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File
photo of ULA Delta IV rocket poised for sunset blastoff with the Wideband
Global SATCOM (WGS-9) mission for the U.S. Air Force from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fl, on Mar.
18, 2017. Credit: Ken
Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
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CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL – Nearing the end of its glorious 16 year life the penultimate Delta IV medium class rocket is set for a dazzling sunset liftoff from Cape Canaveral with a mighty military communications satellite for the U.S. Air Force, Friday, March 15.
Furthermore the weather outlook is very promising for tonight’s dinnertime launch of the next-to-last Delta IV Medium from the Florida Space Coast deploying a critical communications satellite for global military communications.
And rocket maker United Launch Alliance (ULA) is making final preparations to launch the tenth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite for the U.S. Air Force following a thumbs up after Thursday’s Launch Readiness Review cleared the vehicle and payload.
Blastoff of the Wideband Global SATCOM-10 (WGS-10) mission for the U.S. Air Force is slated for 6:56 p.m. EDT on Friday, Mar. 15, 2019 from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
“Feels like a good day to go to space. #WGS10,” tweeted ULA CEO Tory Bruno this morning.
“Welcome to launch day for Delta IV and WGS-10!” ULA tweeted.
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| ULA Delta IV Medium class rocket poised for liftoff on WGS-10 mission for the U.S. Air Force from Space Launch Complex-37 on March 15, 2019 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
You can watch the Delta launch live on a ULA webcast. The live launch broadcast will begin approximately 20 minutes prior to liftoff at 6:36 p.m. EST here:
https://www.ulalaunch.com/
The Delta IV will launch eastward over the Atlantic Ocean and should put on a stunning sky show with the sunny, clear weather conditions currently forecast.
Tourists from the across the globe have flocked to the Kennedy Space center area filling hotels and restaurants thereby providing a much needed ‘space boost’ to the local ‘space coast’ economy.
Beaches and parks will be packed with spectators from near and far.
Here is a visibility map from ULA:
The Delta IV will launch eastward over the Atlantic Ocean and should put on a stunning sky show with the sunny, clear weather conditions currently forecast.
Tourists from the across the globe have flocked to the Kennedy Space center area filling hotels and restaurants thereby providing a much needed ‘space boost’ to the local ‘space coast’ economy.
Beaches and parks will be packed with spectators from near and far.
Here is a visibility map from ULA:
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| Launch visibility map |
This marks the 38th launch of the Delta IV rocket.
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ULA Delta IV Medium class rocket poised for
liftoff on WGS-10 mission for the U.S. Air Force from Space Launch Complex-37 on March 15, 2019 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
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The common booster core for Delta IV is powered by the RS-68A engine fueled by liquid oxygen and RP-1 kerosene, and the Delta Cryogenic Second Stage is powered by the RL10B-2 engine, both supplied by Aerojet Rocketdyne.
Overall the first stage provides approximately 1.8 million pounds of thrust.
The is the eighth Delta IV flight in the Medium+ (5,4) configuration; all of which were for prior WGS missions.
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| WGS-10 satellite. Credit: Boeing |
"ULA
is proud to be the exclusive launch provider for all ten WGS missions," said
Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. "Our
focus on mission success continually demonstrates that safely and reliably
delivering these critical national assets is our highest priority."
The Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system, developed by the Boeing Company, provides wideband communications connectivity for U.S. and allied warfighters around the world.
The Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system, developed by the Boeing Company, provides wideband communications connectivity for U.S. and allied warfighters around the world.
To date ULA has a track record of 100% mission success with 132 successful
launches.
This
story will be updated further as I now head to the launch pad to set up remote
cameras.
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ULA Delta IV Medium class rocket poised for
liftoff on WGS-10 mission for the U.S. Air Force from Space Launch Complex-37 on March 15, 2019 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
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To date the entire WGS constellation has been launch by ULA on Delta IV medium rockets.
It is the tenth satellite in the WGS constellation that serves as the backbone of the U.S. military's global satellite communications.
“WGS provides flexible, high-capacity communications for the Nation's warfighters through procurement and operation of the satellite constellation and the associated control systems,” according to the U.S. Air Force.
“WGS provides worldwide flexible, high data rate and long haul communications for marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, the White House Communication Agency, the US State Department, international partners, and other special users.”
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ULA Delta IV Medium class rocket poised for
liftoff on WGS-10 mission for the U.S. Air Force from Space Launch Complex-37 on March 15, 2019 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
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Stay tuned here for Ken's continuing Earth and
Planetary science and human spaceflight news: www.kenkremer.com –www.spaceupclose.com – twitter @ken_kremer
– email: ken at kenkremer.com
Dr. Kremer is a research scientist and journalist based in the KSC
area, active in outreach and interviewed regularly on TV and radio about space
topics.
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Ken’s photos are for sale and he is available for lectures and outreach events
Learn more about the upcoming/recent ULA Delta 4 WGS-10, SpaceX Demo-1, Falcon 9 Nusantara Satu launch, USAF GPS 3-01, SpaceX Falcon 9/CRS-16 launch to ISS, NASA missions, ULA Atlas & Delta launches, SpySats and more at Ken’s upcoming outreach events at Quality Inn Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, FL, evenings:
Mar 15/16: “ULA Delta 4 WGS-10 launch, SpaceX Falcon 9 Demo-1 and Nusantara Satu launch, Dragon CRS-16 resupply launch to ISS, SpaceX Falcon GPS 3-01, SpaceX Falcon Heavy & Falcon 9 launches, upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 USAF GP3 3-01, NRO & USAF Spysats, SLS, Orion, Boeing and SpaceX Commercial crew capsules, OSIRIS-Rex, Juno at Jupiter, InSight Mars lander, Curiosity and Opportunity explore Mars, NH at Pluto, Kuiper Belt and more,” Kennedy Space Center Quality Inn, Titusville, FL, evenings. Photos for sale
Ken’s upcoming talks:
Learn more about the upcoming/recent ULA Delta 4 WGS-10, SpaceX Demo-1, Falcon 9 Nusantara Satu launch, USAF GPS 3-01, SpaceX Falcon 9/CRS-16 launch to ISS, NASA missions, ULA Atlas & Delta launches, SpySats and more at Ken’s upcoming outreach events at Quality Inn Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, FL, evenings:
Mar 15/16: “ULA Delta 4 WGS-10 launch, SpaceX Falcon 9 Demo-1 and Nusantara Satu launch, Dragon CRS-16 resupply launch to ISS, SpaceX Falcon GPS 3-01, SpaceX Falcon Heavy & Falcon 9 launches, upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 USAF GP3 3-01, NRO & USAF Spysats, SLS, Orion, Boeing and SpaceX Commercial crew capsules, OSIRIS-Rex, Juno at Jupiter, InSight Mars lander, Curiosity and Opportunity explore Mars, NH at Pluto, Kuiper Belt and more,” Kennedy Space Center Quality Inn, Titusville, FL, evenings. Photos for sale
Ken’s upcoming talks:
Apr 3: “Exploring
Mars; The Search for Life & A Journey in 3-D.” 7 PM, Lawton C
Johnson Middle School, Summit, NJ
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