The countdown resumed and we are heading for a 7:17 a.m. EST liftoff. The Delta IV Heavy’s safe-and-arm devices are armed. The core stage tanks will be sealed at flight pressures one minute from now as the activity picks up.
Month: December 2014
Orion/Delta IV Go for Launch!
The final polls have been conducted and all the launch and flight teams report the spacecraft and rocket are go for liftoff at 7:17 a.m. EST. Next up: Countdown resumes at T-4 minutes.
Orion on Internal Battery Power
The Orion spacecraft’s systems are now operating on the ship’s batteries instead of from electrical sources from the launch pad. Unlike it operational versions, this Orion does not carry any solar arrays to provide electrical energy once in space. Since the flight test is 4.5 hours, the batteries will be enough.
10 Minutes to Launch
Working toward liftoff at 7:17 a.m.
New Launch Time: 7:17 AM EST
The new launch time is 7:17 a.m. EST now that the boat has left the prohibited area.
Launch Window Extends to 9:44 a.m. EST
Orion has 2 hours and 39 minutes to lift off today on its flight test.
Hold to be Extended
The launch conductor extended the countdown hold because of the range hazard and due to a second stage propellant conditioning issue.
Range Goes Red
The Eastern Range has just called a fouled range due to a boat that has strayed into the prohibited zone over the Atlantic. The rocket cannot lift off until the boat clears the area.
Countdown Enters Final Built-in Hold
19 minutes before launch and the countdown entered a built-in hold as planned. There are no weather or technical impediments to liftoff at 7:05 a.m. EST. This pause will last 15 minutes and allow the launch and flight teams to conduct their polling to give the final go-aheads to begin the Orion mission. The countdown will resume at the T-4 minute mark at 7:01 a.m. and it will mark the start of the terminal countdown phase, the last before liftoff. Today’s launch window extends to 9:44 a.m.
Launch Weather Forecast: 70 Percent Go
Weather Officer Kathy Winters from the 45th Space Wing’s weather squadron just briefed the launch team on weather conditions here are the Cape and updated the official forecast to 70 percent chance of acceptable conditions. They are watching winds and clouds at the time of launch. At this time, all conditions on the Eastern Range are green.