Successful ULA Delta 4 Heavy launch today
The competition heats up: ULA today successfully launched a U.S. National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite, using what is presently the world’s most powerful rocket, the Delta 4 Heavy.
In many ways, this rocket’s launch, which you can see in the video embedded below the fold, gives a rough idea of what a Falcon Heavy launch will look like, since the rockets have somewhat similar configurations.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
The competition heats up: ULA today successfully launched a U.S. National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite, using what is presently the world’s most powerful rocket, the Delta 4 Heavy.
In many ways, this rocket’s launch, which you can see in the video embedded below the fold, gives a rough idea of what a Falcon Heavy launch will look like, since the rockets have somewhat similar configurations.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
A lot of suits and ties.
How few launches in total were performed by Delta IV? What for a waste of money for expensive development, if there is no further need for it and its engine RS-68.
Alex: Slightly out of my realm– but isn’t this the 32nd flight, since 2002, of the Delta IV?
Anyone know how much this spy-satellite weighs??
Too bad we weren’t allowed to watch more than a few minutes of actual launch video. (I have no doubt the Russians & Chinese already have the blueprints for this satellite.)
wodun: yeah, I noticed the suit & tie thing as well, & was thinking something snarky. But, as someone who wears a tie, but not a suit, I can’t fault them just-for-that. (But I get your point!)
Wayne, I was just noting the difference between corporate cultures. I like what Bruno has done with ULA and embraced PR. Suits and ties match their prefered image of professionalism and experience. But many of those people didn’t look comfortable, like they regularly wear them. I wonder if that is good or bad for their performance?
Alex, I happen to think the US military having access to larger launchers is good and worth the expense. It was probably the best way to go at the time, even if it isn’t now. In any case, development costs are sunk. http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sunk-cost-dilemma.asp
wodun:
I understand, didn’t mean to overthink your observation and insert my biases.
Yes, do agree with you about the PR. The entire video is well done & the people did present an image of professionalism/experience. (Unfortunately it was a spy-satellite & they couldn’t show all the cool camera angles from on-board & more actual video.)
Very impressive nonetheless!
For me, it did have a more “Nasa-esque” feel, than a SpaceX launch.
>Good point on sunk-costs. Once something gets built, those resources are gone, for good or bad.
While always impressed with turbo pump powered liquid fuel rockets. In the past, most were not throttleable. I noticed the engines on the delta heavy were throttled up and down during its ascent. Does any one know the mechanics behind this process? Maybe a valve system on the turbo pump discharge or a reduction of fuel to the gas generator that powers the turbo pump turbine? Obviously the PSI of the Fuel / LOX supply must be regulated somehow.
On a standard automotive racing turbo system they run a waste gate(over pressure valve) and over pressure line from the outlet side of the turbo to the inlet side.
This lets the turbo keep a high constant speed and high pressure and thus eliminates any ‘turbo lag’.
This would let them run a valve after the pump and before the engine.
On a car this would be the intake valve or butterfly valve.
They might have a similar system giving them the ability to throttle the engine.
“How few launches in total were performed by Delta IV?”
This was the 32nd launch of the Delta IV. There have been 23 Medium launches. This was the 9th launch of the Heavy. If I recall correctly, there are about 15 or so still left on the manifest.