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.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
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.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
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.