Crew 9 Astronauts Aleksandr Vladimirovich Gorbunov and Nick Hague greeted reporters and NASA personnel yesterday at the old Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
The NASA/SpaceX Crew 9 astronauts have arrived at Kennedy Space Center.
Crew 9 Final Preparations Set To Begin.
After landing on a chartered Gulfstream G-550 flight from Houston, the crew will begin final preparations for their upcoming flight aboard a Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon to the International Space Station, slated to launch no earlier than Thursday, September 26th, at 02:05 PM EDT.
They were greeted by Kelvin Manning, deputy director, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and Dana Hutcherson, deputy program manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program as well as a large contingent of reporters.
After answering questions from the press, Hague and Gorbunov left to enter quarantine at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at KSC. They will also complete a dry dress rehearsal of the mission, will align their resting and waking periods to match mission requirements and will also practive other launch and free-flight procedures that will be needed during the early part of their mission.
Aleksandr Vladimirovich Gorbunov and NASA Astronaut Nick Hague greeted reporters and @NASA personnel yesterday at the old Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC. They launch NET Thursday 2:06 PM EDT. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Dana Hutcherson gave more information on pre-launch preparations, “Our teams will also gather on Monday for the flight readiness review ahead of the launch. This launch will mark the first time a human spaceflight mission will lift off from Space Launch Complex 40, and our NASA and SpaceX teams have been working hand in hand with our Space Force mission partners. This is a huge increase in capability for us. With two pads now rated for human spaceflight, we now have operational flexibility with SpaceX to deconflict launches at both 39 A and SLC 40.”
An uncrewed Falcon 9 launching from Space Launch Complex 40. The site has seen over 250 launches through the years, but never a crewed flight. That will change as soon as this week. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Integration Of Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams Into Crew 9
Due to issues with the Boeing Crewed Flight test and the subsequent shift of CFT astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Expedition 72 and Crew 9, the two astronauts who flew to ISS aboard Starliner will be returning to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon — a spacecraft neither of the two have previous flight experience with.
This reporter asked Crew 9 Commander Nick Hague when the integration of the two members would start:
Nick Hague comments on integrating the two Crew 9 astronauts already on Crew 9 Video via NASA liverstream. Members of the press waiting for Crew-9s arrival. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvilleThe crew and support personnel arriving at KSC’s SLF on September 22, 2024 aboard a Gulfstream G-550 charter flight. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
After completing a required environmental review, the US Space Force will permanently base its Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) at Patrick Space Force Base.
Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics originally reported this story after several members of the Florida Congressional delegation lauded the decision on social media today. According to his story, “a total of 350 personnel are expected to be permanently stationed at the base, including 69 officers, 49 enlisted members and 136 civilian personnel.”
Space Florida, who led the effort to bring STARCOM to PSFB in 2023, said in its annual report that “STARCOM will prepare combat-ready USSF Guardians to fight and win in a contested, degraded, and operationally limited environment through the deliberate development, education, and training of space professionals. It will also develop space warfighting doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures to test and evaluate USSF capabilities.”
A sub-unit of STARCOM, Delta-10, will be the leader of that effort. Patrick Space Force Base and the nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station are already home to Space Launch Delta 45, which supports Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center launches.
The view from New York New York in Titusville of tonight’s launch. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
SpaceX placed another twenty-three Starlink Mini V2 satellites in orbit after successfully launching the Starlink 6-58 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this evening.
Liftoff was at 08:53 PM EDT. Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster used for the mission, tail number B1073, touched down safely on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’, stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean. About roughly an hour after liftoff, the satellites were deployed in their intended orbits and the mission deemed a success.
According to Jonathon McDowell,“The reentry of S-2601 earlier today means that there are only 5999 Starlinks in orbit following today’s launch, not 6000 as some were predicting.” Still, 5,999 is an incredible number, with the 6,000 benchmark just over the horizon — SpaceX has Starlink missions slated in the next couple of weeks.
NROL-70, the final Delta IV mission, launches from CCSFS on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
On a bittersweet day in in the annals of spaceflight, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) said goodbye to one of its most powerful and storied rockets. With an ontime launch at 12:53 PM EDT on April 9, the Delta IV Heavy rocket soared into the skies for its final mission, carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), designated NROL-70.
“It is a bittersweet moment for us. It is such an amazing piece of technology — 23 stories tall, half a million gallons of propellant, two and a quarter million pounds of thrust and the most metal of all rockets, setting itself on fire before it goes to space.”
Tory Bruno, chief executive officer of United Launch Alliance – March 26th
The Delta IV Heavy, known for its immense power and capability, has been a cornerstone in the United States’ space launch capabilities for over two decades. Its final launch was a bittersweet moment, symbolizing both the culmination of its storied career and the dawn of a new era in launch technology led by ULA’s next-generation Vulcan rocket, which successfully completed its inaugural mission earlier this year.
Delta Family of Rockets Also Retiring
The Delta family of rockets also came to an end after over sixty years of service. In service from 1960 to 2024, the versatile range of American rocket-powered expendable launch systems that provided space launch capability for the United States, and it launched many memorable missions including early communications satellites like Echo 1A, TIROS-2 and TIROS-3 weather satellites in the 1960s, NASA’s rovers Spirit and Opportunity, the Phoenix Mars Lander, all operational GPS missions through the constellation of 21 GPS II-R missions for the Air Force, and commercial missions for Iridium, Globalstar and three DigitalGlobe satellites. Japan also launched license-built derivatives (N-I, N-II, and H-I) from 1975 to 1992.
ULA’s Future is With Vulcan, Its New Rocket
Regarding the move to Vulcan boosters for future launches, ULA CEO Tory Bruno said “This is a great mission to think about that transition, because national security space missions is our core and the unique set of missions there require a high-energy launch vehicle. We designed Vulcan specifically for that.”
The rocket’s second stage, powered by an Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10 engine, was instrumental in the precise delivery of payloads into their designated orbits. The RL10’s precision and versatility were crucial in meeting the demanding requirements of National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions.
NROL-70, the final Delta IV mission, launches from CCSFS on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
Reflections On Delta IV Heavy’s Legacy
Kristin Houston, the President of Space Propulsion and Power Systems at Aerojet Rocketdyne, reflected on the Delta IV Heavy’s legacy, stating, “The Delta IV has been reliably delivering our nation’s most important payloads to the most challenging orbits for more than two decades.”
Houston expressed a mix of farewell to the iconic launch vehicle and anticipation for the future, affirming, “While we bid farewell to this impressive launch vehicle that has made such significant contributions to the scientific and national security goals of the United States, L3Harris looks forward to providing propulsion and avionics systems to support ULA’s Vulcan rocket for many years to come.”
Jim Maus, general manager of Defense and Commercial Space Launch Systems at Aerojet Rocketdyne, lauded the Delta IV Heavy’s flawless performance record, stating, “For nearly 20 years, our reliable propulsion systems have helped the Delta IV rocket achieve an outstanding record of 100% mission success.” He highlighted the diversity of missions the Delta IV Heavy supported, ranging from classified military satellites to spacecraft destined to unravel the mysteries of our solar system.
Central to the Delta IV Heavy’s success were its three Common Booster Cores, each powered by an RS-68A engine developed by Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company. The RS-68A, heralded as the most powerful hydrogen-fueled rocket engine ever flown, was a key contributor to the rocket’s impressive track record. The engines, alongside a suite of sophisticated avionics provided by L3 Harris, enabled the Delta IV Heavy to deliver payloads to a variety of orbits, generating over two million pounds of thrust to breach the Earth’s atmosphere.
As the Delta IV Heavy embarks on its retirement, its legacy is cemented. Having successfully completed 45 Delta IV missions, including 16 aboard the Delta IV Heavy configuration, the rocket leaves behind a legacy of innovation, reliability, and contribution to both scientific exploration and national security. As the commercial spaceflight industry looks to the future with the ULA’s Vulcan rocket, the Delta IV Heavy’s pioneering spirit and contributions will not be forgotten.
Delta IV Heavy / NROL-70 sitting on its launch pad at SLC-37. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
United Launch Alliance is planning to launch the final launch of Delta IV Heavy on Tuesday from SLC-37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window extends from 12:53 PM – 6:51 PM EDT. Delta IV was scrubbed at T-min 3:58 by a faulty gaseous nitrogen pump on its first attempt March 28, and since that time, NASA, the supplier of the material and ULA have worked to effect repairs and test the results to ensure another scrun doesn’t happen for that reason.
NROL-70 is a mission is set to carry a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, an agency of the United States Department of Defense.
This will be the 16th Delta IV Heavy launch, the 39th orbital launch attempt from SLC-37 and the 941st from Cape Canaveral.
After this launch, SLC-37 will no longer have a rocket assigned to it, meaning that the pad can be reconfigured for other missions. In February, the Department of the Air Force announced an Environmental Impact Study for potentially using the launch complex for SpaceX Starship operations. SLC-37 is one of three choices – the other two being building a new SLC-50 and also not using CCSFS for Starship operations. In their EIS materials, the DAF say they will make a final decision in 2025 in the matter.
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket is raised vertically at the Space Launch Complex-37 pad in preparation to launch the NROL-70 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. Photo credit: United Launch Alliance
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron rates today’s launch weather as very good, with only a 10% probability of a weather violation at launch time — meaning there is a 90% chance of acceptable weather.
Mission
NROL-70 is mounted on top of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket ahead of launch for the National Reconnaissance Office. Photo Credit: United Launch Alliance
Not much is known about the specific payload, which is no surprise given that is classified. In other words, the general public does not meet the criteria for need-to-know and therefore only the most basic descriptions are available.
According to ULA, “The NROL-70 mission will strengthen the NRO’s ability to provide a wide-range of timely intelligence information to national decision makers, warfighters, and intelligence analysts to protect the nation’s vital interests and support humanitarian efforts worldwide.”
United Launch Alliance has provided an excellent preview video for this launch:
Rocket
Delta IV Heavy is s the world’s third highest-capacity launch vehicle in operation, behind NASA’s SLS and SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. Like SLS, Delta IV Heavy is fully expended during each mission, meaning no booster returns and landings.
United Launch Alliance graphic of Delta IV Heavy: Credit: ULA
It consists of three core rockets, all liquid-fueled, and with one Hydrogen-Oxygen powered Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68A engine on each core. According to AR, the RS-68A “”Produces more than 17 million horsepower” and it is the “World’s largest and highest thrust hydrogen-fueled engine.”
RS-68A Photo: Aerojet Rocketdyne / L3 Harris
At ignition, Delta IV Heavy has a unique appearance because of hydrogen flow to the engines, which then escapes outward and upward the booster body, where it ignites and gives Delta IV Heavy its unique “setting itself on fire” and charred look.
Delta IV Heavy’s total mass at launch is approximately 733,000 kg (1,616,000 lb) and produce around 952,000 kg (2,099,000 lb) of thrust at liftoff, making it a powerful machine indeed.
The lift capacity of Delta IV Heavy is
Low Earth orbit (LEO): 28,790 kg (63,470 lb)
Geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO): 14,220 kg (31,350
Geosynchronous orbit (GEO): 6,750 kg (14,880 lb)
Lunar transfer orbit (LTO): 10,000 kg (22,000 lb)
Mars transfer orbit: 8,000 kg (18,000 lb)
It costs approximately $350 Million per mission, making it one of the most expensive rockets in current operation.
Online Viewing
SpaceCoastLaunchCalendar.com will have a livestream of the launch if you’re not able to watch the launch in person: Livestream
Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach Pier, Jetty Park Pier will have indirect views, meaning that liftoff will not be visible, but after the rocket clears the pad and any ground obstructions, you will be able to see Falcon 9 ascending clearly assuming there are no clouds between you and the rocket.
graphic: United Launch Alliance
There is a long launch window, so be sure to bring a chair so that you can be comfortable, and suncreen and bug spray are recommended.
Delta IV Heavy on March 28, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
Today was an active day for launch scheduling: United Launch Alliance has announced that they will make their next attempt to launch Delta IV Heavy and NROL-70 on Tuesday April 9th, and later, NASA announced that the Crewed Flight Test of Boeing’s Starliner is now Monday, May 6th.
Delta IV Heavy / NROL-70
Delta IV was scrubbed at T-min 3:58 by a faulty gaseous nitrogen pump on its first attempt March 28, and at the time, ULA engineers and CEO Tory Bruno were optimistic that a second attempt could happen the next day. Unfortunately, the pump failed again, and ULA stated that they would announce a new launch date only when they were certain that they and NASA (who provides the N2 service to the pad) were past the problem.
Today ULA released their new target date:
DELTA IV HEAVY TO LAUNCH NROL-70
“A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket is launching the NROL-70 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This is the 16th and final launch of a Delta IV Heavy rocket.
Launch Date and Time: April 9 at 12:53 p.m. EDT, pending range approval
The launch will be from SLC-37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Starliner Crewed Flight Test (CFT)
The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is lifted at the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex-41 at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on May 4, 2022. Photo: NASA/Frank Michaux
Later on in the day, rumors of a shift in the Starliner launch date from May 1st came to pass when NASA made this announcement:
NASA, Boeing Update Launch Date for Starliner’s First Astronaut Flight
“Following a review of the International Space Station operations, NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test now is targeting no earlier than Monday, May 6, for Starliner’s first launch with astronauts to the orbital complex. The date adjustment optimizes space station schedule of activities planned toward the end of April, including a cargo spacecraft undocking and a crew spacecraft port relocation required for Starliner docking. NASA and Boeing also are performing prelaunch closeout work and completing final certification for flight.”
It should be noted that Starliner’s launch date was not moved due to any technical issue, but instead because of ISS logistics.
NASA Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will be aboard Starliner when it heads to the International Space Station for a planned one week stay on the orbiting outpost.
Delta IV Heavy at SLC-37 on March 29, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
There will be no attempt to launch Delta IV Heavy from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today as the company continues working with NASA and other US government agencies to correct the gaseous nitrogen problem that caused a scrub at T-minus three minutes and fifty-eight seconds last Thursday.
Scheduling Sites Were April Fooled:
According to many space launch scheduling sites, today was the expected day for the last Delta IV Heavy to head to orbit with the NROL-70 payload aboard. Those sites often use reliable secondary sources to make their scheduling predictions, for example, FAA notifications to pilots of planned launch activities. ULA never officially announced a new date for a launch attempt, and apparently, work continues on the issues that caused the original scrub.
While the scheduling sites are nearly always accurate in their lists, this time they panned out some fool’s gold and were incorrect.
Information from FAA.gov on Saturday, March 30, 2024
ULA Update On Sunday, March 30
Saturday, Talk of Titusville asked ULA CEO Tory Bruno for an update, and this was his reply:
Bruno also added that “[A]s frustrating as this delay might be, The overall all level of support we get from our USG partners is outstanding. Far better than anything we might experience on a daily basis in an average commercial airport going to and from a launch.” Clearly, everyone involved is working hard to rectify the issues keeping NROL-70 and Delta IV Heavy grounded.
Attempt on April 8?
Meanwhile, it appears that an April 8 launch attempt may be in the cards:
Information from FAA.gov on April 1, 2024
Keep in mind that this is the from the same set of sources that were incorrect over the weekend.
That is the same day and roughly the same time that a total solar eclipse will be making its way across a large swath of the US. The Space Coast will only see a partial eclipse, but it could be an interesting time to see a rocket in flight in the daytime.
Take it for what it is worth — ULA has still not announced a firm date/time for Delta IV Heavy as of the time of this writing. (Monday, April 1st at 8:30 AM EDT.)
Check back here at Talk of Titusville for any updates. We will pass them along as soon as they are available.
Spectators in the surf at Playalinda Beach watching a SpaceX Falcon 9 lift off from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
Opening Day in Major League Baseball was just a couple of days ago, so it’s fitting in a way that the Space Coast will get its own kind of double-header tomorrow: SpaceX is planning to launch Eutelsat 36D from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center between 5:52 PM and 8:00 PM EDT, and then between 9:00 PM and 10:31 PM EDT, another batch of Internet connectivty satellites with the Starlink 6-46 mission from their pad at SLC-40 at Cape Cananveral Space Force Station.
Both missions will be aboard the company’s Falcon 9 rockets, and both will land offshore on Automated Spaceport Drone Ships (ASDS) — ‘Just Read The Instructions’ for Eutelsat, and ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ for the Starlink Mission. Two other SpaceX boats — ‘Bob’ and ‘Doug’ are also out to sea, and they will be retrieving the fairings for each mission after they are jettisoned by the ascending rockets.
All of those vessels will then return to Port Canaveral after several days, where their cargo will be offloaded and returned to SpaceX’s facility Hangar X at Kennedy Space Center for inspection, refurbishment and potential reuse.
Boosters
The boosters SpaceX is planning to use for these missions have not been disclosed by the company yet.
Trajectory
Eutelsat will take a nearly due East trajectory from Kennedy Space Center, flying towards an equatorial orbit.
Starlink 6-45 will take the well-trodden path as other Group 6 Starlink missions: southeastward.
Weather
According to the 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force, “Weather conditions will be very favorable for Saturday evening’s launch attempt.”
Eutelsat 36
Starlink 6-45
The 45th’s forecast for Starlink 6-45 is all but identical to their Eutelsat POV prognistication:
In-Person Viewing
Eutelsat
The Eutelsat mission may offer an intriguing possibility: it’s planned for late afternoon, NET 5:52 PM EDT, with the window going to 8:00 PM. That means there’s a possibility that Playalinda Beach out on the Cape Canaveral National Seashore will be open to spectators, that is, if KSC Security and the National Park Service allow viewers for the launch.
Generally speaking, if it is not a national-security mission (for example, a National Reconnaissance Office payload) or a NASA mission, spectators have been allowed at Playalinda. That’s by no means a certainty, however, and it would be very wise to call ahead before making the trip out.
Cape Canaveral National Seashore Phone: 386 428-3384 x0
If Playalinda is open, remember:
Get there at least two hours early, or better, earlier than that. Lines are long at the entry gate and they will only allow as many spectator vehicles as there are parking space available.
Cape Canaveral National Seashore has a fee to get in and cash is not accepted. Debit and credit cards are okay, or if you have one of the National Park Service’s passes for the Seashore or the National Parks, that will work as well.
Cellphone service is spotty at best and often non-existant at Playalinda. Don’t count on your cellphone to keep up with the launch, because you might get signal or you might not.
You are not allowed to view from the pullouts on Beach Road. They will have stanchions blocking them. You’ll have to park and you’ll have to go to the beach.
Refreshments are not available. There are no stores at Cape Canaveral National Seashore, and that means you’ll need to bring drinks and food if you want any while you’re there.
Rangers will keep you back a certain distance from the launch area. If the beach is open, you’ll still not be able to go all the way down to the fence that demarcates the normal security zone. There’s a line that spectators can’t go past somewhat north of the fence. That’s for safety and security.
Also, as part of both Kennedy Space Center and the US Park system, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is under federal jurisdiction and that means if you happen to get a ticket out there, you’ll be heading to federal court. Best thing to do is strictly obey traffic laws. Don’t speed!
If you’re not planning to go to Playalinda, the best direct views of liftoff are at either at the northern Titusville parks off of US1 / Washington Avenue. the Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, or the northern parks on US-1 in Titusville.
The ascending rocket will also be visible on Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach Pier, Jetty Park Pier after liftoff when Falcon 9 clears any obstructions.
Starlink 6-45
The Starlink launch is from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral, which means that the best direct views of liftoff are: Banana River Bridge on FL-528 W near Port Canaveral, or the southern parks on US-1 / S. Washington Avenue in Titusville. Kennedy Point Park and,Rotary Riverview Park (among others) are your best bets.
Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach Pier, Jetty Park Pier will have indirect views, meaning that liftoff will not be visible, but after the rocket clears the pad and any ground obstructions, you will be able to see Falcon 9 ascending clearly assuming there are no clouds between you and the rocket.
Liftoff of a Delta IV Heavy earlier this year from Cape Canaveral. Photo: Mark Stone, Florida Media Now
United Launch Alliance is planning to launch the final launch of Delta IV Heavy on Thursday from SLC-37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window extends from 1:40 PM – 6:51 PM EDT. NROL-70 is a mission is set to carry a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, an agency of the United States Department of Defense.
This will be the 16th Delta IV Heavy launch, the 39th orbital launch attempt from SLC-37 and the 941st from Cape Canaveral.
After this launch, SLC-37 will no longer have a rocket assigned to it, meaning that the pad can be reconfigured for other missions. In February, the Department of the Air Force announced an Environmental Impact Study for potentially using the launch complex for SpaceX Starship operations. SLC-37 is one of three choices – the other two being building a new SLC-50 and also not using CCSFS for Starship operations. In their EIS materials, the DAF say they will make a final decision in 2025 in the matter.
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket is raised vertically at the Space Launch Complex-37 pad in preparation to launch the NROL-70 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. Photo credit: United Launch Alliance
Weather
Weather is a primary concern for the next day or two, and frankly, Thursday doesn’t look good. The 45th Weather Squadron released their L-1 forecast earlier this morning, and it calls for a 70% Probability of Violation (POV) for tomorrow, 40% on Friday and finally some improvement over the weekend:
Even if tomorrow’s expected showers and thunderstorms clear in time, winds will be a concern, with 25-30 knot (28.8 – 34.5 MPH) breezes at ground level through the launch window on Thursday with 20-25 knot (23.0 – 28.8 MPH) on Friday.
Mission
NROL-70 is mounted on top of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket ahead of launch for the National Reconnaissance Office. Photo Credit: United Launch Alliance
Not much is known about the specific payload, which is no surprise given that is classified. In other words, the general public does not meet the criteria for need-to-know and therefore only the most basic descriptions are available.
According to ULA, “The NROL-70 mission will strengthen the NRO’s ability to provide a wide-range of timely intelligence information to national decision makers, warfighters, and intelligence analysts to protect the nation’s vital interests and support humanitarian efforts worldwide.”
United Launch Alliance has provided an excellent preview video for this launch:
Rocket
Delta IV Heavy is s the world’s third highest-capacity launch vehicle in operation, behind NASA’s SLS and SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. Like SLS, Delta IV Heavy is fully expended during each mission, meaning no booster returns and landings.
United Launch Alliance graphic of Delta IV Heavy: Credit: ULA
It consists of three core rockets, all liquid-fueled, and with one Hydrogen-Oxygen powered Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68A engine on each core. According to AR, the RS-68A “”Produces more than 17 million horsepower” and it is the “World’s largest and highest thrust hydrogen-fueled engine.”
RS-68A Photo: Aerojet Rocketdyne / L3 Harris
At ignition, Delta IV Heavy has a unique appearance because of hydrogen flow to the engines, which then escapes outward and upward the booster body, where it ignites and gives Delta IV Heavy its unique “setting itself on fire” and charred look.
Delta IV Heavy’s total mass at launch is approximately 733,000 kg (1,616,000 lb) and produce around 952,000 kg (2,099,000 lb) of thrust at liftoff, making it a powerful machine indeed.
The lift capacity of Delta IV Heavy is
Low Earth orbit (LEO): 28,790 kg (63,470 lb)
Geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO): 14,220 kg (31,350
Geosynchronous orbit (GEO): 6,750 kg (14,880 lb)
Lunar transfer orbit (LTO): 10,000 kg (22,000 lb)
Mars transfer orbit: 8,000 kg (18,000 lb)
It costs approximately $350 Million per mission, making it one of the most expensive rockets in current operation.
Online Viewing
SpaceCoastLaunchCalendar.com will have a livestream of the launch if you’re not able to watch the launch in person: Livestream
Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach Pier, Jetty Park Pier will have indirect views, meaning that liftoff will not be visible, but after the rocket clears the pad and any ground obstructions, you will be able to see Falcon 9 ascending clearly assuming there are no clouds between you and the rocket.
graphic: United Launch Alliance
There is a long launch window, so be sure to bring a chair so that you can be comfortable, and since the weather is going to be windy, rainy or both, a rain hood or some other protection from the elements is never a bad idea.
Liftoff of SpaceX Starlink 6-46. Photo: SpaceX Livestream
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 booster carrying 23 more Starlink V2 Mini satellites to orbit tonight from Pad SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Station. Launch was at 7:42 PM EDT, and was successful and the booster used for the mission — B1078 — safely touched down off the Bahamas eight minutes and twenty-five seconds later.
SpaceX has now more launched more than 6,000 Starlink satellites for their orbiting constellation that provides Internet service to more than two million customers globally. Nearly 5,700 of those satellites are currently operational.
When a given Starlink satellite is designated inactive, it is purposely sent for a safe re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, where it burns up safely. The same will happen to the Falcon 9 second stage used for tonight’s mission: it too will be sent back into the atmosphere, where it will also burn up safely. These maneuvers prevent Starlink from creating any “space junk.”
Booster: B1078
Booster B1078 successfully completed its 8th flight tonight.
B1078 was first entered service in March, 2023 when it launched Stephen Bowen, Warren Hoburg, Sultan Al Neyadi and Andrey Fedyaev to the International Space Station as part of NASA/SpaceX’s Crew-6 for the Commercial Crew Program. Since that maiden launch, it has also lofted SES O3b mPOWER, USSF-124, and now five Starlink missions.
After the landing, ASOG will return to Port Canaveral with the booster. It will then be returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility on Roberts Road inside Kennedy Space Center for inspection, refurbishment and possible preparation for its next mission, which will be its 20th.
Booster B1078
Flight Number
Payload
Date
1
Crew-6
March 2, 2023
2
O3b mPOWER 3 & 4
April 28, 2023
3
Starlink 6-4
June 4, 2023
4
Starlink 6-8
August 7, 2023
5
Starlink 6-16
September 16, 2023
6
Starlink 6-31
December 3, 2023
7
USSF-124
February 14, 2024
8
Starlink 6-46
March 25, 2024
Booster B1078 as of March 25, 2024
Next Launch
United Launch Alliance is planning to launch its final Delta IV Heavy from SLC-37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Delta IV Heavy is the world’s second highest-capacity rocket in operation. After this launch, SLC-37 will be shuttered and is currently being studied by the US Space Force and SpaceX for potential use for the company’s Starship Heavy.
The launch window extends from 1:40 until 6:51 PM EDT.
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