Liftoff of the NRO Launch 91 (NROL-91) mission from Space Launch Complex 6 - at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California - took place at 3:25 PM PDT (22:25 UTC).ĭelta IV Heavy is the most powerful version of the Delta IV, one of two rockets developed under the US Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program to meet the US Government’s launch needs in the early 21st century. To see his latest project, you can follow Tariq on Twitter (opens in new tab).United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket made its last West Coast launch on Saturday, carrying out a mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, as it moves one flight closer to retirement. You can find Tariq at and as the co-host to the This Week In Space podcast (opens in new tab) with space historian Rod Pyle on the TWiT network (opens in new tab). He has journalism degrees from the University of Southern California and New York University. He is also an Eagle Scout (yes, he has the Space Exploration merit badge) and went to Space Camp four times as a kid and a fifth time as an adult. In October 2022, Tariq received the Harry Kolcum Award (opens in new tab) for excellence in space reporting from the National Space Club Florida Committee. Before joining, Tariq was a staff reporter for The Los Angeles Times covering education and city beats in La Habra, Fullerton and Huntington Beach. He became 's Managing Editor in 2009 and Editor-in-Chief in 2019. He covers human spaceflight, exploration and space science, as well as skywatching and entertainment. Tariq is the Editor-in-Chief of and joined the team in 2001, first as an intern and staff writer, and later as an editor. You can follow Managing Editor Tariq Malik on Twitter Visit for complete coverage of Atlantis' final mission STS-135 or follow us and on Facebook. Once Atlantis returns to Earth, the shuttle and its two sister ships Discovery and Endeavour will be retired as museum displays. Moses said there is also a chance, given the dismal weather forecast for Friday, that mission managers may opt to call off the launch try early if a Saturday attempt looks feasible. The latest forecast predicts a 60 percent chance of foul weather on Saturday, but conditions improve on Sunday, which is expected to pose only a 40 percent risk of bad weather, officials said. After that, NASA would have to stand down to avoid a space traffic conflict with another rocket set to launch an Air Force navigation satellite on July 14 from the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. If NASA is unable to launch Atlantis Friday, the space agency does have two other chances on Saturday and Sunday (July 9 and 10). The crowd and associated traffic are expected to be so large that NASA may skip a Saturday launch try if Friday's weather does not cooperate to make sure shuttle workers get enough rest between liftoff attempts. A weekend launch could bring more viewers, mission managers said. NASA is also expecting a record crowd for Friday's space shuttle launch, with up to 750,000 spectators anticipated to watch the liftoff attempt. It's time to go, so we're more than ready." Said Mike Moses, chief of Atlantis' mission management team. "We are not at all in the mode that taking more time to make this launch happen is a good thing," But even with the end of the space plane program looming large, officials said shuttle workers aren't eager for a delay, even it keeps them employed a bit longer. NASA and its contractors anticipate thousands of layoffs once the shuttle program shuts down. The cargo on Atlantis - spare parts, equipment and other supplies - is expected to help the space station continue flying despite the lack of regular big deliveries from visiting shuttles. NASA is retiring the iconic shuttle program to make way for a new one aimed at sending astronauts on deep space exploration trips to asteroids and Mars. "It's getting more and more somber the closer we're getting to the end of the program," shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach said. The upcoming mission will be NASA's 135th and last shuttle flight of the 30-year program. NASA launch rules require no stormy weather within 20 miles of the shuttle runway.Ītlantis and a skeleton crew of four astronauts will fly a 12-day mission to the International Space Station to make one final delivery before the shuttle program shuts down for good this year. The chief concern is the risk of lightning, clouds and rain in Atlantis' flight path, as well as storms at a nearby landing strip, which would be needed in the remote chance the shuttle had to make an emergency landing shortly after launch. A veritable tropical wave of weather threatens to pelt the area around Atlantis' launch pad with thunderstorms and rain, Winters said.
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