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

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 00:34

All continues to go well in the NROL-44 countdown and there are no constraints to our 11:54 p.m. EDT (0354 UTC) launch time tonight at Cape Canaveral for Delta IV Heavy.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 00:46

Checks of the rocket's internal batteries are underway.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 01:04

The S-band system has been tested. This will be used for telemetry downlink during the flight.
Also, the internal battery checks are wrapping up.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 01:29

Delta IV Heavy Poster

Delve inside the inner workings of the Delta IV Heavy with this cutaway poster that reveals what the rocket looks like beneath its exterior.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 01:33

The start of clearing all personnel from the danger area around the launch site is underway.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 01:40

Hold-fire checks are being conducted at this time. This verifies the circuitry used to stop the countdown if a safety concern arises.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 01:46

Hold-fire checks were complete satisfactorily. Also, guidance system testing is complete.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 01:49

Pre-fueling tests are underway to verify the proper functions of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen valves on both stages of the launch vehicle.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 01:55

The launch pad crew has completed its hands-on work to ready Space Launch Complex-37 for tonight's mission, and the danger area is verified cleared in advance of fueling operations.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 02:00

Weather is GO for Fueling

This is Delta Launch Control at T-minus 4 hours, 24 minutes (L-4 hours, 54 minutes) and counting. In the pre-fueling weather briefing, conditions at Cape Canaveral are acceptable for proceeding into cryogenic tanking operations at Space Launch Complex-37.



Launch Weather Officer Will Ulrich from the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron also reports that the weather outlook remains favorable for the flight of Delta IV Heavy this evening. The forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of allowable liftoff conditions, with the only concern being cloud thickness.

All rules are green and "go" at the present time.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 02:09

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 a 15-minute block 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 progressing well and no significant problems are being addressed by the launch team.

The final hold occurs at T-minus 4 minutes.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 02:22

GO for Fueling

A readiness poll of the launch team by Launch Conductor Scott Barney, with concurrence of ULA Launch Director Lou Mangieri, has authorized cryogenic tanking operations to begin as the countdown continues tonight. The Delta IV Heavy rocket will be loaded with approximately 470,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen over the next couple of hours.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 02:24

Countdown Resumes


This is Delta Launch Control at T-minus 4 hours, 15 minutes and counting. The next phase of tonight's launch countdown has been initiated for liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Preparatory steps for fueling are being kicked off, including liquid hydrogen storage tank pressurization and charging the high-pressure helium bottles on the common booster cores and second stage.


Photo by United Launch Alliance

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 02:39

The flight control operator is performing the ECU BIT test on the Delta IV Heavy rocket. This is the built-in test (BIT) of the engine control units (ECUs) that cycle hydraulically-actuated engine valves prior to the start of fueling operations.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 02:48

Chilldown Begins

A "go" has been given to start the cold gas chilldown conditioning of the liquid hydrogen system on the three common booster cores. This is the precursor step before filling the cores with propellant.



The three common booster cores will be loaded with 330,000 gallons of super-cold liquid hydrogen that is chilled to minus-423 degrees Fahrenheit. The liquid hydrogen, along with the liquid oxygen to be loaded shortly as well, will be consumed by the three RS-68A main engines during the first minutes of the launch to exit Earth's atmosphere.

The port and starboard boosters will fire at full throttle for nearly four minutes and then separate. The center booster burns at partial thrust for most of that time in a fuel-conservation mode until the outer cores jettison, then its RS-68A engine revs up to full throttle for another minute-and-a-half of propulsion before staging.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 03:08

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]

Oct 01, 2020 03:10

CBC LH2 Loading Begins

This is Delta Launch Control at T-minus 3 hours, 28 minutes (L-3 hours, 43 minutes) and counting. 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.

[tnt22]

Oct 01, 2020 03:14

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]

Oct 01, 2020 03:29

CBC LOX Loading Begins

This is Delta Launch Control at T-minus 3 hours, 10 minutes (L-3 hours, 25 minutes) and counting. 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]

Oct 01, 2020 03:31

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.