The LRR (Launch Readiness Review), led by ULA (United Launch Alliance) Launch Director Tom Heter III, took place in ULA's West Coast Launch Operations Center at Vandenberg and virtually via teleconferencing to assess the readiness of the rocket and mission assets, the status of pre-flight processing work and previewed the weather forecast that calls for a 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions. At the conclusion of the meeting, leaders were polled and then signed the Launch Readiness Certificate. NROL-91 extends a partnership between the NRO (National Reconnaissance Office) and ULA that began with our very first launch in 2006 and now totals 31 consecutive successes. The triple-core Delta IV Heavy is the only operational rocket in the world today that possesses all necessary attributes to meet the stringent requirements to perform the NROL-91 mission. It will be the NRO's 10th launch aboard ULA's heavy-performance rocket, which is recognized for delivering high-priority missions for national security and NASA.
The payload aboard NROL-91 is designed, built and operated by the NRO in support of the agency's national security mission to provide intelligence data to the United States senior policy makers, the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense.
United Launch Alliance will offer live comprehensive countdown coverage from the launch control center in our automatically-refreshing blog beginning Saturday at 5:15 a.m. PDT (8:15 a.m. EDT; 1215 UTC), with continuing commentary all the way through liftoff. Our live video broadcast of the launch can be viewed on this page side-by-side with the running text updates. The webcast begins at 2:33 p.m. PDT (5:33 p.m. EDT; 2133 UTC). At the request of our customer, live coverage will conclude after payload fairing jettison, approximately seven minutes into flight.
MISSION OVERVIEW
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket is launching the NROL-91 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
When the United States needs eyes and ears in critical places where no human can reach – be it over the most rugged terrain or through the most hostile territory – it turns to the NRO. The NRO is the Department of Defense organization responsible for developing, acquiring, launching and operating America’s reconnaissance satellites, as well as operating associated data processing facilities in support of national security.
The NRO uses a variety of satellites to meet mission needs—from small sats to more traditional, larger satellites. This allows the NRO to pursue a hybrid architecture designed to provide global coverage against a wide range of intelligence requirements, carry out research and development efforts, and assist emergency and disaster relief efforts in the U.S. and around the world. The NRO never loses focus on who they are working to protect: our nation and its citizens.
https://youtu.be/L1giJrmgMAQ
Watch a preview video of what you can expect during the Delta IV Heavy rocket's flight.
https://youtu.be/R_wDd8916WA
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https://www.ulalaunch.com/missions/next-launch/delta-iv-heavy-nrol-91