NASA's Orion Spacecraft Launched for Cape on Delta IV Heavy

A Delta IV heavy rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 7:05 a.m. EST carrying NASA's Orion spacecraft on an unpiloted flight test to Earth orbit. The two-orbit, four-and-a-half hour mission will evaluate the systems critical to crew safety, the launch abort system, the heat shield and the parachute system. The amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) will recover the Orion crew module after it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean using a Navy welldeck recovery method. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of NASA/Released)

45th Space Wing launches satellite

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. (AFNS) -- The 45th Space Wing successfully launched a United Launch Alliance-built Delta IV rocket carrying the sixth Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite at 8:29 p.m., Aug. 7 from Space Launch Complex 37B here.

A combined team of military, government civilians and contractors from across the 45th SW provided support to the mission, including weather forecasts, launch and range operations, security, safety and public affairs.

The satellite will provide additional wideband satellite communications coverage for U.S. defense forces and international partners, to include Australia, which supported the cost of the sixth spacecraft under a partnership agreement.

The WGS system provides anytime, anywhere communication for the warfighter through broadcast, multicast, and point-to-point connections.

WGS is the only military satellite communications system that can support simultaneous X and Ka band communications, with crossbanding that makes it transparent to the warfighter to communicate across terminal types.

WGS provides essential communication services, allowing Combatant Commanders to exert command and control of their tactical forces, from peacetime to military operations. Tactical forces will rely on WGS to provide high-capacity connectivity to the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN)

Brig. Gen. Nina Armagno the commander of the 45th SW praised the entire, mission-focused team on the outstanding results.

"I am proud of the hard work of the 45th Space Wing, the Space and Missile Systems Center, United Launch Alliance, Boeing, our industry and mission partners and everyone involved in this
WGS-6 launch," said Armagno, who also served as the Launch Decision Authority for the second time in less than three weeks.

The 45th SW also launched a United Launch Alliance-built Atlas V rocket carrying the second Mobile User Objective System satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, for the U.S. Navy from here July 19.

"Once again, our entire team worked hand-in-hand to make this another successful launch for the U.S. Air Force and our nation," Armagno said.

AF reservists support first rocket launch of year

by Capt. Cathleen Snow, 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. (AFNS) -- Air Force Reserve Combat-search-and-rescue Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., supported the successful launch of a Delta IV rocket carrying the fourth Wideband Global SATCOM satellite at 7:38 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 37 here Jan. 19.

Maintenance Airmen readied two of the 920th's HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which aircrews took flight in two hours before the launch window, at approximately 5:30 p.m., to secure the Eastern Range.

The 45th Space Wing launched the United Launch Alliance Delta IV-Medium rocket WGS-04, which is the first craft in the program's upgraded Block 2 series, which adds a radio frequency bypass capability designed to support airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms requiring ultra-high bandwidth and data rates.

They 920th Reserve Airmen work side-by-side with the 45th Space Wing to maintain safety on the range for each rocket that launches from here. Last night they cleared a 60-mile stretch of the Range over the Atlantic Ocean of mariners to keep them out of harm's way beneath the rocket launch path.

As a combat-search-and-rescue unit, the Airmen are trained to provide search and rescue services in humanitarian and combat environments. Supporting launches is no different. Lt. Col. Robert Haston, 920th Pave Hawk pilot, said to maintain safety, "we'll stay airborne during a lunch as long as the launch window remains open. "

Haston flies many of the launch missions and said he's, "been up all night" before while a launch window remained open.

"The 920th Rescue Wing is proud to work this important Air Force launch that will play a role in our nation's defense. It's an honor to be a part of such a vital mission. We will continue to provide launch support for all launches while maintaining our busy overseas deployment schedule," said Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th RQW Wing commander.

The next Air Force launch from CCAFS is scheduled for February, when the Air Force will launch the first satellite of the Mobile User Objective System, which will provide enhanced capabilities for mobile military users.

The wing will also support SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch for NASA in March.

"We are honored to have worked closely with our Air Force and mission partners to enable today's successful launch of the WGS-4 satellite. WGS-4 will provide important capabilities to the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines protecting our freedoms around the world," said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Mission Operations. "This mission begins the most aggressive launch campaign in the history of the EELV program, with nine national security and two NASA launches scheduled this year."

First Delta IV Heavy launches from Vandenberg AFB

Blog Ed Note: According to a tweet fom Bob Christie NROL-49's official name on orbit is USA 224, carries and International Designator 2011-002A and Satellite/NORAD Catalog No. 37348.

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- A Delta IV Heavy Launch Vehicle was launched from here Jan. 20.

It was the first Delta IV HLV to be launched from the West Coast of the U.S., and it carried a national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.

"The teamwork between the 30th Space Wing, the National Reconnaissance Office, United Launch Alliance and numerous other agencies was outstanding for our first-ever Delta IV HLV from Vandenberg Air Force Base," said Col. Keith Balts, the 30th Space Wing vice commander and launch decision authority. "I'm very proud to be part of the team who worked so hard to make this mission a success."

The Delta IV HLV launched from here is 235 feet tall and produced 2 million pounds of thrust.

More details at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-224

Delta IV Launch

The first Delta IV Heavy Lift Vehicle launched from Vandenberg AFB, CA, Thursday.



An additional AP report and local television video are available at
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/01/20/rocket-with-secret-payload-largest-ever-launched-on-west-coast/

US Milsat NROL-49 Launched

With the Moon beaming above, a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy sits poised on its launch pad with a National Reconnaisance Office payload at Space Launch Complex-6. Today's launch is scheduled to blast off at 1:08 p.m. PST. The Delta IC Heavy, standing 235 feet tall, will be the largest rocket to ever launch from the West Coast of the U.S. With it's nearly 2 million pounds of thrust, the Delta IV Heavy is America's most powerful liquid fueled rocket. (Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance)

In an email posted to SEESAT-L Ted Molzcan wrote:
Bob Christy has reported radio observations on two consecutive passes, early on Jan 21 UTC, which lead me to believe that the initial orbit is similar to that of USA 186, after its launch in Oct 2005. Here are revised elements:

163 X 1027 km
1 72001U 11020.92423331 .00988049 00000-0 77000-3 0 09
2 72001 97.9000 135.1447 0620000 185.0000 174.4842 14.90000000 08

The elements remain fairly rough, so significant time and track errors should be expected. Next step will be to raise perigee by about 100 km. My guess is that will occur within range of Diego Garcia, on Jan 22 near 19:14 UTC or 20:49 UTC.

Pre-launch Ted posted this to the SEESAT-L group regarding NROL-49:

It will launch a KeyHole imagery intelligence satellite of KH-11 lineage, which will replace a similar satellite in the standard eastern KH plane: USA 161 (01044A / 26934), launched from VAFB on a Titan 4B, in October 2001.

Accurately estimating KH orbits pre-launch is complicated by uncertainty about the planned argument of perigee of their moderately eccentric (for LEO) orbits. There are two standard KH planes, with nodes separated about 49 deg, and argument perigee separated by roughly 90 to 180 deg.

I have experimented with several different arguments of perigee, ranging from 141 deg to 244 deg, and settled on 141 deg, but its just a guess, and on past launches I have generally guessed wrong by tens of degrees.

The second stage rocket body apparently will be de-orbited on the first rev; the centre of the debris footprint is on the equator, near 152 W. I have taken that into account in guessing the argument of perigee, since the de-orbit should be roughly at apogee.

I have also guessed that the extraordinary performance of the Delta 4 Heavy will be used to insert the spacecraft into its standard ~270 km perigee, instead of the past practice (with Titan 34D and Titan 4), which was to insert into ~150 x 1000 km, and have the spacecraft raise its perigee.

I have assumed that the plane will match that of USA 161, but it could easily differ by a degree or two.

The following elements are based on launch at window-open:

272 X 1038 km
1 72001U 11020.91666667 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 04
2 72001 97.9000 135.1374 0545000 140.9173 179.6287 14.71000000 03

In the event the launch is delayed, I will post an update.

Prediction time error during the first few hours is likely to be several minutes. Track error could be quite large, due to the uncertainty in argument of perigee.

If the argument of perigee is correct, then southern hemisphere observers around 35 S or so, will have middle of the night visibility. But if I am way off - for example, should it match the argument of perigee of USA 161, then the orbit will be in eclipse.



There is an interesting article posted to the spacereview.com about how the launch patch associated with NROL-49 gives a hint to its mission (Keyhole Recon). See that article at http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1437/1.

US Launches Advanced Elint Satellite

United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex 37 at CCAFS at 9:47 p.m. EST (0247 UTC) today. The launch was originally scheduled for 2005, but was delayed due to a number of issues, and lift-off took place at 0247 UTC on 18 January 2009.

This was the first Delta IV Heavy mission for the NRO. Designated NROL-26, the mission is in support of national defense. This was the third Delta IV Heavy launch in Delta program history.

“This first Delta IV Heavy launch for the NRO is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication by the combined NRO, Air Force, supplier and ULA team,” said Jim Sponnick, ULA Vice President, Delta Product Line.

NROL-26 is a classified spacecraft which is to be operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office.

According to reports by Aviation Week and other sources, NROL-26 is believed to be either the first Intruder satellite or an Advanced Orion, ELINT satellite.

Aviation Week reports, "It fundamentally involves America's biggest, most secret and expensive military spacecraft on board the world's largest rocket." The combined cost of the spacecraft and launch vehicle has been estimated to be over US$2 billion.

You can read the Aviation Week article online at
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/NRODSP12108.xml

Kevin Fetter on the SEESAT-L group posted these updated element sets based on last night's launch:

GTO burn at 1st descending node 278 X 36398 km
1 70502U 9018.341849515 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 03
2 70502 27.2800 337.3117 7307000 182.9000 167.5000 2.23480000 05

GTO burn at 1st ascending node 278 X 36398 km
1 70503U 09018.16413612 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 04
2 70503 27.2800 337.1517 7307000 3.4000 359.6000 2.23480000 09

Photo by Pat Corkery, courtesy of ULA.

“We appreciate the support from our mission partners in achieving this milestone. ULA is pleased to contribute to our nation’s security, and to continue our strong partnership with the NRO. We look forward to launching many more NRO missions on ULA’s Delta IV Medium, Delta IV Heavy and Atlas V vehicles.” The ULA Delta IV Heavy vehicle featured a center common booster core with two strap-on common booster cores. Each common booster core was powered by the RS-68 cryogenic engine. An RL10B-2 cryogenic engine powered the second stage. Both engines are built by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. The payload was encased by a 5-meter diameter (16.7-foot diameter) aluminum, tri-sector payload fairing. ULA constructed the Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle in Decatur, Ala. This was the first launch for ULA in 2009. ULA's next launch is NASA’s NOAA-N Prime mission currently scheduled for Feb. 4, aboard a Delta II from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.