The Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle is scheduled to launch the Northrop Grumman-built Defense Support Program (DSP-23) mission from Space Launch Complex-37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on Saturday, Nov. 10 with a launch window of 8:39 – 10:42 p.m. EST. If the launch slips, the next launch attempt is set for Nov. 11, 8:38 – 10:38 p.m. EST. The U.S. Air Force Defense Support Program satellites provide early warning for intercontinental ballistic missile launches.



Source: United Launch Alliance

The US Air Force press release is reproduced below:

DELTA-IV HEAVY TO LAUNCH LAST DSP SATELLITE

Release Number: 011107

11/7/2007 - CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. -- The U.S. Air Force is set to launch the first operational mission of a Delta IV-Heavy Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle from Space Launch Complex 37 here on Nov. 10. The Delta IV-Heavy will carry the 23rd and final Defense Support Program satellite into orbit. The launch window for this mission extends from 8:39 p.m. to 10:42 p.m.

DSP satellites provide early warning for Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Launches. DSP satellites use infrared sensors to detect heat from missile and booster plumes against the Earth's background. In recent years, scientists have developed methods to use DSP's infrared sensors as part of an early warning system for natural disasters like volcanic eruptions and forest fires. The first DSP was launched from here Nov. 6, 1970 on a Titan III-C rocket. The last DSP satellite will be the first operational spacecraft to launch atop United Launch Alliance's Delta IV-Heavy. This will be the second launch of a Delta IV-Heavy. The first launch was a demonstration mission that occurred Dec. 21, 2004.

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Notes:
1. Remote camera set-up: Media representatives interested in setting up remote cameras must report to the parking lot of the old Florida Space Authority complex on Nov. 10, at 7:30 a.m. for badging and escort.

2. Pre-launch news conference: There will be a pre-launch news conference on Nov. 9, at 2:00 p.m. at the old Florida Space Authority auditorium (located adjacent to the South Gate of Cape Canaveral AFS).

45th Space Wing representatives scheduled are:
Col. Scott Henderson, 45th Launch Group Commander or Lt. Col. Steve Steiner, Commander, 5th Space Launch Squadron Mr. Joel Tumbiolo, Launch Weather Officer, 45th Weather Squadron Space and Missile System Center representatives scheduled are:

Col. Samuel Greaves, Mission Director or Col. James Planeaux, Launch and Range Systems Wing, Delta IV Group Commander

Col. Roger Teague, Space Based Infrared System Group Commander
Lt. Col. Joe Coniglio, Air Force DSP Program Director
United Launch Alliance representative scheduled is:
Mr. Dan Marin, Director, EELV Delta IV Air Force Programs
Northrop Grumman Space Program Representative scheduled is:
Ms. Peggy Paul, Northrop Grumman Space Technology DSP Program Manager

3. Live satellite feed information:

8 - 8:14 p.m. - test signals

8:14 p.m. to not later than 11 p.m. -- launch broadcast program

Service Details:
CARRIER: INTELSAT

SATELLITE: G26C

TRANSPONDER: 05 C-BAND ANALOG

(more)
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ORBITAL POSITION: 93 DEGREES (W)

BANDWIDTH 36 MHz
DOWNLINK FREQ 3800 MHz (V)

4. Launch day coverage: Media representatives interested in covering the launch from the Kennedy Space Center News Center must report to the parking lot at the old Florida Space Authority complex on Nov. 10, by 7 p.m. for badging and escort. Media with a permanent KSC badge will not require an escort and should drive directly to the KSC News Center, which is the press site for this launch.

5. Webcast: The launch can be viewed via Webcast at: http://www.ulalaunch.com

6. HDNET broadcast: (TBD)

Source: US Air Force Space Command press release

The US Air Force press release is reproduced below:

Young officer spearheads prep of last DSP

by Chris Calkins
45th SW Public Affairs

11/8/2007 - PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- When 1st Lt. Lindsey Mahoney was born in 1982, Defense Support Program satellites had been launching for nearly a dozen years.

Between 8:39 and 10:42 p.m., Nov. 10, the Clearwater, Fla. native, is scheduled to help put an exclamation point on the much-valued constellation with the 23rd, and last, launch of a DSP satellite.

The first DSP satellite was launched Nov. 6, 1970, when a Titan IIIC rocket blasted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

Over the course of 37 years, DSP satellites have helped to protect the United States and its allies by detecting missile launches, space launches and nuclear detonations.
In addition, DSP's effectiveness was proven during Operation Desert Storm, when satellites detected the launch of Iraqi-based Scud missiles and provided warnings to civilian populations and U.S. and coalition forces in Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Lieutenant Mahoney, a 2003 graduate of the University of South Florida with a degree in mechanical engineering, said she got her first taste of the DSP satellites at her first duty assignment at Schriever AFB, Colo.

"There, I was a DSP satellite engineer supporting the on-orbit constellation. The main part of our job was launch and early orbit operations. DSP F-22 launched when I arrived on station, so I was involved with the early orbit checkout for that vehicle," she said.

Her duties now include being the Air Force contact for satellite operations at the Cape, which consist of receiving the satellite, system checkout, compatibility checks with the on-orbit operations squadron, fueling, booster integration, encapsulation, transport and hoist to launch pad, and any facility support needed by the program.

"Seeing both the on-orbit side as well as the pre-launch side has been a unique opportunity. Everything the ground team does for the satellite is so important to ensure the launch of a satellite that is in the most desirable configuration to ensure maximum return for on orbit operations and lifetime," she said. And even though her duty title now reads "DSP field program manager," she makes it very clear she isn't -- and couldn't survive -- as a one-woman show.

"This current job is both a challenge and an opportunity. Everybody on the program has been with it for years, so trying to provide any useful information that they don't already know is tricky.

"It is a huge opportunity for the same reason. This team has seen so many launch flows that they have seen just about every issue we run into. The amount of knowledge they possess is amazing," she said with emphasis.

"Both the ground and on-orbit contractors have taught me so much about the process from vehicle ground processing to final disposal operations. This has been a great program to work on, and I will miss it and all of the people involved when it finally launches."

Her current commander is appreciative of the way she and other's work.
"Our spacecraft flightline is a great place to work, and Lindsey's in the spotlight for this critical national mission," said Lt. Col. John Wagner, commander, 45th Launch Support Squadron. "I'm fortunate to have bright, talented, and eager young officers such as Lieutenant Mahoney on my team who are dedicated to total mission success.

"Ten years from now, she can look back with pride at the work she's done here and how it enabled enhanced national security -- and likely saved the lives of future warriors in harm's way," he said.

Source: US Air Force Space Command press release

The Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle is scheduled to launch the Northrop Grumman-built Defense Support Program (DSP-23) mission from Space Launch Complex-37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on Saturday, Nov. 10 with a launch window of 8:39 - 10:41 p.m. EST. If the launch slips, the next launch attempt is set for Nov. 11, 8:38 – 10:38 p.m. EST. The U.S. Air Force Defense Support Program satellites provide early warning for intercontinental ballistic missile launches.

Source: United Launch Alliance

Cape Canaveral, Fla., (Nov. 11, 2007) – United Launch Alliance successfully launched the first operational Delta IV Heavy expendable launch vehicle for the U.S. Air Force from Space Launch Complex-37 Nov. 10, 8:50 p.m., EST, carrying the service’s Defense Support Program-23 satellite. A Delta IV Heavy demonstration flight was launched from SLC-37 in December 2004. The launch also marks the fourth ULA mission conducted for the Air Force this year and the 10th ULA mission in 2007.

Weighing 5,200 pounds, the DSP-23 satellite completed a 6 hour, 20 minute mission and was deployed into its proper orbit at 3:10 a.m., today. The DSP-23 launch completes the deployment of this important constellation of satellites. DSP satellites provide early warning for intercontinental ballistic missile launches and have been used by the military for more than 30 years.

"Following the Delta IV Heavy test flight three years ago, the hard work and dedication of the team to prepare to launch our first operational mission was phenomenal," said Mark Wilkins, ULA vice president, Delta Programs. "We appreciate the support from our Air Force customer in achieving this milestone, and ULA is pleased to welcome the Delta IV Heavy as a member of our operational vehicle family."

DSP satellites use infrared sensors to detect heat from missile and booster plumes against the Earth’s background. Operated from the Space Based Infrared Systems Mission Control Station at Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., DSP satellites provide accurate and reliable launch detection data to the warfighter.

The ULA Delta IV Heavy vehicle featured a common booster core with two, strap-on common booster cores. Each common booster core was powered by the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68 cryogenic engine. An RL10B-2 cryogenic engine, upgraded from the RL10 engine that has been in use for more than four decades, powered the second stage. The payload was encased by a 5-meter diameter (16.7-foot diameter) aluminum, tri-sector payload fairing.

ULA constructed the Delta IV launch vehicle in Decatur, Ala. By May 2003, all three common booster cores arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station from Decatur. The vehicle was moved from the Horizontal Integration Facility and erected on the stand at Pad 37 using the fixed pad erector for this launch June 19. Hundreds of ULA technicians, engineers and management worked to prepare the vehicle for the DSP-23 mission.

ULA's next launch, currently scheduled for no earlier than Dec. 5, is the commercial COSMO-2 launch aboard a Delta II from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

ULA program management, engineering, test and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colo. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Ala., Harlingen, Tex. and San Diego, Calif. Launch operations are located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

For more information on the ULA joint venture call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321).

Source: United Launch Alliance