A new U.S. spy satellite will launch into space Monday afternoon (April 26) on the mightiest rocket built by the United Launch Alliance (ULA): the massive Delta IV Heavy.
The behemoth is set to blast off at 4:46 p.m. EST (2046 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, carrying the classified NROL-82 satellite into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). You can watch all the fiery action live online, courtesy of ULA. Launch coverage will begin about 20 minutes prior to liftoff, and you can watch the launch live here and on the Space.com homepage or directly via the ULA webcast.
There's a 40% chance of favorable weather conditions for liftoff on Monday, according to officials at the U.S. Space Force, with the primary concerns being cumulus clouds, precipitation, thick clouds, and surface winds. There is a backup date on Tuesday (April 27), with conditions also at 40% favorable.
Related: Spy satellite NROL-71 soars on secret mission atop Delta IV Heavy
ULA, a 50-50 joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing, has only four remaining Delta IV Heavy rockets in its fleet. All of those are assigned to launch missions for the NRO, with two to launch from California (including today’s mission) and the remaining two to launch from Florida.
The Delta IV Heavy is currently the most powerful rocket in ULA's fleet. Fueled by 465,000 gallons (1.76 million liters) of superchilled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, the mega launcher consists of three common core boosters that generate more than 2 million pounds of thrust.
The Delta family of rockets also included two single-stick versions: the Delta II and the Delta IV Medium. (ULA previously retired the Delta II rocket in 2018 and its Delta IV Medium in 2019.)
Monday's planned lift off marks the 13th flight of a Delta IV Heavy rocket since its debut in 2004 and features one of only four Delta IV rockets remaining. ULA plans to retire the launcher before rolling out its next-generation vehicle, the Vulcan Centaur. That launcher is estimated to debut later this year.
Shortly before the launch countdown begins, the 330-foot-tall (100 meters) shroud encasing the rocket — called the Mobile Service Tower, or MST — will roll away, exposing the colossal vehicle, which stands 233 feet (71 m) tall and measures approximately 53 feet (16 m) wide.
Related: Delta IV Heavy: Powerful launch vehicle
Of the previous 12 Delta IV Heavy missions, eight carried NRO payloads. Some of the vehicle's other notable missions launched NASA's Orion capsule on an uncrewed test flight to Earth orbit in 2014 and the agency's Parker Solar Probe in 2018 on a mission to study the sun.
Preparations for this launch began in February as ULA raised the rocket on the pad at SLC-6. Since then, the team has completed a wet dress rehearsal, where they load the rocket with fuel and simulated launch procedures to ensure that the rocket’s systems are working properly.
Earlier this month, the payload was installed atop the rocket. This mission will mark the 9th time a Delta IV will blast off from SLC-6, which was originally designed as a place for space shuttles to launch from the West Coast.
The NROL-82 mission is ULA’s first launch of 2021. If the rest of its launch schedule goes as planned, the company could conduct as many as 10 missions before the end of year. (ULA launched a total of 6 times in 2020, including the launch of the Mars Perseverance rover.)
After the Delta’s retirement, ULA will rely on its upcoming Vulcan Centaur rocket to launch its future national security missions, which is estimated to come online later this year.
Follow Amy Thompson on Twitter @astrogingersnap. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.
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Huge Delta IV Heavy rocket to launch US spy satellite tonight. Here's how to watch. - Space.com
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