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DELAY UPDATE: ULA Pumps Up For Delta IV Heavy…Spectacular Night Show (Launch)

JUST IN TO SATNEWS: The launch of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy with a National Reconnaissance Office payload is rescheduled for November 19, at 6:06 p.m. EST. During closeout processing of the launch system in preparation for flight, engineers detected that the installation of some ground support equipment pyrotechnic ordnance lines did not meet requirements.  These ordnance lines fire the “hold down bolts” at liftoff releasing the Delta IV Heavy for flight.  Mission managers have delayed the launch 24 hours, which allows time for new ordnance lines to be installed that meet all flight requirements.

The Delta IV Heavy rocket and NRO payload are safe and secure. The current weather forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of acceptable weather for November 19.

EARLIER TODAY…
[SatNews] Word comes this morning from ULA that the vehicle Launch Readiness Review has concluded and the “Go for Launch” was given for tomorrow’s mission and they are working no issues at this time. The launch of the ULA Delta IV Heavy with a National Reconnaissance Office payload is scheduled for November 18, 6:10 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex-37, Cape Canaveral AFS, Florida.  

The weather forecast now is calls for a 90 percent chance of acceptable weather and the updated forecast is below.  Keep in mind the Delta IV Heavy is America’s largest liquid fueled rocket with nearly 2 million pounds of thrust at launch so it’ll be quite the sight launching at night. Here are the details.

This is the third operational flight of the Delta IV Heavy. A successful demonstration flight was flown on December 21, 2004. The first operational mission was flown November 10 2007 and the second operational flight was flown January 17, 2009. Delta IV Heavy launches are the most spectacular night launches of an all-liquid-fueled booster since the Apllo era with nearly two million pounds o f thrust. This is the eighth and final launch for ULA in 2010 and will be the 45th launch since ULA’s inception December 1, 2006.

Synoptic Discussion:  No changes to forecast reasoning. Weak cold front will move through central FL today.  Surface high pressure will build in across FL behind the front and be the main feature on launch day, and remainder of week.   On Thursday local conditions will consist of N-NW winds, post frontal stratocumulus clouds mainly over the ocean, and temperatures near normal for mid-Nov.  The only item of interest will be the strength of the post frontal ground level winds as they will approach but remain below the 20 knot liftoff constraint.

ULA will provide a live TV broadcast beginning 25 minutes prior to launch at 5:45 p.m. EST. Launch Webcast: A simulcast of the launch can be viewed on the ULA website at. Keep in mind, the broadcast will end approximately 6 minutes and 30 seconds after launch with the confirmation of spacecraft fairing separation and all external audio and video feeds will end at this time.