UPDATE (2:38 p.m.) – Launch staff said preparations are going well and the countdown has begun for a Delta IV rocket launch, scheduled to go off from Vandenberg Airforce Base Saturday night.
It was originally scheduled for Friday but was postponed because of a communication link error.
The launch is scheduled for 8:06 p.m. A live broadcast will begin at 7:46 p.m.
UPDATE (6:55 p.m.) – United Launch Alliance (ULA) says the new launch is planned for 8:06 p.m. Saturday.
ULA’s live broadcast of the launch will begin at 7:46 p.m.
For live updates, click here.
UPDATE (5:25 p.m.) – The launch has been scrubbed for Friday night.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) says there is an issue with a “redundant communication link between the control center and launch site.”
The launch countdown was placed on hold Friday afternoon while a special crew was called to the launch pad to troubleshoot an issue with the holdfire circuitry.
ULA says the crew will try again on Saturday.
(7:49 a.m.) – A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Friday, Dec. 7.
The rocket will carry a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Sunset pic of the #DeltaIVHeavy with #NROL71 on the launch pad last night. Liftoff planned for tonight at 8:19pm PST https://t.co/wLoggekye0 pic.twitter.com/YvldMplbRQ
— ULA (@ulalaunch) December 7, 2018
The launch window opens at 8:19 p.m.
It will be streamed live on the United Launch Alliance website.
NRO
✔@NatReconOfc
Check out these cool photos of #NROL71! Final launch preparations began in October when the NROL-71 payload fairing was transported to SLC-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and was mated with a @ulalaunch #DeltaIV Heavy rocket. NROL-71 is scheduled to launch Dec. 7th.
This will be the second launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base this week.
On Monday morning, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 64 satellites was successfully launched from the Central Coast base.
