida from the Boeing factory in El Segundo, California, on Oct. 12 aboard an Air Force C-17 transport aircraft. It was the first national security satellite to land at the Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville.
The Delta 4 vehicle launching WGS 8 will fly in the powerful Medium+(5,4) configuration with a five-meter upper stage and payload fairing and the four solids. ULA rockets have deployed the entire WGS constellation, with the final two craft scheduled in the next two years aboard Delta.
It will be the 376th Delta rocket launch since 1960, the 34th Delta 4 rocket since debuting in 2002 and the sixth time a Delta has launched a WGS communications satellite.
In other Cape Canaveral launch news, officials have tentatively set Nov. 16 as the new target date for the Atlas 5 rocket to deploy the GOES-R weather satellite. The two-hour launch window will open at 4:42 p.m. EST (2142 GMT).

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SMC Commander ‏@SMC_CC  28 мин.28 минут назад  
Delta IV rocket is on the launch pad & prep for the WGS-8 launch cont'd yesterday w the Integrated Crew Exercise. Launch is set for 7 Dec
 

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http://www.ulalaunch.com/delta-iv-to-launch-wgs8.aspx?title=Delta+IV+to+launch+WGS-8&Category=2

Delta IV to launch WGS-8

Rocket/Payload: A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) configuration will launch the eighth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-8 ) mission for the U.S. Air Force.

Date/Site/Launch Time: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016, from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

Mission Description: WGS satellites are important elements of a high-capacity satellite communications system providing enhanced communications capabilities to America's troops in the field for the next decade and beyond. WGS enables more robust and flexible execution of Command and Control, Communications Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), as well as battle management and combat support information functions. The WGS constellation augments the existing service available through the UHF Follow-on satellite by providing enhanced information broadcast capabilities.

Launch Notes: WGS-8 will mark ULA's 70th national security launch since the company was founded in 2006. This is the sixth flight in the Medium+ (5,4) configuration; all launches in this configuration were WGS missions.

Launch Updates: To keep up to speed with updates to the launch countdown, dial the ULA launch hotline at 1-877-852-4321 or join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch; hashtags #WGS8, and #DeltaIV.

Go Delta! Go WGS-8!

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Spaceflight Now ‏@SpaceflightNow  19 ч.19 часов назад  
Next satellite to launch from Cape Canaveral -- #WGS8 -- mounted atop Delta 4 today http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/11/21/u-s-military-communications-satellite-moved-to-pad-for-dec-7-launch-into-space/ ... (Graphic of the WGS patches)
 

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http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/11/21/u-s-military-communications-satellite-moved-to-pad-for-dec-7-launch-into-space/

U.S. military communications satellite moved to pad for Dec. 7 launch into space
 November 21, 2016 Justin Ray

CAPE CANAVERAL — The next satellite to launch fr om Cape Canaveral — an essential communications satellite for the U.S. military and allied nations — was moved to the pad and mounted atop its Delta 4 rocket today.
The eighth Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft will be boosted into a super-synchronous transfer orbit more than 41,000 statute miles high by the Delta 4 Medium+ (5,4) configured rocket with four strap-on solids.
Liftoff is planned for Dec. 7 during a window of 6:53 to 7:42 p.m. EST (2353-0042 GMT).
WGS is the Department of Defense's highest capacity communications satellite system. The spacecraft create a global constellation to provide the needed coverage and connectivity in support of operations by U.S. and allied forces around the world.
Boeing builds the WGS satellites, which began launching in 2007.
The new bird, valued at $426 million, will be maneuvered into a circular geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the equator to enter serviced from an undisclosed position.
It carries the first Wideband Digital Channelizer at the heart of its communications package, enabling a 90 percent improvement in available bandwidth compared previous WGS satellites.
WGS supports all branches of the U.S. military, plus Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and New Zealand. The international partners have paid for two of the 10 satellites in the series in exchange for access to the entire constellation.
Already shrouded in the rocket's 47-foot-tall, 17-foot-diameter composite nose cone, the WGS 8 spacecraft was hauled to Complex 37 overnight and hoisted atop the Delta 4 launch vehicle today.
The fully assembled rocket stands 217 feet tall.
The satellite was flown to Florida on Oct. 12 from Boeing's manufacturing facility in El Segundo, California. After arriving, it was taken to the commercial Astrotech processing facility to undergo pre-flight preps.
Final testing, loading of maneuvering propellant and encapsulation in the Delta 4's nose cone was accomplished with the satellite.
Today's transfer to the pad saw the 13,000-pound satellite move from Titusville, through the Kennedy Space Center and over to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Complex 37 wh ere the Delta has undergo attachment of the four solid boosters, a fueling exercise and pre-launch testing since rolling from its hangar a month ago.
This will be the fourth and final Delta rocket launch of 2016.

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AF SMC ‏@AF_SMC  13 ч.13 часов назад  
Launch Readiness Review completed today & everything is looking good for tomorrow's WGS8 launch. 80% favorable weather conditions forecasted
 

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Spaceflight Now ‏@SpaceflightNow  19 мин.19 минут назад  
Fueling of the Delta 4 rocket's first stage has been accomplished. Now working to finish the upper stage loading. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/06/d376_journal/ ...
 
 
  Spaceflight Now ‏@SpaceflightNow  42 мин.42 минуты назад  
Final step in fueling now with loading of 6,000 gallons of liquid oxygen into upper stage http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/06/d376_journal/ ...
 
 
  Spaceflight Now ‏@SpaceflightNow  47 мин.47 минут назад  
Now 3 hours till launch of #WGS8. Fueling going well and current weather is GO for Delta 4 http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/06/d376_journal/ ...
 
 
  Spaceflight Now ‏@SpaceflightNow  51 мин.51 минуту назад  
Upper stage of Delta 4 now being fueled with 14,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/06/d376_journal/ ...
 
 
  Spaceflight Now ‏@SpaceflightNow  1 ч.1 час назад  
Delta 4's Common Booster Core first stage now being filled with 40,000 gallons of liquid oxygen http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/06/d376_journal/ ...
 
 
  Spaceflight Now ‏@SpaceflightNow  2 ч.2 часа назад  
PHOTOS: Gantry rolled back for today's Delta 4 launch of #WGS8 @ 6:53pmEST http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/07/photos-launch-pad-gantry-retracted-from-delta-4-rocket/ ... (ULA pic)
 
 
  Spaceflight Now ‏@SpaceflightNow  2 ч.2 часа назад  
Fueling ops started! Chilldown underway before loading 110,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen into Delta 4 first stage http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/06/d376_journal/ ...
 
 
  Spaceflight Now ‏@SpaceflightNow  3 ч.3 часа назад  
Launch team polled and ready to load 170,000 gallons of fuel into Delta 4 this afternoon http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/06/d376_journal/ ...
 
 
  Spaceflight Now ‏@SpaceflightNow  3 ч.3 часа назад  
Odds of acceptable weather for today's Delta 4 launch remain 80% GO. Cloud thickness only concern http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/06/d376_journal/ ...
 
 
  Spaceflight Now ‏@SpaceflightNow  5 ч.5 часов назад  
Mobile service tower at Complex 37 retracted, revealing Delta 4 for today's #WGS8 launch http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/06/d376_journal/ ...
 
 
  Spaceflight Now ‏@SpaceflightNow  7 ч.7 часов назад  
BOOKMARK: Delta 4 to launch Air Force's #WGS8 satellite today. LIVE countdown journal and launch webcast: http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/06/d376_journal/ ...
 

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Chris B - NSF ‏@NASASpaceflight  2 ч.2 часа назад
Epic ULA photos of the ULA Delta IV rocket preparing to loft WGS-8 later today (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/12/ula-delta-iv-wgs-8-launch/ ...) #DecemberLaunchMadness
   
 
   
 

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Ну шо, летим?

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http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/06/d376_journal/

12/08/2016 00:52  L-60 minutes

Now entering the final 60 minutes until the Delta 4 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral at 6:53 p.m. EST (2353 GMT). Here's a look at some stats about the mission. This will be:

    The 376th Delta rocket launch since 1960

    The 34th Delta 4 rocket mission since 2002

    The 6th Medium+ (5,4) configuration to fly

    The 52nd main engine from RS-68 family used

    The 10th RS-68A main engine flown

    The 52nd-53rd-54th-55th GEM-60 solid rocket motors flown

    The 475th production RL10 engine to be launched

    The 37th RL10B-2 engine launched

    The 28th Delta 4 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral

    The 36th launch from Pad B at Complex 37

    The 19th use of Delta 4 by the Air Force

    The 101st Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle flight

    The 114th United Launch Alliance mission since 2006

    The 82nd ULA launch from Cape Canaveral

    The 45th ULA launch for the Air Force

    The 27th Delta 4 under the ULA banner

    The 11th ULA launch this year

    The 4th launch of the Delta family in 2016

    The 8th Wideband Global SATCOM satellite

    The 2nd Block 2-Follow On WGS satellite

    The 6th WGS on Delta 4

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12/08/2016 01:18  Countdown in planned hold

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the planned 30-minute hold leading toward the 6:53 p.m. EST liftoff of the Delta 4 rocket.

This pause is designed to give the launch team the opportunity to catch up on any work running behind schedule and verify all is in readiness for the final moments of the count. Also, a series of polls will be conducted during the hold to give approval to proceed with the launch.

12/08/2016 01:16

T-minus 6 minutes. Standing by to go into the hold.

12/08/2016 01:09

12/08/2016 01:07  L-45 minutes

Now 45 minutes till launch! Weather remains acceptable and no technical issues being worked with the rocket for the targeted liftoff at 6:53 p.m. It is a very quiet countdown today.

A reminder that if you will be away from your computer but would like to receive occasional countdown updates, sign up for our Twitter feed to get text message updates on your cellphone. U.S. readers can also sign up from their phone by texting "follow spaceflightnow" to 40404. (Standard text messaging charges apply.)

12/08/2016 01:01

Following topping, the propellant conditioning has been achieved for all four cryo tanks on the vehicle.

12/08/2016 00:58

Scans of the thermal insulation on the rocket following the completion of fueling have been performed with no concerns noted.

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View image on Twitter
 
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  Spaceflight Now @SpaceflightNow
#WGS8's solar arrays will stretch 135 feet tip-to-tip, a wingspan larger than a Boeing 737 but smaller than a 747 http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/06/d376_journal/ ...
  1:09 AM - 8 Dec 2016

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Циклограмма пуска:

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12/08/2016 01:27
The WGS 8 spacecraft is switching to internal battery power for launch.

12/08/2016 01:24  Weather is GO
Weather is observed and forecast GO for launch of the Delta 4 rocket from Cape Canaveral at 6:53 p.m. EST (2353 GMT). In the final pre-launch briefing, the weather officer increased the odds of acceptable conditions to 90 percent favorable tonight.
There is some cloudiness moving in from the north. But they are thin and won't not pose a threat to the cloud thickness rule.

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Пошла трансляция:

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Русский Webcast от Alpha Centauri:

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12/08/2016 01:42  L-10 minutes
Now 10 minutes to the target launch time! The launch team will be polled in the next few minutes to confirm all systems are "go" to press onward for the 6:53 p.m. liftoff.

12/08/2016 01:32  L-20 minutes
Launch minus 20 minutes! United Launch Alliance's Delta 4 has been a workhorse for U.S. military and national security spacecraft since entering service in 2002.
The vehicle stands 217 feet tall, weighs about 900,000 pounds fully fueled and will unleash 1.8 million pounds of thrust at launch.
The rocket comes off the pad powered by an Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68A engine on the Common Booster Core first stage and four Orbital ATK GEM-60 solid rocket boosters.
The throttleable RS-68A engine burns liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to produce 702,000 pounds of thrust. The stage measures 155 feet in length with interstage permanently attached, 16.7 feet in diameter and is covered in orange insulating foam.
The Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM) series originated with the GEM-40 motor that was developed for the Delta 2 rocket a quarter-century ago. Cases are filament wound by computer-controlled winding machines using high-strength graphite fiber and durable epoxy resin. The "60" indicates the diameter in inches. Each GEM-60 produces a maximum of 280,000 pounds of thrust.
The cryogenic upper stage also burns liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its single Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10B-2 engine for 24,750 pounds of thrust. It features a cone-shaped carbon-carbon extendible nozzle that is 7 feet in diameter.