Delta IV Processing Photo Series

NASA KSC is providing a good "inside" look at Delta IV
processing for the upcoming GOES-N mission. Here are some
links to photos. I think this is the first Delta IV with
a white second stage.

First stage arrival at HIF

"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=23590"

Second stage erection in DOC

"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24253"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24218"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24259"

Second stage nozzle extension assembly and test

"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24881"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24729"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24859"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24943"

Second stage transport from DOC to HIF

"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24894"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24897"

First/second stage mating in HIF

"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24943"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24944"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24945"

Delta IV transport from HIF to SLC 37B

"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24989"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=24990"

Delta IV rotated to vertical on pad

"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=25001"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=25002"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=25004"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=25006"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=25007"

SRB assembly process

"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=25029"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=25032"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=25034"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=25041"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=25046"
"http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=25047"


- Ed Kyle

Ed Kyle wrote:
NASA KSC is providing a good "inside" look at Delta IV
processing for the upcoming GOES-N mission. Here are some
links to photos. I think this is the first Delta IV with
a white second stage.

(... snipped link goodness...)


That was interesting... looks like a (4,2) version.

I'd be interested in any pictures of the pad attachment process -- after
they finish tipping the booster up, are there alignment/indexing posts
that make certain the pad fixtures are lined up? How many hold-down
posts, how big, etc. Something along the lines of the pictures Kim
Keller snapped of the shuttle's attachment hardware -- preferably
without anyone getting fired this time, though...

I also looked to see if there was anything that looked like it might be
a RocketCam on the second-stage pictures, but didn't see any likely
candidates -- should be visible, since it looks out over the extended
nozzle once it's in flight. Anyone out there with sharper eyes (or
knowledge of what the RocketCam assembly looks like, which might be more
helpful...)?

Reed
--
Reed Snellenberger
GPG KeyID: 5A978843
rsnellenberger-at-houston.rr.com

Reed Snellenberger wrote in
:

I'd be interested in any pictures of the pad attachment process --
after they finish tipping the booster up, are there alignment/indexing
posts that make certain the pad fixtures are lined up? How many
hold-down posts, how big, etc. Something along the lines of the
pictures Kim Keller snapped of the shuttle's attachment hardware --
preferably without anyone getting fired this time, though...

The CBC appears to be attached to a square alignment frame
which may make the actual physical attachment to the launch
pad. The Heavy had a similar alignment frame, but was
rectangular (being composed of three attached frames?).

I think I could see (in other pictures) attachment points on the CBC
that connect to the frame in some way, but it appears there has to
be additional hardware to do so. I'd guess the holddown bolts
go there.

Propellant, gas and electricals all go in the CBC's side
through a couple of shrouded pad feeds, very like the Shuttle's.

--Damon

Damon Hill wrote:

The CBC appears to be attached to a square alignment frame
which may make the actual physical attachment to the launch
pad. The Heavy had a similar alignment frame, but was
rectangular (being composed of three attached frames?).


Okay, I'll take another look. I knew about the connections at the base
of the pad; just hadn't seen a diagram or picture of the actual mounting
process itself.

--
Reed Snellenberger
GPG KeyID: 5A978843
rsnellenberger-at-houston.rr.com

Ed Kyle wrote:
NASA KSC is providing a good "inside" look at Delta IV
processing for the upcoming GOES-N mission. Here are some
links to photos. I think this is the first Delta IV with
a white second stage.

The second stage appears to be the usual orange in the last shot in the
"rotate to vertical" series.

Mike Chan wrote:
Ed Kyle wrote:

NASA KSC is providing a good "inside" look at Delta IV
processing for the upcoming GOES-N mission. Here are some
links to photos. I think this is the first Delta IV with
a white second stage.


The second stage appears to be the usual orange in the last shot in the
"rotate to vertical" series.


The second stage sits within the tapered interstage section at the top
of the booster in that picture. The portion of the stage that is
visible in that picture is just the narrow cylinder at the top.

The second picture under the topic "First/second stage mating in HIF"
shows this pretty clearly.

--
Reed Snellenberger
GPG KeyID: 5A978843
rsnellenberger-at-houston.rr.com

Reed Snellenberger wrote:
Mike Chan wrote:
Ed Kyle wrote:

NASA KSC is providing a good "inside" look at Delta IV
processing for the upcoming GOES-N mission. Here are some
links to photos. I think this is the first Delta IV with
a white second stage.


The second stage appears to be the usual orange in the last shot in
the
"rotate to vertical" series.


The second stage sits within the tapered interstage section at the
top
of the booster in that picture. The portion of the stage that is
visible in that picture is just the narrow cylinder at the top.

The second picture under the topic "First/second stage mating in HIF"

shows this pretty clearly.

I missed that. Thanks. In comparing the GOES Delta IV to previous
launchers, the second stage hydrogen tank which sits atop the tapered
section is clearly white vs. the orange of previous launches. My bad.

"Reed Snellenberger" wrote in message
...
That was interesting... looks like a (4,2) version.

Yes, it is. For a while, I was working on the certification process for this
mission. NASA's Launch Services Program office was initially performing
mission integration for this launch, but the customer (NOAA) decided to go
with an FAA launch license. That meant LSP backed out of the insight role,
but continued to collect and analyze data as part of the launcher
certification process.

I'd be interested in any pictures of the pad attachment process -- after
they finish tipping the booster up, are there alignment/indexing posts
that make certain the pad fixtures are lined up? How many hold-down
posts, how big, etc. Something along the lines of the pictures Kim
Keller snapped of the shuttle's attachment hardware -- preferably without
anyone getting fired this time, though...

At the present time I don't have any photos, and since Delta IV is a
commercial operation I probably won't be taking any.

Each CBC is attached to a square steel rig with four hold-down posts. Heavy
uses a three-frame assembly. The frame's east side bolts to the launch table
and the booster/frame assembly is rotated to vertical by the fixed pad
erector. Then the west side of the frame is bolted down to the table.

I also looked to see if there was anything that looked like it might be a
RocketCam on the second-stage pictures, but didn't see any likely
candidates -- should be visible, since it looks out over the extended
nozzle once it's in flight. Anyone out there with sharper eyes (or
knowledge of what the RocketCam assembly looks like, which might be more
helpful...)?

I haven't heard anything about a rocketcam for this flight.

-Kim-

"Mike Chan" wrote in message
ups.com...
I missed that. Thanks. In comparing the GOES Delta IV to previous
launchers, the second stage hydrogen tank which sits atop the tapered
section is clearly white vs. the orange of previous launches. My bad.

I believe this flight involves a three-burn second stage, so the tank's
usual orange insulation is painted white to handle the extended thermal
environment.

-Kim-

Kim Keller wrote:

I believe this [Delta IV] flight involves a three-burn
second stage, so the tank's
usual orange insulation is painted white to handle the
extended thermal
environment.


Kim, is this a different white coating than that
applied to several Centaur stages recently? I
recall someone msntioning that the Centaur
coating wasn't paint.

- Ed Kyle