Delta IV launches WGS-9 to expand defense communications
A Delta IV rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex-37 with the Air Force’s ninth Wideband Global SATCOM satellite. Photo & Caption Credit: ULA
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — After a number of postponements, and a technical glitch at T-minus 4 minutes, United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) rocket finally got off the ground with the Department of Defense’s ninth Wideband Global SATCOM satellite (WGS-9). The launch took place just after twilight at 8:18 p.m. EDT March 18 (00:18 GMT March 19), 2017, from Space Launch Complex 37.
The weather for the launch of the Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) configuration Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) was all but perfect. The only concerns Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron had was the potential of cumulus clouds; however, those never materialized.
The Mobile Service Tower (MST), which is used to allow workers to work on the fully-stacked Delta IV, was rolled back at 11:39 a.m. EDT (15:39 GMT). With the hum of engines straining to move the structure back a full football field’s distance (roughly 160 feet or 49 meters) the orange and white rocket was exposed to the clear blue skies of the Sunshine State.
Video courtesy of SpaceFlight Insider
Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith, 45th Space Wing commander and mission Launch Decision Authority, said that this was the fourth major launch operation on the Eastern Range and the second successful launch in just two-and-a-half days, culminating many long hours of hard work by the entire mission team.
“Thanks to the amazing commitment, focus on the mission, and teamwork the men and women of the 45th Space Wing share with our mission partners at SMC and ULA, we successfully launched the next satellite in the WGS constellation,” he said. “This mission demonstrates the Air Force’s commitment to deliver secure and reliable satellite communications around the globe to U.S. forces and our allies. It also once again showcases why the 45th Space Wing is the ‘World’s Premiere Gateway to Space.’”
The launch was postponed several times for various reasons including, on March 4, when the liftoff date for WGS-9 was changed to March 14 after the ULA team discovered an issue with the Delta IV first stage booster during standard prelaunch inspections. Later, on March 11, ULA announced that the launch would be no earlier than March 17, stating Eastern Range availability as the reason. This was further delayed by 24 hours due to launch schedule conflicts.
Lighting the way to orbit
A Delta IV rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex-37 with the Air Force’s ninth Wideband Global SATCOM satellite. Photo & Caption Credit: ULA
At ignition, the free hydrogen drifting around the RS-68A Common Booster Core (CBC) engine blossomed into an impressive but harmless cloud of flame. Then, when the countdown clock reached zero, the four solid rocket motors (SRMs) ignited and began to rise off the pad, lighting up the Florida sky.
While the Department of Defense and ULA are not advertising the mass nor orbit of the WGS constellation, it is known that the ten spacecraft approach geosynchronous orbit and that the Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) can lift up to 15,074 pounds (7,020 kilograms).
The SRMs burned out and were jettisoned in pairs: one set a minute and 40 seconds into flight, the second set two seconds later. Up above the bulk of the atmosphere, Delta IV’s payload fairing jettisoned at T+3 minutes, 14 seconds.
The first stage depleted its propellants at just past T+4 minutes, with the Delta Cryogenic Second Stage (DCSS) igniting 13 seconds later and firing for a bit over 15-and-a-half minutes. The DCSS performed a second three-minute burn to send WGS-9 on its way to its final orbit before burning a third time to go into a deorbit burn.
“This launch commemorates the 70th anniversary of the USAF,” said Laura Maginnis, ULA vice president of Government Satellite Launch. “We are absolutely honored to play a role in this important milestone, while safely delivering WGS-9 to orbit.”
The Delta IV rocket
The Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) launching with its four SRMs alight. Photo Credit: Derek Richardson / SpaceFlight Insider
This was the seventh launch of the Delta IV Medium+ (5,4), which comprises a five-meter-diameter payload fairing and four strap-on SRMs – each SRM providing 281,000 lbf (1,250 kN) of thrust – that are used during the first-stage liftoff. This vehicle configuration has been used only to launch WGS satellites.
The CBC is powered by an RS-68A liquid hydrogen / liquid oxygen engine producing 705,250 lbf (3,137 kN) of thrust at sea level. A single RL10B-2 liquid hydrogen / liquid oxygen engine powers the second stage.
“The second stage of the Delta IV is called the Delta Cryogenic Second Stage or ‘DCSS’ is powered by an RL10 engine which, in the vacuum of space, produces about 25,000 lbs of thrust; that’s what is actually going to be propelling the WGS-9 satellite to its final orbit,” Anton Kolomiets, a mechanical engineer with ULA told SpaceFlight Insider. For Kolomiets, the flight was especially exciting. “This is actually my first launch that I will get to see down here and I’m really excited to finally be able to feel that rumble and to see all these different things that we have building in the factory start ‘clicking’ perfectly in synch with each other when this thing is pushed up to space.”
Video courtesy of SpaceFlight Insider
Aerojet Rocketdyne manufactures both the booster and DCSS engines. As Kolomiets noted, ULA assembles the Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) launch vehicle in Decatur, Alabama.
This is ULA’s 3rd rocket launch of 2017 and the 118th successful flight since the corporation was formed in December 2006.
“Thank you to the women and men of United Launch Alliance and all of our teammates who have worked tirelessly together to ensure today’s mission success,” said Maginnis. “The team’s number one priority was safely and reliably delivering one of our nation’s most critical satellites.”
The next steps
The Department of Defense (DoD) has not announced the next launch in the constellation, but WGS-10 is scheduled to be the last spacecraft in the series. Presumably, that launch will use the 5,4 configuration as well. Representatives with Boeing have told SpaceFlight Insider that the final spacecraft should launch in 2018.
The WGS constellation is able to support broadcast, multicast, and point-to-point communications. It is also the only military satellite communications system that can support simultaneous X-band and Ka-band communications. The system shares data in real time for tactical communications and supports a wide variety of missions, from search and rescue efforts to military operations.
WGS is an international effort, one which works with several nations to help improve global security.
“This program was funded under a unique partnership with the United States Department of Defense,” Boeing’s Matt Barnett told SpaceFlight Insider. “The other participating countries are Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands and New Zealand.”
Video Courtesy of United Launch Alliance
Bart Leahy
Bart Leahy is a freelance technical writer living in Orlando, Florida. Leahy's diverse career has included work for The Walt Disney Company, NASA, the Department of Defense, Nissan, a number of commercial space companies, small businesses, nonprofits, as well as the Science Cheerleaders.
Go ULA, Go USAF, Vigilance!