NROL-37 Delta IV launch rescheduled to June 9
Photo Credit: USAF
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The NROL-37 mission, originally scheduled for launch on June 4 from Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, is now set for liftoff no-earlier-than June 9.
According to Spaceflight Now, launch of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta 4 Heavy rocket will likely occur during a five-hour period stretching from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. EDT (1730–2230 GMT). The actual launch window is classified due to the sensitive national security nature of the mission,
“The spacecraft, launch vehicle and support systems are ready to support [the] launch,” ULA said in a press statement on June 2, 2016.
The massive rocket is slated to be sent aloft in support of the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, the agency responsible for the country’s spy satellite fleet. The NRO is a joint organization between the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.
NROL-37 is the first of five national security space launches scheduled over the next four months. Three will be conducted with Delta 4 rockets and two others on Atlas Vs.
Larry Klaes
Larry Klaes is an author and freelance journalist specializing in news and educational work on the sciences. Klae's past endeavors include editor of SETIQuest magazine and President of the Boston chapter of the National Space Society (NSS). Klaes joined SpaceFlight Insider in 2016.
