Air Force meteorologists expect an 80 percent chance of favorable weather for Thursday evening's planned launch of a Delta IV Heavy rocket with a classified government payload. The planned 6:10 p.m. launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will be the fourth by a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy since 2004.
The rocket features three of the first stage boosters flown by a medium Delta IV configuration.
Atop the 23-story rocket is a National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite.
Final vehicle processing and closeouts are in progress early this week and there are currently no technical concerns. A launch readiness review planned at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Assuming a "go" for launch is given, the rocket's roughly 330-foot service tower is expected to roll back about 100 yards from the pad around 7 a.m. Thursday.
Given the mission's secrecy, ULA and the NRO have not disclosed any information about the payload or its intended orbit. The launch window's full duration also won't be disclosed.
Launch commentary will be cut off after the rocket's payload fairing falls away from the spacecraft.
The Air Force released this Launch Hazard Area map, warning boaters to stay clear of the area east of the Cape between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m., or face fines or imprisonment. This map shows restricted air space.
Check out the official weather forecast here. If the launch scrubs Thursday, the forecast continues to look good Friday and Saturday with the weather 80 percent "go."
IMAGE: A Delta IV rocket during processing this summer at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
12 comments:
I think three CBCs is a heavy configuration.
Night launch of a heavy is good stuff.
Well, gee, that's really keeping it a secret.....
that's why our nation is going to the crapper.. media can't keep a secret anymore.. moroons :)
how stupid is the media. there is a reason they are not telling us what the payload is becasue if they knew what was going on they would tell everyone It's a mircle this nation is still free and somewhat safe.They need to learn to keep their mouths shut when it comes to national security. Key word security. Look it up
"And we will be fying in at low altitude from the SouthWest"
"What time will be back?" "I Can't tell you that, it's classified"-Airplane
They are actually orbiting the National Democratic Party agenda on winning another election. Now there is a real SECRET!
Obviously not a group of rocket scientist here. The reason the launch time is not secret is it is so easy to calculate the orbit now that keeping details like this are not important. Any geek can determine orbital values within moments of launch. As for the secrecy of the vehicle, once again, it does not take a rocket scientist to know that only one agency is that secretive.
who is the traitor who told the media what the payload is?
who is the traitor who told the media what the payload is?
o bama?
It's nice to see that illiteracy is alive and well on the Space Coast.
The funny thing, most other governments probably already know the specs for the spy satellite. Considering the size of it's launcher it must be large and hence have quite a range of capabilities.
One it is up, there are plenty of countries that can figure out where it is parked in geostationary orbit.
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