45th Space Wing officials launch satellite atop Delta IV

(Photo courtesy of ULA)

Blog Editor Note: The NROL-27 payload is believed to be a Satellite Data System communications satellite that is headed for geostationary orbit.

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. (AFNS) -- Members from the 45th Space Wing successfully launched a United Launch Alliance-built Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle here March 13 carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office satellite.

"The outstanding ULA, NRO and Air Force partnership made yet another successful mission," said Lt. Col. William Heuck, the 5th Space Launch Squadron commander.

This is the fifth in a series of six launches scheduled during the NRO 50th anniversary year in 2011.

"I am extremely proud of the entire government and contractor team who supported this launch," said Col. Alan Davis, the director of the Office of Space Launch in the National Reconnaissance Office. We have had an amazing five successful launches in the past 12 months, two in 2010 and three this year. I am looking forward to the launch of NROL-34 in April, which will conclude our most aggressive launch schedule in over two decades.

The Delta IV is one of two EELV's used by the Air Force. The wing launched the other EELV, an Atlas V, March 5.

"This mission helps ensure that crucial NRO resources will continue to strengthen our national defense," said Col James Ross, the 45th Space Wing vice commander. "The teamwork used to make this launch a success is one example of how the 45th (Space Wing) delivers assured space launch, range and combat capabilities for the nation."

Courtesy of AGI's Launch Notification e-mails. AGI's E-mails are sent after every launch and include key spacecraft information such as: the date, time, launch site, launcher, international number, name, and owner. Get more information on thousands of satellites and other vehicles by viewing STK models, animations, and our encyclopedic "Spacecraft Digest" database at www.agi.com/scdigest.

New Launch: 2011 March 11, 2338 UTC
Site: Air Force Eastern Test Range, Florida, USA
Launcher: Delta IV
International Designator(s): 2011-011A

SSC Name Owner
37377 USA 227
(NROL-27) US

"A new U.S. spy satellite soared into the sunset sky above Florida today (March 11) on a clandestine mission to preserve national security.

"The satellite launched into space atop an unmanned Delta 4 rocket that lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 6:38 p.m. EST (2338 GMT). High-altitude winds above the Air Force station's Launch Complex 37 delayed the satellite's launch by nearly a half hour, but cleared in time for a dazzling twilight blastoff.

"Rocket launch provider United Launch Alliance orchestrated the satellite's trip to orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office. The Chantilly, Va.-based NRO is responsible for the design, construction and operation of the country's network of intelligence-gathering spy satellites."

"The new satellite is part of the military's national defense program. Due to the classified nature of the mission, which is formally known as NROL-27, very few additional details about the launch or the satellite's purpose are publicly released. The mission went into a media blackout shortly after its successful liftoff."

Source: Space.com, "New U.S. Spy Satellite Blasts Off On Secret Mission"

Air Force team launches first advanced satellite

by 1st Lt. Karl Wiest, 45th Space Wing Public Affairs

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. (AFNS) -- A team from the 45th Space Wing successfully launched the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite onboard an Atlas V launch vehicle from Launch Pad 41 here Aug. 16 at 7:07 a.m.

"This is an historic launch of an important asset to our nation's military and our allies," said Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton. "The AEHF satellite will provide secure, protected communications capability across the spectrum of mission areas, including land, sea and air warfare. Its benefits will be felt in special operations, strategic nuclear deterrence, strategic defense, theater missile defense and space operations and intelligence.

"The 45th Space Wing and the Space & Missile Systems Center deserve praise for their great work," she said, "and I also applaud the teamwork between the Air Force and its partners involved in making this mission a success."

The commander of the 45th Space Wing also praised the work involved in making this launch a success.

"We have an outstanding launch team assembled here on the Space Coast that truly sets the standard for others to follow; it has been a privilege to work on this mission," said Brig. Gen. Ed Wilson.

The 45th Space Wing's mission is to assure access to the higher frontier and to support global operations by delivering space effects that protect and defend the nation through global vigilance, reach and power.

4th FW Strike Eagles assist shuttle launch

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. (AFNS) -- Airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., and the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, or CONR, and Air Forces Northern Command provided crucial airspace control and manning support to the successful launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis May 14 here.

CONR members ensured airspace sovereignty by enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration's temporary flight restriction area established around Kennedy Space Center. Using F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft from the 4th FW, CONR Airmen identified and redirected five aircraft that inadvertently violated the restricted airspace.

"The U.S. Air Force protects the United States every day in support of Operation Noble Eagle," said Lt. Col. Gabriel Green, the 333rd Fighter Squadron commander. "When needed, the 4th FW supports this mission. (The wing) protected the (sky) by flying an air patrol over and around the space shuttle. When an aircraft entered the no-fly zone, we intercepted, identified and redirected (it) out of the airspace."

CONR also deployed the Joint-Based Expeditionary Connectivity Center team to here to provide additional support for the launch.

AFNORTH provided the headquarters manning for U.S. Northern Command's Joint Task Force-Space Transportation System, responsible for the search and rescue of the astronauts and recovery of the orbiter if the need arises. AFNORTH also serves as the operational level focal point for situational understanding and crisis response to space shuttle mission contingencies.

"As members of CONR, we are very proud of our mission to protect the (airspace above) the shuttle while AFNORTH personnel provide manning for potential search and rescue operations," said Col. Scott Barberides, the JTF-STS commander.

The task force provides the command and control of Department of Defense forces during crisis response from the Morrell Operations Center at Cape Canaveral AFS.

"Flexibility is a key strength of airpower and Seymour Johnson (AFB) Airmen," Colonel Green said. "We are proud to have contributed to our space program and the Air Force's success."

Pre-launch ops keep Sharks busy

by Eric Brian, 45th SW Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 45th Launch Group is busily processing flight hardware and gearing up for a number of launches through the rest of the year.

"Although there aren't any launches in April and May, there is a lot of work being done at the Launch Group," said Col. Scott Henderson, 45th LCG commander. "All three of our squadrons are very busy."

The 45th Launch Support Squadron is de-encapsulating the last remaining Defense Support Program satellite and transferring the spacecraft to the processing cell in the Large Payload Facility. DSP satellites help protect the nation and its allies by detecting missile launches, space launches and nuclear detonations.

The satellite will launch atop the first operational Delta IV Heavy. That vehicle, however, had to be removed from a pad at Space Launch Complex 37 after cracks were found in the concrete launch table. The launch is on hold pending repair of the launch table. Officials hope to reschedule the launch late this summer.

"Over the next three weeks, we'll be putting the DSP back into the Integration Cell," said LCSS Operations Officer Lt. Col. John Wagner. "Moving flight hardware is never a trivial task, and it will require a focused effort from our facilities and spacecraft teams -- contractors, military and civilians. However, this is essential to ensuring we have a spacecraft ready for orbit when SLC-37 and the booster team is ready for launch."

Four blue-suiters are working DSP operations around the clock, said Master Sgt. Tom Shank, Spacecraft Flight chief. "We're very busy in preparing all the different spacecraft processing before launch."

Spacecraft processing for other upcoming missions includes the first launch of the Wideband Global SATCOM satellite replacing the venerable Defense Satellite Communica-tions System.

"WGS is a substantial leap forward in Satellite Communications for joint forces worldwide," said Colonel Wagner.

They are digitally channelized, transponded satellites that provide a quantum leap in communications capacity, connectivity and flexibility for U.S. military forces, while maintaining interoperability with existing and programmed terminals. They are designed to provide essential communications services for combatant commanders to command and control their tactical forces. Tactical forces will rely on WGS to provide high-capacity connectivity into the terrestrial portion of the Defense Information Systems Network.

"A single WGS spacecraft has as much bandwidth as the entire existing DSCS constellation," said Colonel Wagner.

"The spacecraft may arrive at the Cape by late May", said Maj. Tom McIntyre, Spacecraft Flight commander. "They'll do their initial testing at the Cape and verify they have good connectivity with the Air Force Satellite Control Network. We're looking at a late summer launch."

In addition to those missions, the Launch Group is processing two GPS spacecraft -- IIR-17 and IIR-18, coupled with facility air conditioning upgrades and a Space-Based Infrared System pathfinder before the flight vehicle arrives in 2008.

The 45th LCSS is also working with the 1st and 5th Space Launch Squadrons, processing booster payload fairings in several of the LCSS spacecraft clean-room facilities for upcoming missions.

The 1st Space Launch Squadron is planning to launch three missions, said Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Myron Fortson.

"Dawn is a NASA mission to explore the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter," said Colonel Fortson. "One asteroid to be explored has the physical characteristics of the inner planets. The other asteroid has qualities of the icy moon-type planets further out in the solar system. By comparing the two, it should help determine the origin of our planets."

A Delta II Heavy launch is scheduled to loft Dawn in late June.

"The Heavy uses bigger solid rocket than those used for a typical GPS mission," said Colonel Fortson. "It has 46-inch graphite epoxy motors, which provide more thrust than the normal 40-inch motors."

Phoenix, the latest Mars Lander mission, is scheduled to launch in August, he said.

"This mission has a limited science window and must launch between Aug. 3 and 24," he said. "If it doesn't it may be years, if ever, so this timeframe is critical. The GPS is right behind that; currently we are planning for late August."

"Normally if we only had one mission, it would take about two months after rocket arrival to get ready," said Maj. Dave Laird, 1st SLS director of mission assurance. "But we have six missions before the end of the year, so it takes lot more lead time; we're working on two to three vehicles at a time."

The 1st SLS is working on hardware for GPS IIR-17 and on the solid motors for Dawn.

The Dawn first stage will start, and test activities this week.

"When stages come in, we're almost an extension of the factory," said Major Laird. "They're built at the factory, but we test the actuators, every moving part and every electronic part so they are thoroughly tested multiple times."

Once on the pad, the booster is hooked up, and tests are conducted on fuel loading and all hydraulic and pneumatic systems.

"It's not uncommon to find a problem, so we have time built in to fix and replace parts," said Major Laird. "That's the reason we take a couple months on each rocket; if it's not ready to go, we need to test it all out."

The 5th Space Launch Squadron is processing for four launches, including the Atlas V which will carry the National Reconnaissance Office Launch-30 satellite.

"We're on track for a mid-June launch of the Atlas V, followed up by the WGS launch in early to mid-August," said Lt. Col. Kent Nickle, 5th SLS director of operations.

The 5th SLS is also repairing the SLC 37 launch table, damaged Feb. 28 during a Wet Dress Rehearsal fueling test.

"The launch table repairs have started and are progressing," said Colonel Nickle. "While we're making repairs, we're also doing an analysis of the failure to see why the damage occurred."