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

[tnt22]

Dec 11, 2020 00:48

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]

Dec 11, 2020 00:54

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]

Dec 11, 2020 01:00

CBC LOX Loading Begins

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 today's launch under the control of LOX1 console operator. The liquid oxygen is chilled to Minus-298 degrees F.

[tnt22]

Репортаж FNSF - youtu.be/tGDCcdGPd7A,- начнётся около 03:00 ДМВ

[tnt22]

Dec 11, 2020 01:18

DCSS LOX Chilldown

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]

Dec 11, 2020 01:22

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. 

The FUEL2 console operator oversees second stage liquid hydrogen.

[tnt22]

Dec 11, 2020 01:27

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 today's countdown. 

[tnt22]

Dec 11, 2020 01:56

CBC LOX loading is complete.

[tnt22]

Dec 11, 2020 02:02

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]

12/11/2020 02:00 Stephen Clark

T-minus 2 hours and counting. The countdown is heading to a built-in hold at T-minus 4 minutes. 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
• 142nd United Launch Alliance mission since the company's formation in 2006
• 6th ULA launch this year
• 1st launch of the Delta family in 2020
• 28th orbital launch from Cape Canaveral in 2020

[tnt22]

T-2^h

Dec 11, 2020 02:09

The countdown is exactly two hours away from the NROL-44 liftoff time at 8:09 p.m. EST (0109 UTC).

[tnt22]

12/11/2020 02:23 Stephen Clark

Chilldown of the Delta 4-Heavy rocket's three RS-68A main engines is reported complete at this time.

[tnt22]

 Tory Bruno @torybruno 44 с

Booster tanking complete. DCSS underway. #L44

[tnt22]

Dec 11, 2020 02:39

Now passing Launch-minus 90 minutes. Weather conditions remain favorable as we are proceed toward an on-time liftoff today at 8:09 p.m. EST (0109 UTC).

[tnt22]

Dec 11, 2020 02:43

The Delta Cryogenic Second Stage has been loaded with its liquid oxygen supply. With fueling reported complete, we have a 1.6-million-pound Delta IV Heavy rocket that is loaded for launch at 8:09 p.m. EST (0109 UTC) today.

At T-minus 1 hour, 16 minutes and counting, this is Delta Launch Control.

[tnt22]

12/11/2020 02:46 Stephen Clark

Final inspections of the Delta 4-Heavy's thermal insulation will soon get underway. The launch team will use cameras to survey the orange foam covering the rocket's tanks containing super-cold propellants.

Also, the launch team is verifying the functionality of the Delta 4-Heavy's destruct system.

[tnt22]

12/11/2020 02:58 Stephen Clark

Testing of the Delta 4 rocket's flight termination system is complete. The flight termination system would be activated to destroy the rocket if it flew off course and threatened populated areas.

[tnt22]

Dec 11, 2020 03:05

The launch team is setting up for flight slews, the next major milestone in the countdown. This is the steering test patterns for the Delta IV Heavy's engine nozzles to ensure proper gimbaling during the ascent.

[tnt22]

Dec 11, 2020 03:09

We are exactly one hour away from liftoff time of the Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a national security payload designed, built and operated by the National Reconnaissance Office.

The rocket is fueled and its 8 cryogenic tanks are being conditioned for launch.

[tnt22]

12/11/2020 03:09 Stephen Clark

The flight hazard area, which encompasses the vicinity of the Delta 4's launch pad and downrange flight path, is confirmed clear at this time.