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Delta 4-Heavy rocket to take maiden flight in October BY JUSTIN RAY SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: August 19, 2004 A new launch date has been selected for the delayed demonstration flight of Boeing's massive Delta 4-Heavy rocket that will carry a satellite simulator and two tiny nanosats. The 23-story rocket is now slated for blastoff from Cape Canaveral's pad 37B on Wednesday, October 20 at 4:06 p.m. EDT (2006 GMT). A two-hour, 42-minute launch window will extend to sunset, closing at 6:48 p.m. EDT (2248 GMT).
"A second stage liquid hydrogen fill and drain valve will be replaced and thermal augmentation of the first stage umbilical interfaces will be performed with the vehicle on the pad," Boeing said in a statement. The rocket has been fitted with a 13,500-pound cargo -- known as the Heavy Demonstration Payload or "DemoSat" -- that serves to mimic the real satellites that will fly on Delta 4-Heavy boosters in the future. The U.S. Air Force is paying for this test launch to prove the Delta 4-Heavy vehicle works before two critical flights are performed -- one carrying a Defense Support Program missile-warning satellite, the other a classified National Reconnaissance Office craft. The purpose of DemoSat is to "emulate as closely as possible the characteristics (frequency, stiffness, mass and center of gravity) of a real spacecraft to provide flight data to reduce risks for future DoD and NRO missions," Air Force program officials told Spaceflight Now. In addition, two 50-pound nanosats are attached to the side of DemoSat. The canister-shaped craft, part of the University Nanosatellite Program, or NanoSat-2, will demonstrate miniaturized components and other technologies, plus test low-shock deployment systems for releasing satellites from a launch vehicle. "Arizona State University, University of Colorado at Boulder and New Mexico State University took part in a collaborative effort to build these satellites and will also operate them," the Air Force said.
The rocket was assembled in a nearby hangar last year and rolled horizontally to the launch pad in December. It has spent the past eight months undergoing testing, including fueling exercises and countdown rehearsals. Boeing initially hoped for an early July liftoff, but that was pushed back to give engineers more time to prepare for the crucial inaugural mission.
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Preview what a Boeing Delta 4 rocket launch will be like with this animation package of a "Heavy" configuration vehicle. (1min 41sec file)
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Scientists and mission officials explain the latest findings and exploration by the Spirit and Opportunity rovers during this news conference on August 18. (49min 40sec file)
The Russian Progress 15P resupply ship makes a fully automated rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station. An external camera on the craft provides this view of the final approach to the aft port of the Zvezda service module. (3min 49sec file)
