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Delta IV Heavy in MST prior to tower rollback
Last night the final preparations for the countdown to launch of the Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the secret spy satellite NROL-15 were made ready for launch at 6:13 am this morning (11:13 BST) from the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Stations SLC-37B. While the remote cameras were being setup the Mobile service tower was rolled back exposing the triple cores of the first stage of the Delta IV.
Tropical storm Debby has moved away from the Florida Space Coast and the weather is looking to co-operate today with a 90% chance of favourable conditions at launch time. With this in mind shortly after midnight last night the launch team was given the GO to precede with cryogenic tanking.
With one hour to go before launch the countdown is preceding normally. GO DELTA IV, GO NROL-15
Our image gallery of the tower rollback follows:
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- The Delta IV enclosed in the MST before tower rollback
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- Delta IV Heavy in MST prior to tower rollback
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- The Delta IV Heavy and NROL-15 Satellite become exposed as the tower rolls back
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- The Delta IV rocket forms a peaceful reflection as it is fully exposed for launch
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- Rollback of Delta IV Heavy NROL-15 Cape Canaveral AFS (Credit Pat Corkery ULA)
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- One of our GoPro cameras just yards from the rocket.
