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

[tnt22]

https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=538653&lang=RU

Компания ULA из-за непогоды на сутки перенесла запуск на орбиту разведывательного спутника NROL-44
29.09.2020 6:44:31

Вашингтон. 29 сентября. ИНТЕРФАКС - Запуск тяжелой ракеты-носителя Delta IV с секретным спутником NROL-44 Национального управления военно-космической разведки США (NRO), планировавшийся во вторник утром, в связи с неблагоприятными погодными условиями перенесен на сутки, сообщила компания-оператор United Launch Alliance (ULA).

"Запуск отменен из-за непогоды. Теперь его планируется осуществить 29 сентября в 23:58 по времени Восточного побережья США (30 сентября в 06:58 мск)", - говорится в сообщении компании ULA, которая является совместным предприятием корпораций Boeing и Lockheed Martin, осуществляющим запуски в интересах Пентагона и американского разведывательного сообщества.

Запуск спутника ранее уже неоднократно откладывался из-за технических проблем в системах 37-го стартового комплекса на авиабазе США на мысе Канаверал (штат Флорида).
...

[tnt22]

Новое уведомление мореплавателям

NOTMARs

NAVAREA IV 930/20

WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
    300345Z TO 300557Z SEP, ALTERNATE
    0345Z TO 0557Z DAILY 01 AND 02 OCT
    IN AREAS BOUND BY:
        A. 28-34-51N 080-34-26W, 28-36-00N 080-31-00W,
            28-31-00N 079-42-00W, 28-27-00N 079-44-00W,
            28-27-00N 080-19-00W, 28-27-42N 080-31-36W,
            28-29-17N 080-32-27W, 28-34-44N 080-34-23W.
        B. 27-34-00N 073-17-00W, 28-30-00N 073-12-00W,
            28-13-00N 069-19-00W, 27-10-00N 069-16-00W.
        C. 21-15-00N 045-22-00W, 23-51-00N 044-36-00W,
            19-32-00N 032-09-00W, 17-06-00N 033-09-00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 922/20.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 020657Z OCT 20.//

Authority: EASTERN RANGE 290041Z SEP 20.

Date: 290045Z SEP 20
Cancel: 02065700 Oct 20

Пусковой день - 30 сентября 2020 г. в 03:45 до 05:57 UTC / 06:45 до 08:57 ДМВ
Резерв - с 1 по 2 октября, постоянное окно.

[tnt22]

 ULA @ulalaunch 30 мин. назад

Everything is progressing toward the ULA #DeltaIVHeavy launch carrying the #NROL44 mission for the @NatReconOfc. The mission is set to lift off on Tues. Sept. 29 from SLC-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.


30 мин. назад

Today's forecast shows a 40 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. The launch time is 11:58 p.m. EDT.

30 сентября 2020 г. в 03:58 UTC / 06:58 ДМВ

[tnt22]

Launch Vehicle: Delta IV Heavy

Date: September 29, 2020

Eastern Range Opens: 11:58 p.m.

Launch Hazard Area

Airspace Closure Area

[tnt22]

Sep 29, 2020 22:15

Welcome to the Countdown!

Good afternoon from United Launch Alliance's Delta Operations Center where we are preparing to launch the Delta IV Heavy rocket tonight on the NROL-44 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

The launch countdown sequence will begin at 3:28 p.m. EDT, leading us to the 11:58 p.m. EDT (0358 UTC) liftoff time.

Our first weather briefing of the day occurs at 3:33 p.m. for an assessment on conditions for rolling the Mobile Service Tower and the launch forecast.

At the present time, we are under a Phase 1 lightning watch.

[tnt22]

Sep 29, 2020 22:28

Countdown Begins!

And we are counting! The countdown is underway for our scheduled launch of NROL-44 at 11:58 p.m. EDT (0358 UTC) tonight from Space Launch Complex-37.

The countdown is started from the T-minus 8 hour point. Two pre-planned, 15-minute built-in holds are 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.

[tnt22]

Sep 29, 2020 22:33

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]

Sep 29, 2020 22:50

Weather Briefing for Tower Roll

A weather assessment from Space Force meteorologist Jessica Williams of the 45th Weather Squadron here at Cape Canaveral indicates today's weather is being driven by a cold front over North Florida with prefrontal storms over Central Florida.

Current conditions at the Cape are acceptable for continued launch preparations. However, approaching storms with strong winds later this afternoon could prompt a lightning warning.

We will be standing by for a "go" or "no go" call on tower roll.

For launch time tonight, there is a 40 percent chance of favorable conditions due to cloud cover and showers.

[tnt22]

Sep 29, 2020 22:58

All of the preparations to roll the Mobile Service Tower into the launch position have been completed, pending the final "go" from the Launch Control Center. Weather conditions and the ongoing lightning watch for the pad are holding up the actual start of retraction.

[tnt22]

Sep 29, 2020 23:04

A look from the GOES-16 weather satellite at the storms in Central Florida that are pushing northeastward ahead of the cold front in the Florida Panhandle.

[tnt22]

Sep 29, 2020 23:31

Guidance system testing is getting started at this point in the countdown.

[tnt22]

 NWS Melbourne @NWSMelbourne 14 мин. назад

4:40pm | Strong tstorms along a line from Astor to Port Canaveral, moving NE at 30mph. Wind gusts up to 50mph, heavy rain & frequent lightning is occurring.

[tnt22]

Sep 29, 2020 23:54

A Phase 2 lightning warning has been issued for Space Launch Complex-37 due to thunderstorms at Cape Canaveral. The launch pad crew will clear the complex as a precaution until the weather alert is lifted.

[tnt22]

Sep 30, 2020 00:20

The flight control operational test for the Delta IV Heavy rocket is beginning. This test is known as flight slews, which performs gimbal checks of the rocket's engine nozzles in a state prior to cryogenic fueling. A similar test wull be conducted after the rocket is loaded with super-cold propellant.

[tnt22]

Sep 30, 2020 00:39

The flight control operational test is nearing completion as the countdown continues.

[tnt22]

Sep 30, 2020 00:43

The lightning warning for the Delta IV Heavy launch pad has been rescinded, allowing the ground crew to return to their work sites.

The band of storms has passed by and there appears to be a window of acceptable weather for Mobile Service Tower roll to occur in preparation for launch tonight.

[tnt22]

Sep 30, 2020 01:12

MST jacking is underway. Using 40 hydraulic cylinders at pressures nearing 3,500 psi, the tower will be raised a few inches in preparation for the roll.

[tnt22]

Sep 30, 2020 01:24

MST Roll is Underway

This is Delta Launch Control. Retraction of the Mobile Service Tower is in progress at Space Launch Complex-37.

First motion occurred at 6:24 p.m. EDT (2224 UTC).

An undercarriage transport system with drive trucks in all four corners of the MST is moving the 33-story building at a top speed of 0.25 miles per hour.

[tnt22]

Sep 30, 2020 02:25

Launch Scrubbed

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., (Sept. 29, 2020) – The launch of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy NROL-44 mission has been scrubbed. The local weather resulted in a significant delay to pre-launch preparations including the roll of the Mobile Service Tower (MST). When the MST roll began we discovered a hydraulic leak in the ground system required to move the tower which needs further evaluation. Subsequent weather will prevent the team from moving forward with tonight's attempt.

Launch is now scheduled for 11:54 p.m. EDT on Wed., Sept. 30, 2020.

[tnt22]

Sep 30, 2020 04:04

 Tory Bruno @torybruno 1 ч. назад

Hydraulic hose failure on the MST. Happens now and again. Part on hand, repair underway.  However, the earlier lighting hold ate up so much of the launch window that we will not be able to continue towards a launch tonight.