NROL-71 - Delta IV-H [D-382] - Vandenberg SLC-6 - 19.01.2019, 19:10 UTC

[tnt22]

9:07 a.m. PST (12:07 p.m. EST; 1707 UTC)

From Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, this is Delta Launch Control at T-minus 8 hours and holding.

The countdown activities are about to begin for today's liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket on the NROL-71 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Launch is scheduled for 5:57 p.m. PST (8:57 p.m. EST; 0157 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 6 on the southern end of Vandenberg.

The countdown will start at 9:27 a.m. PST from the T-minus 8 hour mark. Two pre-planned, 15-minute built-in holds scheduled in the count. One pause is reserved prior to fueling at T-minus 4 hours, 15 minutes, the other occurs prior to the terminal count at T-minus 4 minutes.

Rollback of the Mobile Service Tower is on hold this morning due to high ground winds forecast for the rest of the day while the vehicle stands exposed on the pad.

[tnt22]

9:27 a.m. PST (12:27 p.m. EST; 1727 UTC) – Countdown begins

Countdown clocks have been initiated at Vandenberg for today's Delta IV Heavy launch. Weather permitting, we are just eight-and-a-half hours away from liftoff of the triple-core rocket on a vital mission for U.S. national security.

The application of power to the avionics aboard the Delta IV Heavy rocket is beginning at the start of the countdown. The equipment will be powered up for launch day testing and final preparations for fueling operations.

[tnt22]

12/18/2018 21:15 Stephen Clark

The Delta 4-Heavy rocket has been powered up, and the ULA team is beginning flight control preps.

[tnt22]

10:35 a.m. PST (1:35 p.m. EST; 1835 UTC)

Launch officials continue to monitor strong ground winds at Vandenberg. They are receiving periodic updates from meteorologists on the current and forecast conditions. Tower retraction remains on hold at this time.

[tnt22]

Scrub!!!

12:08 p.m. PST (3:08 p.m. EST; 2008 UTC)

(Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Dec. 18, 2018) – The launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy carrying the NROL-71 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office was scrubbed today due to high ground winds.

The next launch attempt is planned for Wed., Dec. 19, from Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The forecast indicates an 80 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. The targeted launch time is 5:44 p.m. PST.

[tnt22]

8:45 a.m. PST (11:45 a.m. EST; 1645 UTC)

From Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, this is Delta Launch Control at T-minus 8 hours and holding.

The countdown activities are about to begin for today's liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket on the NROL-71 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Launch is scheduled for 5:44 p.m. PST (8:44 p.m. EST; 0144 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 6 on the southern end of Vandenberg.

The countdown will start at 9:14 a.m. PST from the T-minus 8 hour mark. Two pre-planned, 15-minute built-in holds scheduled in the count. One pause is reserved prior to fueling at T-minus 4 hours, 15 minutes, the other occurs prior to the terminal count at T-minus 4 minutes.

But the first order of business this morning is retracting the Mobile Service Tower away from the rocket and into its launch position. A weather briefing for tower roll was just completed, and conditions are verified acceptable for the move as well as the rest of the day while the vehicle stands exposed on the pad.

[tnt22]

9:04 a.m. PST (12:04 p.m. EST; 1704 UTC)

Retraction of the Mobile Service Tower has begun at Space Launch Complex 6. First motion occurred at 9:03 a.m. PST (12:03 p.m. EST; 1703 UTC).

The tower was raised several inches to allow an undercarriage transport system to move the gantry to its launch position east of the rocket.

[tnt22]

9:14 a.m. PST (12:14 p.m. EST; 1714 UTC) – Countdown begins

Countdown clocks have been initiated at Vandenberg for today's Delta IV Heavy launch. We are just eight-and-a-half hours away from liftoff of the triple-core rocket on a vital mission for U.S. national security.

The application of power to the avionics aboard the Delta IV Heavy rocket is beginning at the start of the countdown. The equipment will be powered up for launch day testing and final preparations for fueling operations.

For launch today at 5:44 p.m. PST, Air Force meteorologists are predicting a few high clouds, good visibility, northerly winds of 10-15 knots and a temperature in the mid 60s F.

Overall, there is an 80 percent chance of favorable launch weather.

[tnt22]

9:25 a.m. PST (12:25 p.m. EST; 1725 UTC)

The MST has moved 25 feet clear of the launch vehicle as the roll continues. The first part of retraction moves at a snail's pace to ensure proper clearance of gantry structures with the vehicle. Once clear, the speed will increase.

[tnt22]

ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch 9:44 - 19 дек. 2018 г.

One step closer to launch of the #NROL71 #DeltaIVHeavy. The MST is parked and processing continues as we work towards a 5:44pm PST launch tonight. Follow our live launch blog for updates at http://bit.ly/div_nrol71 

[tnt22]

9:58 a.m. PST (12:58 p.m. EST; 1758 UTC)

This is Delta Launch Control at T-minus 7 hours, 16 minutes (L-7 hours 46 minutes) and countdown. The mobile gantry at Space Launch Complex 6 has reached its park position, revealing the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket for the NROL-71 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office tonight.

The MST is a 32-story structure that weighs 13 million pounds. It is a critical part of the launch complex, proving the primary access and weather protection to the rocket during its stay on the launch pad, and its overhead crane system serves a vital role in vertical integration of payloads onto Delta IV rockets.

Rollback of the MST signals a major milestone early in launch day operations. Configuring launch pad systems and securing equipment will be completed over the next couple of hours before all personnel clear the site for fueling.

Activities remain on schedule for a liftoff at 5:44 p.m. PST (8:44 p.m. EST; 0144 UTC).

[tnt22]

10:00 a.m. PST (1:00 p.m. EST; 1800 UTC)

The Delta IV Heavy rocket has been powered up for its launch on NROL-71.

[tnt22]

12/19/2018 21:15 Stephen Clark

Guidance system testing on the Delta 4-Heavy rocket is underway at this time.

[tnt22]

10:37 a.m. PST (1:37 p.m. EST; 1837 UTC)

The flight control operational test is beginning for the Delta IV Heavy rocket. This test is known as flight slews, which will perform gimbal checks of the rocket engine nozzles on the vehicle, in a state prior to cryogenic fueling.

[tnt22]

11:05 a.m. PST (2:05 p.m. EST; 1905 UTC)

This is Delta Launch Control at T-minus 6 hours, 9 minutes (L-6 hours, 39 minutes) and counting.

The initiation of gaseous nitrogen flow to the launch vehicle has started. This changes the environmental control systems to supply conditioned nitrogen gas rather than air to the internal compartments of the Delta IV Heavy rocket and the payload fairing in preparation for the transfer of cryogenic propellants and in-flight environments.

[tnt22]

12:14 p.m. PST (3:14 p.m. EST; 2014 UTC)

The launch pad crew has completed its hands-on work to ready Space Launch Complex 6 for today's mission, and the launch conductor has given the instruction for personnel to depart the site in advance of fueling operations. Liftoff remains scheduled for about five-and-a-half hours from now.

[tnt22]

12:34 p.m. PST (3:34 p.m. EST; 2034 UTC)

Holdfire checks have been completed successfully, verifying the circuitry to immediately stop the countdown if the need arises.

[tnt22]

12:49 p.m. PST (3:49 p.m. EST; 2049 UTC) – Weather is 80% GO

This is Delta Launch Control at T-minus 4 hours, 25 minutes (L-4 hours, 55 minutes) and counting. In the pre-fueling weather briefing, conditions at Vandenberg are acceptable for proceeding into cryogenic tanking operations at Space Launch Complex 6.

Launch Weather Officer Lt. Daniel Smith from the Air Force's 30th Weather Squadron also reports that the weather outlook remains favorable for the flight of Delta IV Heavy and NROL-71 today. The forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of allowable liftoff conditions, with just a few high cirrus clouds, good visibility, northerly winds of 10-15 knots and a temperature in the mid 60s F.

The only concern is the wind.

[tnt22]

12:59 p.m. PST (3:59 p.m. EST; 2059 UTC) -- Countdown holding

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 15-minute blocks 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 on schedule and no significant problems are being addressed by the launch team.

The final hold occurs at T-minus 4 minutes.

[tnt22]

12/20/2018 00:04 Stephen Clark

The launch team has been called to stations for the start of cryogenic fueling operations.