CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — The launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office (NROL-44) satellite from Space Launch Complex 37 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida is scheduled to launch on Thursday, December 10, 2020, at 8:09 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
The launch window remains open until 10:30 p.m.
NROL-44 will mark ULA’s 12th launch of the Delta IV Heavy and the 144th mission for ULA. It also will be the 385th Delta rocket to launch since 1960.
Delta IV Heavy Launch Weather Forecast
The most recent forecast issued by the U.S. Space Force 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 90% chance of overall permissible weather conditions for launch. The primary weather concern for the launch is cumulus clouds.
Three common booster cores are being filled with 120,000 gallons of liquid oxygen, chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, as the #NROL44 countdown continues to liftoff at 8:09pmEST (0109 UTC). https://t.co/GKgbdk3wMm pic.twitter.com/MYbw39JoNE
— ULA (@ulalaunch) December 10, 2020
