Delta IV Heavy DSP-23 launch

Presented by http://collectSPACE.com — The Source for Space History and Artifacts. A Delta IV Heavy launched the Northrop Grumman-built Defense Support Program (DSP-23) mission from Space Launch Complex-37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on November 10. Video courtesy United Launch Alliance.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• delta
• iv
• heavy
• launch

[spikonaleash]

so what WAS on that huge rocket, anyone know?

[WhyChiPhi]

@Membrane556

Nope not suprised at all. I did those sims in GVPAT back in EMD. Too bad they never built the MB-60 or AJ-60. No money for an RS-68B, have to live with the 68A. Now, had they built the M+(4,4) instead of the M+(5,2) that would have been a smart busines decision. But, alas, SERTIF wanted the 5,2 - and wound up flying on a Delta II with a Delta III first stage (Delta II Heavy)

[Membrane556]

@WhyChiPhi

You'd be surprised how much adding a couple of GEM-60s and a higher thrust upper stage would boost it's performance.

Six GEM-60s,RS68Bs, and the AUS-60 gets it to 45T or 60% of the Saturn V INT-21's payload.

[dcb1138]

To respond to 123NOTIT...your comment was absurd. Every rocket that uses Liquid Hydrogen and Oxygen vents hydrogen gas. Thats why man rated rockets use elements to "burn off" excess Hydrogen. Needless to say, the astronauts are safe in an air tight capsule on top. They are going into space and nothing outside the rocket will harm them. As for the Atlas using Russian engines...what ????

[TheBosnianson]

well thats pretty slow. I can't imagine how heavy it is then...

[dcb1138]

"A study by the Aerospace Corporation, conducted at the request of NASA to disprove the viability of an option to switch Orion to an alternative Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV), has found both the Atlas V Heavy and Delta IV Heavy are capable of launching Orion on both ISS and Lunar missions. Meanwhile, former NASA administrator Mike Griffin once again dismissed all alternatives to Ares I as unviable, due to the efforts already spent on Constellation.

[mmysama]

The delta V heavy can actually carry more cargo to LEO than the shuttle. It can accommodate the same fairing size as well. Maybe after the shuttle retires they can use these to deliver new components to the ISS.

[WhyChiPhi]

That is one underpowered LV. T/W|lo = 1.16. Ouch...

[leslieTS]

24 seconds to clear the launch pad, thats one heavy mother...

[CriX098]

Oh man, can you imagine when there are six of these RS-68s on Ares V?? I hope they figure out a way to mitigate that fireball. I'd like my Ares V non-crispy, please. :)