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[20200827_123302 UTC: Mission has been scrubbed:
Launch Director Lou Mangieri has announced that we will not continue with the #DeltaIVHeavy rocket countdown operations today for #NROL44. Another launch attempt will be possible in 24 hours.
Apologies about the YouTube link; that was the one supplied in the source story, and I've been unable to find an alternate. It has been struck from this story. --martyb]
The big Delta IV Heavy rocket will try to loft a classified mission tonight:
Is anyone ready to see a heavy-lift rocket take flight? Especially one that creates a giant fireball mere seconds before liftoff?
United Launch Alliance's largest booster, the Delta IV Heavy, has not launched since January, 2019. Now the big rocket—the second-most-powerful launch vehicle in the world after SpaceX's Falcon Heavy—is back on the pad to loft a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Liftoff of this "NROL-44" mission is scheduled for 2:12am EDT (06:12 UTC)[*] on Thursday from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The weather forecast for liftoff is favorable, with only a slight concern for a chance of violating the cumulus cloud rules. Forecasters predict an 80-percent chance of good weather at the launch opportunity.
The mission was originally due to take place a day earlier, but United Launch Alliance delayed it for a day, with only a simple statement saying that it was moved "due to customer request."
[*] This story is scheduled to "go live" at 11PM EDT (0300 UTC). BUT as of 23:19 EDT:
An issue with a heater has been reported by the launch team. The issue is being referred to Anomaly Chief Dave McFarland for troubleshooting steps. The AC position in the control room that directs engineering teams work to resolve technical issues that arise during the count.
— ULA (@ulalaunch) August 27, 2020
Follow updates at: NASASpaceflight.com.
Video of the launch is available on YouTube and is scheduled to begin at 01:52am EDT (05:52 UTC) Thursday.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday August 27 2020, @03:14AM (7 children)
Currently TFT(itle) reads:
Like in... what?... kick that classified mission into space while it remains on the surface?
If so, why do they still call a rocket?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by martyb on Thursday August 27 2020, @03:35AM (1 child)
That was a copy/paste from the article at Ars Technica [arstechnica.com]. I just checked (they try two different titles and then run with the one that got the most hits) and the title reads "The big Delta IV Heavy rocket will try to loft a classified mission tonight".
So, yes "Loft".
That said, there was an issue found during a planned hold. I've found Nasaspaceflight.com [nasaspaceflight.com] to be a good resource for timely updates.
OTOH, I'm absolutely knackered so I won't be making any more updates/replies tonight.
LASTLY, this story is in addition to our regularly-scheduled stories; none were displaced to bring this story to you.
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday August 27 2020, @05:24AM
Except ari's stories, you mean. But, I know, displacing those is a way of life already. (very large grin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Thursday August 27 2020, @04:32AM (2 children)
"loft" can be a verb: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/loft [dictionary.com]
My take: journalists just being, well, journalists. A little drama spice on top.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday August 27 2020, @05:22AM (1 child)
As I said, like the mighty rocket remains solid on the field and kicks the classified mission into space.
I don't even what that means, but still sounds like the rocket remains in place and the ball... errr... satellite flies away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 27 2020, @03:54PM
Merriam-Webster includes the definition
which is more inline with how I've always heard the word and makes sense in this context.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday August 28 2020, @05:38AM (1 child)
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Friday August 28 2020, @05:48AM
Most of the time, I encountered loft being used in the meaning of "raise something high by kicking or by throwing it hard".
No, not missing a grin, more of a genuine question from a non-native English speaker.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford