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What will spy satellite Delta IV Heavy rocket do? Internet says it’ll need to be 'replaced’ before the launch

The satellite from a geosynchronous orbit will enable the interception of radio waves from anyone the US federal government wishes to spy on

On Wednesday, September 30, the nation’s largest rocket, the 235-foot Delta IV Heavy, will lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. United Launch Alliance’s rocket which will be launched from the base’s Space Launch Complex 6 will be carrying a top-secret spy satellite for the US National Reconnaissance Office. Delta IV Heavy Rocket will blast off into polar orbit at 11.54 pm EDT. US Military’s powerful heavy-lift is a joint project of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

The mission designated NROL-44 belongs to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), an intelligence branch that maintains the nation’s spy satellites. The rocket which was originally scheduled for launch on August 29 was aborted just three seconds before the liftoff due to a problem in the rocket. It was later scheduled to launch on Tuesday, September 29, which was reportedly futher delayed due to bad weather and hydraulics issue.

What will ULA’s Delta IV Heavy rocket do?

According to Los Angles Times reports, the $1-billion high-powered spy satellite is capable of capturing high-resolution images detailing the difference between “make and model of an automobile hundreds of miles below”. According to reports, the satellite from a geosynchronous orbit will enable the interception of radio waves from anyone the US federal government wishes to spy on. Meanwhile, the NRO’s official website notes, “NROL-44 supports NRO’s overall national security mission to provide intelligence data to the United States’ senior policymakers, the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense.”

“The Delta IV Heavy configuration is comprised of a common booster core (CBC), a cryogenic upper stage and a 5-meter-diameter payload fairing (PLF). The Delta IV Heavy employs two additional CBCs as liquid rocket boosters to augment the first-stage CBC,” it stated further. The rocket is said to be able to carry up to 30,440 lbs to geostationary transfer orbit. As per Space News reports, the NRO pays ULA $440 million for each of its launches.

While the Southland residents may be eager to watch the launch, spotting the rocket will be difficult due to the midnight launch. You can watch it on ULA’s launch blog which will begin at 3.15 pm ET and the webcast will start at 11.34 pm ET. But, a number of people seem skeptical about its successful launch after multiple delays. Many of them have taken to Twitter to discuss the same, with some noting that the latest launch may be pushed further as well. One Twitter user noted, "The spy satellite will need to be replaced before it even gets off the pad." While another said, "The irony here being that other nation’s spy satellites continue to snap pictures of our newest spy satellite...inside a fairing...atop a pad...for the foreseeable future. Wocka wocka." And one wrote mockingly, "$1B spy satellite to keep an eye on your enemies."