Cosmic Penguin
Geek Penguin in GTO
Continuing a string of launches of key space systems for the United States military, we have another launch today with ULA! The Delta IV rocket, finally hitting the 30 launches mark with its replacement already on the horizon, continues the expansion of the USAF and allied forces' main satellite communication network with the launch of the 7th satellite of the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system. The system now serves as the vital strategic telecom link between Allied forces across the globe, providing linkage speeds up to 3 Gbps. At least 3 more satellites are under construction as nations like Australia and the Netherlands join the program.
In other news, the upgraded RS-68A engine, which first flew 3 years ago, finally become standard equipment starting from this Delta IV onwards, with all future D-IV Medium first stages now standardized for compatibility. Look out for its performance into the sunset sky later today! :tiphat:
|
{colsp=2}
|
This is the 30th operational flight of the Delta IV rocket and the 5th to fly in the M+(5,4) configuration with 4 solid rocket boosters and the 5 meter diameter fairing & upper stage.
Viewing the Launch Live:
Mission Description:
{colsp=2}
|
{colsp=2}
Images:|
Operator:|
Contractors:|
Equipment:|
Configuration:|
Dimensions:|
Propulsion:|
Power:|
Launch Weight:|
Orbit:|
Launch Vehicle:
The Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) consists of a single Delta IV common booster core (CBC), the Delta cryogenic second stage (DCSS), and four solid rocket motors (SRM). The CBC and the DCSS are connected by a composite cylindrical interstage adapter (ISA). The SRMs, 5 ft in diameter and 53 ft long and constructed of a graphite-epoxy composite, are connected to the booster by two ball-and-socket joints and structural thrusters.
The Delta IV booster tanks are structurally rigid and constructed of isogrid aluminum barrels, spun-formed aluminum domes, machined aluminum tank skirts, and a composite center-body. Delta IV booster propulsion is provided by the RS-68 engine system. The RS-68 burns cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and delivers 663,000 lb of thrust at sea level. The booster’s cryogenic tanks are insulated with a combination of spray-on and bond-on insulation and helium-purged insulation blankets.
The Delta IV booster is controlled by the DCSS avionics system, which provides guidance, flight control, and vehicle sequencing functions during CBC and DCSS phases of flight. The boost phase of flight ends 6 seconds after main engine cutoff (MECO), when the separation charge in the interstage adapter is fired and 16 pneumatic actuators push the spent Delta IV CBC stage and the DCSS apart.
The DCSS stage propellant tanks are structurally rigid and constructed of isogrid aluminum ring forgings, spun-formed aluminum domes, machined aluminum tank skirts and a composite inter-tank truss. The DCSS is also a cryogenic liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen-fueled vehicle. It uses a single RL10B-2 engine that produces 24,750 lb of thrust. Like the CBC, the DCSS cryogenic tanks are insulated with a combination of spray-on and bond-on insulation, and helium-purged insulation blankets. An equipment shelf attached to the aft dome of the DCSS liquid oxygen tank provides the structural mountings for vehicle electronics. The structural and electronic interfaces with the satellite are provided via the payload attach fitting (PAF). The WGS missions use a 5.2-m diameter payload fairing (PLF). The PLF is a composite bisector (two-piece shell) fairing. The vehicle’s height, with the 38.5-ft tall PLF, is approximately 206 ft.
Launch Sequence:
Launch Updates:
Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on July 22, 2015 (8 p.m.)
Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High 34C. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 60%.
Time|Temps|Dew Point|Relative Humidity|Precip|Snow|Cloud cover|Pressure|Wind|Weather
8 PM|28°C|24°C|76%|24%|0%|60%|1013 hPa|13 km/h WSW|
Mostly Cloudy
In other news, the upgraded RS-68A engine, which first flew 3 years ago, finally become standard equipment starting from this Delta IV onwards, with all future D-IV Medium first stages now standardized for compatibility. Look out for its performance into the sunset sky later today! :tiphat:
|
Launch date:
|
July 23/24, 2015
Launch time:
|
00:07 - 00:46 UTC / 8:07 - 8:46 p.m. EDT / 5:07 - 5:46 p.m. PDT
Launch site:
|
SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral AFB, Florida
{colsp=2}
[highlight]L[eventtimer]2015-07-24 00:07:00;%c%%ddd%/%hh%:%mm%:%ss%[/eventtimer][/highlight]
This is the 30th operational flight of the Delta IV rocket and the 5th to fly in the M+(5,4) configuration with 4 solid rocket boosters and the 5 meter diameter fairing & upper stage.
Viewing the Launch Live:
on the ULA Web site.
Mission Description:
WGS satellites are important elements of a new high-capacity satellite communications system providing enhanced communications capabilities to America's troops in the field for the next decade and beyond. WGS enables more robust and flexible execution of Command and Control, Communications Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), as well as battle management and combat support information functions. The WGS constellation augments the existing service available through the UHF Follow-on satellite by providing enhanced information broadcast capabilities.
Mission Insignia
Specifications
Images:|
Type / Application:
|
- Communication
Operator:|
- USAF
Contractors:|
- Boeing
Equipment:|
- 8 steerable and shapeable X-band beams
- 10 Ka-band beams
Configuration:|
- BSS-702HP
Dimensions:|
- ?
Propulsion:|
- R-4D-15 HiPAT, 4 XIPS-25 Ion engines
Power:|
- 2 deployable solar arrays
- batteries
Launch Weight:|
- 6000 kg (13200 lb) - max wet weight at launch
Orbit:|
- GEO
Launch Vehicle:
The Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) consists of a single Delta IV common booster core (CBC), the Delta cryogenic second stage (DCSS), and four solid rocket motors (SRM). The CBC and the DCSS are connected by a composite cylindrical interstage adapter (ISA). The SRMs, 5 ft in diameter and 53 ft long and constructed of a graphite-epoxy composite, are connected to the booster by two ball-and-socket joints and structural thrusters.
The Delta IV booster tanks are structurally rigid and constructed of isogrid aluminum barrels, spun-formed aluminum domes, machined aluminum tank skirts, and a composite center-body. Delta IV booster propulsion is provided by the RS-68 engine system. The RS-68 burns cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and delivers 663,000 lb of thrust at sea level. The booster’s cryogenic tanks are insulated with a combination of spray-on and bond-on insulation and helium-purged insulation blankets.
The Delta IV booster is controlled by the DCSS avionics system, which provides guidance, flight control, and vehicle sequencing functions during CBC and DCSS phases of flight. The boost phase of flight ends 6 seconds after main engine cutoff (MECO), when the separation charge in the interstage adapter is fired and 16 pneumatic actuators push the spent Delta IV CBC stage and the DCSS apart.
The DCSS stage propellant tanks are structurally rigid and constructed of isogrid aluminum ring forgings, spun-formed aluminum domes, machined aluminum tank skirts and a composite inter-tank truss. The DCSS is also a cryogenic liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen-fueled vehicle. It uses a single RL10B-2 engine that produces 24,750 lb of thrust. Like the CBC, the DCSS cryogenic tanks are insulated with a combination of spray-on and bond-on insulation, and helium-purged insulation blankets. An equipment shelf attached to the aft dome of the DCSS liquid oxygen tank provides the structural mountings for vehicle electronics. The structural and electronic interfaces with the satellite are provided via the payload attach fitting (PAF). The WGS missions use a 5.2-m diameter payload fairing (PLF). The PLF is a composite bisector (two-piece shell) fairing. The vehicle’s height, with the 38.5-ft tall PLF, is approximately 206 ft.
Launch Sequence:
Launch Updates:
- Spaceflight Now's Mission Status Center
- United Launch Alliance Twitter
- ULA launch hotline - dial at: 1-877-852-4321
Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on July 22, 2015 (8 p.m.)
Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High 34C. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 60%.
8 PM|28°C|24°C|76%|24%|0%|60%|1013 hPa|13 km/h WSW|
Last edited:
