[Launch Alert] Delta IV Heavy Launched

[Launch Alert]

The following is a Vandenberg AFB news release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, www.vandenberg.af.mil

Delta IV Heavy NROL-71 successfully launched

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team Vandenberg supported the successful launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-6 here, Saturday, Jan. 19, at 11:10 am PST.

Col. Bob Reeves, 30th Space Vice Wing commander, was the space launch commander.

"Congratulations to the 30th Space Wing, United Launch Alliance and the National Reconnaissance Office for a successful mission," said Reeves. "The entire team worked diligently to ensure mission assurance, public safety, and mission success on the Western Range."

This mission was launched aboard a Delta IV Heavy configuration Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle. The EELV program was established by the U.S. Air Force to provide assured access to space for Department of Defense and other government payloads.

-----

The following is a United Launch Alliance news release:

United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-71 in Support of  National Security
 
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., (Jan. 19, 2019) – A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a critical payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) denoted NROL-71 lifted off from Space Launch Complex-6 on Jan. 19 at 11:10 a.m. PST. The mission is in support of our country’s national defense.
 
“Congratulations to our team and mission partners for successfully delivering this critical asset to support national security missions,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs, “thank you to the entire team for their perseverance, ongoing dedication and focus on 100% mission success.”
 
The Delta IV Heavy is the nation’s proven heavy lift launch vehicle, delivering high-priority missions for the National Reconnaissance Office, U.S. Air Force and NASA. With its advanced upper stage, the Delta IV Heavy can take more than 14,000 pounds directly to geosynchronous orbit, as well as a wide variety of complex interplanetary trajectories.
 
The mission launched aboard a Delta IV Heavy, comprised of three common booster cores each powered by an Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68A liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine producing a combined total of more than 2.1 million pounds of thrust. The second stage was powered by an AR RL10B-2 liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine.
 
NROL-71 is ULA’s first launch in 2019 and 132nd successful launch since the company was formed in December 2006. 
 
ULA's next launch is the WGS-10 mission for the U.S. Air Force on a Delta IV rocket. The launch is scheduled for March 13, 2019 from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

With more than a century of combined heritage, ULA is the world’s most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 130 satellites to orbit that provide Earth observation capabilities, enable global communications, unlock the mysteries of our solar system, and support life-saving technology.

For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation atwww.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch. 

-----

Delta IV Heavy Launch Observation
By Brian Webb

I observed today’s launch from a bluff approximately 105 statute miles (167 kilometers) east-southeast of the launch site.

Before launch, I aimed tripod-mounted 10x50 binoculars exactly where I expected the Delta IV Heavy to appear behind a distant mountain. For precise aiming information, I used a photo I took of a previous Delta IV launch from the same observing site.

I looked at my watch until 11:10:00 a.m. PST, my understanding of the exact liftoff time. At 11:10:02 I began staring through my binoculars. After several seconds, I was wondering where the rocket was. 
People standing near me then said “There it is!” Oddly, the contrail from the climbing rocket appeared to the right of where I expected it and it was near the edge or outside of my field of view. I then moved the binoculars to the right, located the contrail, and followed it upward until I saw the rocket.

During the early portion of the launch, I clearly saw the rocket, but not a clearly defined shape. Also absent was any real trace of a flame. I continued to slowly follow the rocket. After a few minutes, I saw a very brief, colorless, spray-like event behind the vehicle. This was probably due to something being jettisoned from the Delta IV Heavy.

The rocket then resembled a yellow point of light. A few seconds later, I saw a brief, colorless, wedge-shaped plume well behind the rocket. This appeared to have been caused by an object performing some type of venting.

I continued to follow the yellow point of light until T+5 minutes 45 seconds when I accidentally moved my binoculars too far away from the rocket and I couldn’t find it again. That actually wasn’t a bad ending to my observing session since I believe I observed today’s launch longer than any previous daylight Vandenberg AFB rocket or missile launch.