L-3 Media Update: ULA Delta IV Heavy NROL-71 Set to Launch

Everything is progressing toward the ULA Delta IV Heavy launch carrying the NROL-71 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. The mission is set to lift off on a Delta IV Heavy rocket on Saturday, Jan. 19 from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. The launch time is 11:05 a.m. PST.
 
Remote Camera Set Up and Launch
Credentialed media planning to set up remote cameras on SLC-6 should meet at the Vandenberg South Gate no later than 1:30 p.m. PST on Friday, Jan. 18.
 
Credentialed media covering launch should meet at the Vandenberg South Gate no later than 9:30 a.m. PST on Saturday, Jan. 19.  
 
Launch Forecast Summary:
Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 40%
Primary concerns: Ground Winds
 
Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24 hour delay: 60%
Primary concern: Ground Winds
 
Launch Broadcast
Live broadcast coverage of launch will begin at 10:45 a.m. PST on Jan.19.
Live launch updates and webcast available at: www.ulalaunch.com
 
*Note: Satellite frequencies changed from previous attempts
 
ALL TIMES PACIFIC
 
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19
BARS + TONE – 10:14 A.M.
PROGRAM START – 10:45 A.M.
LAUNCH – 11:05 A.M
 
DIGITAL SATELLITE C-BAND DOWNLINK
HD FORMAT
SATELLITE — G3
TRANSPONDER — 2
BAND — C-BAND DIGITAL
ORBITAL POSITION — 95°W
HD BANDWIDTH — 18 MHz (HALF TRANSPONDER)
UPLINK — 5,974.000 MHz (Horizontal)
DOWNLINK — 3,749.000 MHz (Vertical)
SYMBOL RATE — 13
FEC — ¾
DATA RATE — 17.9705
DVBS – QPSK
MPEG 2
AUDIO EMBEDDED
 
Webcast available at www.ulalaunch.com and www.youtube.com/unitedlaunchalliance