Blastoff! Delta IV Heavy launches for final time with secret US spy satellite
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Published 2024-04-09
Aboard the Delta Heavy IV rocket was a classified payload launched on behalf of the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The NRO rarely discloses the nature or capabilities of its spy satellites, and this particular mission offers no exception.
Credit: ULA
All Comments (21)
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Farewell Delta IV Heavy, most metal of rockets, last scion of Thor, final heir to the proud Delta lineage. You will not soon be forgotten.
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We'll miss you Delta, I watched some of the earliest 2 models go up, happy retirement!
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Weβre all gonna miss that incredible fireball the Delta 4 Heavy creates before liftoff. Goodbye Delta 4 Heavy.
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Well I guess it's not a secret anymore ππ
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The Mighty RS-68A βπ»
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Are we going to ignore that they call the boosters "strap ons"?
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Seeing the rocket's view of the ground is fantastic.
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I would **MUCH** rather hear the actual launch controllers instead of the announcer. Folks who tune in to watch these launches are much more interested in the actual comms than in the announcers talking over them, ESPECIALLY during station polling (go calls for launch), final countdown, and the editorial summary at liftoff.
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Perfect Machine. Perfect work in the world Perfect team in the world Perfect Mission. Thank you very much 100424.
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RIP delta heavy, i love to watch you fly...
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They may have had 6 decades of excellence in spaceflight, but their livestreams sure could have done with some improvement. π’
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Beautiful sight.
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The Olympic flame touched any dark point on earth.
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Delta IV Heavy sets itself on fire one last time. sobs
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Very nice launch
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the launch commentator was off on the timing
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fun fact: the delta-iv heavy is entirely propelled by the LH2/LOx fuel couple, the same magical 'invisible' propellant that the second stage of saturn-V was fuelled. Except that... it is not really invisible, as everyone can see for themselves. Granted it is very dim, especially given the high power it produces, but one can still clearly see it even in the bright daylight. More importantly, the nozzles themselves are glowing bright yellow, nearly white, as the fuel burns that hot. Sapienti sat. π
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Incredible
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It's funny to see how much it looks like a launch from 1990, if you compering it with spacexπ
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Right on.
