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Here’s how to watch ULA’s final Delta IV Heavy rocket launch

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ULA Delta IV Heavy Launch Site

United Launch Alliance (ULA) will launch its 16th and final Delta IV Heavy rocket this week from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

Update 2: ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket launch is set for April 9 at 12:53 pm EDT. You can check the live stream link below.

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Update 1: The launch on March 28 has been scrubbed due to an issue with the gaseous nitrogen pipeline which provides pneumatic pressure to the launch vehicle systems. The new launch is now planned for Friday, March 29 at 1:37 p.m. EDT.

Original Story:

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As of March 25, the launch vehicle provider is targeting no earlier than March 28, 2024, at 1:40 p.m. EDT.

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This launch vehicle will carry the NROL-70 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). It develops and operates overhead reconnaissance systems to collect data for U.S. national security and support disaster relief and humanitarian rescues. The NROL-70 will boost NRO’s capability for intelligence gathering for different scenarios.

Delta IV Heavy rocket drives in three separation sections:

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  1. Payload Fairing
  2. Cryogenic Second Stage
  3. First stage

The first stage of Delta IV Heavy consists of three booster cores. Its booster propulsion is provided by the throttleable RS-68A engine system which burns cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.

These boosters deliver 705,250 lbs (312.3 kilo-newtons) of each and a total of 211,5750 lbs thrust at sea level. The booster is controlled by the DCSS avionics system to provide guidance and flight control.

The second stage is a cryogenic liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen-fueled vehicle. It is using a RL10C-2-1 engine with 24,750 lbs of thrust. It attaches an equipment shelf to the aft dome of the DCSS liquid oxygen tank to provide the structural mountings for vehicle electronics.

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The top of the launch vehicle carries a payload fairing with a metallic trisector. It measures 5 meters in diameter and encapsulates the spacecraft to protect it during ascent. The entire launch vehicle is approximately 235-ft long along with the 65-ft fairing.

You can check the live stream link below.

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Mel Trivalo is a senior author at EONMSK.com, he began his early career in electronics in 2021 and turned his attention towards Space and Rocket Science. Mel likes to explore new technologies and swings baseball to run through creative thoughts.

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