NROL-44: Orion 10 (Mentor 8) – Delta IV-H [D-385] – Канаверал SLC-37B – 11.12.2020 01:09 UTC

[tnt22]

 Ben Cooper @LaunchPhoto 13 мин. назад

Delta 4-Heavy ready for another go at launching NROL-44 at 2:04am EDT Saturday (ULA pic)

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 05:22

Antenna checks will be performed shortly to verify functionality of the GPS Metric Tracking system. GPS MT is the system that uses the overhead Global Positioning System navigation satellite constellation to track the rocket's flight downrange with position, velocity and timing information.

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 05:24

CBC LH2 Loading Begins

This is Delta Launch Control. The cold gas chilldown conditioning of the common booster cores' liquid hydrogen systems has been accomplished, clearing the way to begin propellant loading in "slow-fill" mode. That will transition to "fast-fill" after a small portion of each tank is loaded.

The FUEL1 console operator here in launch control is overseeing the CBC LH₂ loading today.




Aug 29, 2020 05:25

We have confirmation that liquid hydrogen is flowing into the Delta IV Heavy rocket at the Space Launch Complex-37 pad.

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 05:27

CBC LOX Chilldown

The thermal condition process, known as chilldown, has started for the liquid oxygen systems on Delta IV Heavy rocket's common booster cores. This preps the tanks and plumbing to guard against shock when the super-cold oxidizer begins flowing into the rocket.

[tnt22]

К #143

08/29/2020 05:28 Stephen Clark

The three Common Booster Cores that make up the lower part of the Delta 4-Heavy rocket are now being filled with liquid hydrogen.

Nearly 470,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants will be loaded into the launcher during the countdown, starting with 330,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen for the Delta 4-Heavy's three Common Booster Cores.

Another 120,000 gallons of liquid oxygen will also flow into the Common Booster Cores. An Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68A main engine at the base of each booster will consume the hydrogen/oxygen propellant mixture in flight.

The rest of the cryogenic propellant will be loaded into the Delta 4-Heavy's second stage later in the countdown.

The liquid hydrogen is stored at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit, while the liquid oxygen is chilled to minus 298 degrees Fahrenheit. Both fluids will be replenished in the rocket's tanks throughout the countdown to replace the cryogenics as they boil off in the relatively warm ambient temperature on Florida's Space Coast.

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 05:32

The common booster cores' liquid hydrogen loading operation is switching from "slow-fill" to "fast-fill" mode as planned.

The cryogenics are fed to the CBCs via umbilicals from the tail service masts on the launch table.

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 05:39

CBC LOX Loading Begins

This is Delta Launch Control. 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 tonight's launch under the control of LOX1 console operator.

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 05:45

DCSS LH2 Chilldown

The "go" has been given to start the chilldown conditioning of the Delta Cryogenic Second Stage liquid hydrogen system in preparation for filling that tank.

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 05:59

DCSS LOX Chilldown

This is Delta Launch Control. Approval has been given to the LOX2 operator at the fueling console here in the Delta Operations Center to begin the second stage liquid oxygen chilldown procedures.

[tnt22]

08/29/2020 06:02 Stephen Clark

Checks of the GPS metric tracking antennas on the Delta 4-Heavy rocket are reported complete at this time.

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 06:09

DCSS LOX Loading Begins

Chilldown of the Delta Cryogenic Second Stage liquid oxygen system is complete, and the vehicle is ready to begin receiving 6,000 gallons of LOX for launch. This is the last of the rocket's cryogenic tanks to be filled in tonight's countdown. 

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 06:14

DCSS LH2 Loading Begins

The next step in fuel operations is getting underway by loading 10,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen into the Delta Cryogenic Second Stage following completion of that system's chilldown.

The stage receives its fuel from the launch pad's middle swing arm that extends from the Fixed Umbilical Tower to the Delta IV rocket. 

FUEL2 console operator Giavanna Piccirilli oversees second stage liquid hydrogen.
This is the last of the rocket's cryogenic tanks to be filled in tonight's countdown.

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 06:25

We have finished the "fast-fill" loading mode for the common booster cores' liquid hydrogen tanks, and the post-fueling checks and valve tests are underway before topping commences.

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 06:40

Loading of the upper stage liquid hydrogen tank was just reported complete. Oxygen filling on the DCSS will finish fueling operations shortly. LOX and LH₂ will be consumed by the stage's RL10B-2 engine.

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 06:57

A check of the current local weather conditions at Cape Canaveral shows that all launch rules are GO.

[tnt22]

Aug 29, 2020 07:04

SLC-37

We are entering the final two hours in our countdown to liftoff of NROL-44 at 2:04 a.m. EDT (0604 UTC). All activities remain on schedule.

Space Launch Complex-37 is the East Coast home of the Delta IV rocket at Cape Canaveral in Florida. "Slick-37" was constructed by NASA in the 1960s for uncrewed test flights in the Apollo-Saturn program.



There were six Saturn I and two Saturn IB rocket launches from this site between 1964 and 1968, testing rocket stages, spacecraft systems and the first lunar module.
 
The pad was rejuvenated in an extensive overhaul to support the Delta IV starting in late 1990s. The Fixed Umbilical Tower and swing arms were built, along with a Mobile Service Tower, a launch table and hydraulic erector system. And a nearby horizontal processing facility was constructed to house and integrate the main stages before rollout to the pad.

NROL-44 will be the 39th launch from this complex and the 33rd by a Delta IV.

[tnt22]

08/29/2020 07:13 Stephen Clark

Here are some statistics on today's mission:

• 385th Delta rocket launch since 1960
• 41st Delta 4 rocket mission since 2002
• 12th Delta 4-Heavy configuration to fly
• 63rd, 64th and 65th main engine from RS-68 family launched
• 21st, 22nd and 23rd RS-68A main engine flown
• 33rd Delta 4 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
• 9th Delta 4-Heavy launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
• 13th Delta 4 launch for the National Reconnaissance Office
• 8th Delta 4-Heavy launch for the National Reconnaissance Office
• 141st United Launch Alliance mission since the company's formation in 2006
• 5th ULA launch this year
• 1st launch of the Delta family in 2020
• 18th orbital launch from Cape Canaveral in 2020

[tnt22]

08/29/2020 07:19 Stephen Clark

An anomaly team has convened to study a non-responsive topping valve on the second stage's liquid hydrogen system.


08/29/2020 07:20 Stephen Clark

The Delta 4 launch team reports the topping valve is now responding.

[ZOOR]

• 9th Delta 4-Heavy launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
• ....
• 8th Delta 4-Heavy launch for the National Reconnaissance Office

Parker Solar Probe удалось затесаться. А так чисто военная ракета

[tnt22]

08/29/2020 07:26 Stephen Clark

The anomaly team reports the second stage fuel topping valve issue is understood and is not an issue, and the countdown will proceed.