A 4-meter diameter payload fairing, with the National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-52 mission encapsulated inside, is mated to an Atlas V rocket at the Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex-41.
Stretching to reach the capsule it's a good thing the technician is harnessed.
Word from ULA is that everything is progressing toward the ULA Atlas V launch carrying the NROL-52 mission in support of national security.
The mission, for the National Reconnaissance Office, is set to lift off on a ULA Atlas V rocket on Thursday, October 5 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Today’s L-2 forecast continues to show:
60 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.
The October 5 launch time is 4:07 a.m. ET.
Launch Forecast Summary:
- Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 40%
- Primary concerns: Cumulus Clouds and Ground Winds
- Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24 hour delay: 70%
- Primary concern: Cumulus Clouds and Thick Clouds
Launch Broadcast Satellite Coordinates + Webcast
DIGITAL SATELLITE C-BAND DOWNLINK
HD FORMAT
SATELLITE — G3
TRANSPONDER — 24
BAND — C-BAND DIGITAL
ORBITAL POSITION — 95°W
HD BANDWIDTH — 18 MHz (HALF TRANSPONDER`CD’)
DOWNLINK — 4171.000 V
UPLINK — 6396.000 H
SYMBOL RATE — 13
FEC — ¾
DATA RATE — 17.9705
DVBS – QPSK
MPEG 2
AUDIO EMBEDDED
The NROL-52 mission will mark ULA’s seventh launch of 2017 and 26th for the National Reconnaissance Office.
NROL-52 will be the 74th flight of the Atlas V rocket and the seventh in the 421 configuration.
Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, the National Reconnaissance Office develops and operates overhead reconnaissance systems and conducts intelligence-related activities for U.S. national Security.
The NRO is the nation's eyes and ears in space, supporting policy makers, the Armed Services, the Intelligence Community, Departments of State, Justice and Treasury, and civil agencies. All of them depend on the unique capabilities NRO systems provide.
Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, the National Reconnaissance Office develops and operates overhead reconnaissance systems and conducts intelligence-related activities for U.S. national Security.
The NRO is the nation's eyes and ears in space, supporting policy makers, the Armed Services, the Intelligence Community, Departments of State, Justice and Treasury, and civil agencies. All of them depend on the unique capabilities NRO systems provide.
