Launch News NROL-15, Delta IV Heavy, June 29, 2012

[Cosmic Penguin]

T-0 now NET 11:15 UTC.

 

[IronRain]

Preliminary information says the countdown script aborted due to an indicator on the upper stage liquid oxygen fill and drain valve.

 

[DaveS]

Preliminary information says the countdown script aborted due to an indicator on the upper stage liquid oxygen fill and drain valve.

Abort was called due to the upper stage LO2 F/D valve not closing within the expected 10 seconds, it never closed at all. Anomaly Team discussing this right now, no estimate when they'll report out or when a new T0 can be coordinated with the ETR.

 

[IronRain]

Launch not sooner then 11:40 utc

 

[orb]

Hold at T-03:08 this time.

 

[orb]

Recycled to new T-0 at 13:15:00 UTC.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

I hope she goes this time... As soon as the launch is over I've got to get on the lawn mower. Too many more delays and it'll be too hot to do any yardwork (not that it would hurt my feelings or anything).

I'm not at it like they need to hurry just for me, more like "Well honey, by the time I was able to mow, it was too hot"

 

[orb]

T-30 seconds and counting.

 

[orb]

The launch until the news blackout at T+7 minutes was successful.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Dang... Now I've got yardwork...
Kudos to the Delta Heavy ground crew! And everyone who helped troubleshoot this morning certainly earned their paycheck.

I wonder if the RS-68A engine will see more use now that it's "proven"?

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

I had to went out for dinner.... but I don't think I can hold out to 9:15 here... :LOL!:

For those who missed the launch:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

For those who aren't noticing, the launch's a success.

ULA: United Launch Alliance Upgraded Delta IV Heavy Rocket Successfully Launches Second Payload in nine days for the National Reconnaissance Office

PWR: Three Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68A Engines Power Delta IV Heavy Upgrade Vehicle on Inaugural Flight

And the obligatory photos:

All photos via United Launch Alliance, Walter Scriptunas II and Ben Cooper

 

[Kyle]

I've got a treat for you all!

This thing just wouldn't go, sat out there for hours, but the setting was incredible. Watched gators hunt, and a Dolphin came up to were we where standing so there was a lot to look at. One thing that was scary was that the intercom was sending out warnings on loudspeakers ''WARNING: In the event of a catastrophic failure of the Delta IV booster, immediately evacuate the area. If you are unable to evacuate the area, seek shelter in a room with no windows' Sounded like they where expecting a tornado instead of a launch failure. Anyways, it finally took off and here's some pictures I got.

 

[Star Voyager]

I think I was right next to you today! After the launch, me and my friend went to the Air Force Space and Missile History Center for the next hour and a half.

 

[N_Molson]

Nice launch and superb pictures !

I like that rocket very much. :thumbup:

 

[Alfastar]

After some search research, me conclusions are that the NROL-15 is a Mentor class intelligence and reconnaissance satellite, or a other family of the Mentor. And not a other type know spysat or intelligence and reconnaissance satellite . Why?

1: If it is a photograph spysat, then it must be launched in a polar indication. It looks now its launched to be a GEO satellite.

2: The news blackout was too long to be a LEO or a MEO, so it looks its a GEO (Or a HEO)

3: I quote Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president & Mission Operations: [their continued focus on mission success as we deliver the critical capabilities to support the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. ]

This sounds that this type is a intelligence and reconnaisance satellite, and not a spysat.

 

[Phil Smith]

yeah! nice launch!
PS precise in my birth day

 

[orb]

ULA launch highlights:

 

[anemazoso]

Was just watchin the video and iy occured to me to ask how expensive it would be to build in cross feed of the CBCs and how much of a performance increase would in see? Anyone ever see studys on this?