posted 01-10-2011 12:27 PM               

ULA Delta IV Heavy launches from SLC-6

On January 20, 2011 at 1:10 p.m. PST (2110 GMT), a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy will launch the National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-49 satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The launch will be staged from Space Launch Complex-6 (SLC-6, pronounced "slick-six"), the same pad once built for Department of Defense-dedicated space shuttle missions.

In the wake of the 1986 Challenger accident, SLC-6's use as a shuttle launch pad was cancelled, but a year earlier, Enterprise was brought out to conduct fit checks.

In their lead-up to covering the NROL-49 launch live from Vandenberg, Spaceflight Now has published a series of photo galleries documenting "The California space shuttle."

So check out these comprehensive photo collections that document Enterprise's time at Vandenberg beginning with a tour of the shuttle inside its hangar on North Vandenberg.

The shuttle then took a road trip over Vandenberg's hilly terrain and reached Space Launch Complex 6 for attachment to the external fuel tank and solid rocket motors at the pad.

Once the vehicle was put together, the pad structures were retracted to unveil the fully assembled shuttle. There's even a page of nighttime views with Enterprise.

The launch control center was located right at the pad, too. Take a look inside.

And one last page with more beautiful views of the West Coast space shuttle.

posted 01-20-2011 05:18 PM               

Scheduled for the summer of 1986, the flight would usher in the Air Force space shuttle era, enabling large and valuable spy satellites to be carried into orbits around Earth's poles by the winged spaceplanes.

And it would bring the Navy captain's space career back to the place where he originally planned to leave the planet for space.

Two decades earlier, that very site was the launch pad for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory, a high-flying military reconnaissance space station.

But, remarkably, both projects were mothballed before Crippen ever got to blast off from the famed SLC-6 pad...

posted 01-20-2011 05:20 PM               

First Delta IV Heavy launches from Vandenberg

The first West Coast Delta IV Heavy Launch Vehicle was launched from Space Launch Complex-6 here Jan. 20 at 1:10 p.m. PST.

The largest rocket ever to launch from the West Coast of the U.S. 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, 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 Heavy launched today is 235 feet tall and produced 2 million pounds of thrust.

Credit: ULA/Pat Corkery

United Launch Alliance release

United Launch Alliance Launches First West Coast Delta IV Heavy Mission

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) successfully lifted off Jan. 20, 2011 from Space Launch Complex-6 at 1:10 p.m. PST.

The Delta IV Heavy, at 235 feet or approximately 23 stories tall, is the largest rocket ever to launch from the West Coast of the United States. The mission is in support of national defense.

Credit: ULA/Pat Corkery

"Today's launch was the second Delta IV Heavy launch for the NRO in two months and was also the largest rocket ever launched from the west coast," said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Mission Operations. "Most important is the critical NRO payload launched today which will significantly enhance the effectiveness and safety of the brave men and women defending our nation every day. Today's successful launch represents the culmination of five years of hard work and exceptional skill in modifying the launch system to establish the west coast heavy lift capability for the nation and to integrate this important mission. I congratulate the combined NRO, Air Force, supplier and ULA team on this impressive accomplishment and successful launch."

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 producing 660,000 pounds of thrust. An RL10B-2 cryogenic engine powered the second stage. Both engines are built by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. The payload was encased by a five-meter diameter (16.7-foot diameter), 63-foot composite bi-sector payload fairing. ULA constructed the Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle in Decatur, Ala.

The launch occurred after a multi-year construction effort to upgrade SLC-6 to accommodate the Delta IV Heavy. The last SLC-6 launch occurred Nov. 4, 2006, and was a Delta IV Medium, which launches one common core booster.

This was the fifth launch of a Delta IV Heavy in program history, with the four previous launches occurring at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

posted 01-21-2011 09:10 AM               

The Delta IV is the only launch vehicle that, by design, sets itself on fire during its ignition sequence.

Thousands of pounds of hydrogen are dumped through the vehicle's three RS-68 engines to condition their internal temperatures five seconds before oxygen valves are opened for ignition.

The hydrogen forms a cloud around the vehicle that is burned off spark generators to avoid an explosive hazard. This causes a huge ball of fire that blackens the core and the 125-ft. liquid strap-on boosters.

During climbout, free hydrogen continues to attach itself to the base of the vehicle, where it burns on insulation designed for that purpose. So while the fire is inconsequential, parts of the boattail remain ablaze until ascent into thinner air.

Heat emerging from RS-68 fuel turbine exhausts for roll control can also cause flame on the insulation as with the center engine just after liftoff. All of this looks frightening, but is normal.

posted 01-22-2011 12:55 AM               

PickupTrucks.com: Delta IV Heavy Rocket vs. 2011 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty Diesel

Think your Ford, GM or Ram heavy-duty pickup truck is the strongest rig around? It can’t hold a candle to this candle: a Delta IV Heavy rocket, as you’ll see in PUTC’s out-of-this-world comparison with a 2011 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty diesel.

posted 08-28-2013 05:05 PM               

National Reconnaissance Office Mission Successfully Launches on World's Largest Rocket, the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifted off from Space Launch Complex-6 here at 11:03 a.m. PDT today [Aug. 28]. Designated NROL-65, the mission is in support of national defense. This is ULA's eighth launch in 2013, the 24th Delta IV mission and the second Delta IV Heavy launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

"We are truly honored to deliver this critical asset to orbit," said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Atlas and Delta Programs. "The ULA Delta IV Heavy is currently the world's largest rocket, providing the nation with reliable, proven, heavy lift capability for our country's national security payloads from both the east and west coasts. I congratulate the combined NRO, Air Force, ULA, and supplier team on today's successful launch of the NROL-65 mission."

Credit: ULA/Pat Corkery

This mission was launched aboard a Delta IV Heavy configuration Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV), which featured a center common booster core along with two strap-on common booster cores. Each common booster core was powered by an RS-68 Liquid Hydrogen/Liquid Oxygen engine producing 663,000 pounds of thrust. A single RL10 Liquid Hydrogen/Liquid Oxygen engine powered the second stage. The booster and upper stage engines are both built by Aerojet Rocketdyne. The payload was encased by a five-meter diameter (16.7-foot diameter), 65-foot, metallic tri-sector payload fairing. ULA constructed the Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle in Decatur, Ala.

Credit: ULA/Pat Corkery

ULA's next launch is the Atlas V AEHF-3 mission for the United States Air Force scheduled on Sept. 18, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

The EELV program was established by the United States Air Force to provide assured access to space for Department of Defense and other government payloads. The commercially developed EELV Program supports the full range of government mission requirements, while delivering on schedule and providing significant cost savings over the heritage launch systems.

United Launch Alliance program management, engineering, test, and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colo. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Ala., and Harlingen, Texas. Launch operations are located at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

posted 08-28-2013 05:21 PM               

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifts off from Space Launch Complex-6. Designated NROL-65, the mission is in support of national defense.

This is ULA's eighth launch in 2013, the 24th Delta IV mission and the second Delta IV Heavy launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

posted 01-19-2019 2:05 PM               

United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-71 in Support of National Security

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a critical payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) denoted NROL-71 lifted off from Space Launch Complex-6 on Jan. 19, 2019 at 11:10 a.m. PST. The mission is in support of our country's national defense.

"Congratulations to our team and mission partners for successfully delivering this critical asset to support national security missions," said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs, "thank you to the entire team for their perseverance, ongoing dedication and focus on 100% mission success."

The Delta IV Heavy is the nation's proven heavy lift launch vehicle, delivering high-priority missions for the National Reconnaissance Office, U.S. Air Force and NASA. With its advanced upper stage, the Delta IV Heavy can take more than 14,000 pounds directly to geosynchronous orbit, as well as a wide variety of complex interplanetary trajectories.

The mission launched aboard a Delta IV Heavy, comprised of three common booster cores each powered by an Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68A liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine producing a combined total of more than 2.1 million pounds of thrust. The second stage was powered by an AR RL10B-2 liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine.

NROL-71 is ULA's first launch in 2019 and 132nd successful launch since the company was formed in December 2006.

posted 04-26-2021 04:31 PM               

United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-82 Mission to Support National Security

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle carrying the NROL-82 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifted off from Space Launch Complex-6 on April 26, 2021 at 1:47 p.m. PDT. To date ULA has launched 143 times with 100 percent mission success.

"The unmatched power of the Delta IV Heavy again demonstrated its role as the nation's proven heavy lift vehicle precisely delivering this critical NRO asset to its intended orbit," said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. "We are honored to support National Security space and thank our mission partners for their continued trust and teamwork."

The Delta IV Heavy is recognized for delivering high-priority missions for the U.S. Space Force, NRO and NASA. The vehicle also launched NASA's Orion capsule on its first orbital test flight and sent the Parker Solar Probe on its journey to unlock the mysteries of the sun.

This was the 42nd launch of the Delta IV rocket, the 13th in the Heavy configuration and ULA's 31st launch with the NRO.

This Delta IV Heavy was comprised of three common core boosters each powered by an Aerojet Rocketdyne (AR) RS-68A liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine, producing a combined total of more than 2.1 million pounds of thrust. The second stage was powered by an AR RL10B-2 liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine.

posted 09-24-2022 03:02 PM               

Delta IV Heavy to Launch NROL-91

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket will perform the NROL-91 mission in service to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC). Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

Launch is scheduled for Sept. 24, 2022 at 2:53 p.m. PDT (5:53 p.m. EDT; 2153 UTC).

The NROL-91 mission marks ULA's 32nd launch in partnership with the NRO, beginning with ULA's very first launch in 2006.

NROL-91 will be the NRO's 10th launch aboard ULA's Delta IV Heavy rocket, which is the nation's proven heavy lifter, delivering high-priority missions for the U.S. Space Force, National Reconnaissance Office and NASA.

This mission marks the fifth Delta IV Heavy launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, and 95th and final launch of a Delta rocket from Vandenberg as ULA transitions its future missions from the West Coast to the new Vulcan Centaur rocket.