CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla – For the 16th and final time, a Delta IV Heavy rocket is ready for launch.
Delta rockets have been launching American missions in space since the early ‘60s, but now that the new Vulcan Centaur rocket is off the ground, United Launch Alliance is replacing the Delta IV and later, the Atlas V rocket too.
Tuesday, the company let News 6 reporter James Sparvero see the Heavy rocket up close one last time as it prepares to launch its final national security mission.
Launch operations director and general manager Ron Fortson spoke to members of the media at the gates of launch complex 37.
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“That vehicle behind us, generating over 2.1 million pounds of thrust,” Fortson said. “It’s the end of a legacy here but at the same time, we’ve got Vulcan coming down the road and so we’ve got a big future ahead of us, as well so.”
Fortson then commented on how the new Vulcan is a more affordable launch vehicle for ULA and its customers compared to the Delta IV Heavy.
“This is a very capable rocket, but it’s also an expensive rocket, and so it’s just time to move on to something that’s really going to provide more value and more capability at a lower cost for the future,” he said. “It’s just the right thing to do right now.”
Weather conditions are only 30% favorable for a launch on Thursday.
The launch is currently scheduled for 1:40 p.m., but should the launch not be able to happen Thursday, Fortson said there are backup opportunities Friday and on Monday.
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