United Launch Alliance (ULA) will make a second attempt at the final launch of the Delta family of rockets. The previous launch was aborted due to an issue with a gaseous nitrogen pipeline. ULA has resolved the problem and the launch is now scheduled for Tuesday followingnoon at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The launch of the Delta 4 Heavy rocket is set for 12:53 p.m. EDT (1653 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37). The NROL-70 mission, carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), will have a four-hour window in case ULA needs to adjust the launch time. The live coverage of the launch will be provided by Spaceflight Now.
During the previous launch attempt, two issues arose in the final minutes before liftoff. Firstly, there was a violation of ground wind limits, which caused the initial hold. Additionally, there was an issue with a gaseous nitrogen pump. The pipeline system responsible for this pump is owned by NASA and managed by prime contractor Air Liquide.
Air Liquide confirmed that there was a pump failure at its nitrogen plant on March 28 and worked with NASA to resolve the situation. The 45th Weather Squadron, responsible for launch weather forecasts, expects better conditions for this second launch attempt, with a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions during the window.
The NRO’s Rocket and ULA’s Future
The NROL-70 mission will carry a classified payload for the NRO, providing necessary capabilities on the ground. The specific details of the payload’s capabilities are unknown to the public. This launch will mark the 16th flight of the Delta 4 Heavy rocket, with 12 of the previous 15 flights supporting NRO missions.
ULA’s Delta 4 Heavy rocket will soon be replaced by the Vulcan rocket, which will offer enhanced capabilities. Vulcan recently completed its first certification mission and is preparing for its second mission with Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane onboard.
Despite recent reports suggesting that ULA may pursue a different path to certification, ULA CEO Tory Bruno clarified that there are no plans to deviate from the two-flight certification process.
In the context of the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, ULA has been awarded 26 out of 48 missions, with 25 slated to use the Vulcan rocket. The first Vulcan mission will be USSF-106, and out of the nine NRO missions awarded, seven will launch using Vulcan.
The retirement of the Delta family of rockets coincides with ULA’s upcoming launch of its first astronaut crew using the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test. The Starliner spacecraft is currently being prepared for launch at Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41).
Overall, the future of ULA and the space industry looks promising. With the retirement of the Delta family of rockets, ULA’s focus will shift towards the Vulcan rocket, which offers advanced capabilities for both commercial and military missions. The successful launch of NROL-70 will demonstrate ULA’s reliability and expertise in the field.
