Uploaded January 2018 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Launch Updates: spaceflight101.com/delta-iv-nrol-47
Video Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV M+(5,2) rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 6 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base at 22:11 UTC on January 12, 2018 on a classified mission with the NROL-47 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The mission headed into the usual News Blackout of NRO missions after three minutes, but was later declared a success by launch operator ULA. NROL-47, in all likelihood, is the fifth satellite in the Topaz radar reconnaissance constellation operating from a unique retrograde orbit. Delta IV's 36th overall launch marked the final single-stick Delta IV to fly from the West Coast as the medium versions of the launcher are approaching retirement later in 2018.
Launch Updates: spaceflight101.com/delta-iv-nrol-47
Video Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV M+(5,2) rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 6 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base at 22:11 UTC on January 12, 2018 on a classified mission with the NROL-47 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The mission headed into the usual News Blackout of NRO missions after three minutes, but was later declared a success by launch operator ULA. NROL-47, in all likelihood, is the fifth satellite in the Topaz radar reconnaissance constellation operating from a unique retrograde orbit. Delta IV's 36th overall launch marked the final single-stick Delta IV to fly from the West Coast as the medium versions of the launcher are approaching retirement later in 2018.
![[Timelapse] Dragon SpX-10 Robotics Part 2 (SAGE-III Installation)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cSBlGYQN300/mqdefault.jpg "[Timelapse] Dragon SpX-10 Robotics Part 2 (SAGE-III Installation)
Timelapse video of robotic activities underway outside the International Space Station from March 2 through 8 covering the installation of the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III (SAGE-III) and the removal of the Robotic Refueling Mission payloads. This clip plays at 50x real speed, you can use YouTubes speed adjustment function to slow it down or increase to up to 100x real speed.
SAGE-III is taking a permanent position on Express Logistics Carrier 4 out on the starboard truss of the Space Station from where it will monitor ozone and aerosols in Earths atmosphere to continue a long-term data record going back into the 1980s when SAGE instruments provided pivotal data enabling an accurate calculation of ozone loss in the atmosphere that prompted major policy changes to protect Earth’s ozone layer.
Major Steps seen in this video:
1) Removal of the SAGE Instrument Payload from the Dragon SpX-10 Trunk Section, March 2 - 23:13 UTC
2) Removal of the SAGE Nadir Viewing Platform from the Dragon Trunk, March 3 - 15:47 UTC
3) Installation of the OPALS Payload in the Dragon Trunk for Disposal, March 3 - 22:22 UTC
4) Removal of the Robotic Refueling Mission pallet from ELC-4, March 5 - 22:08 UTC
5) Installation of the SAGE Nadir Viewing Platform on ELC-4 FRAM-3, March 6 - 0:39 UTC
6) Installation of the SAGE Instrument Payload to the Nadir Viewing Platform, March 7 - 23:36 UTC
(All times approximate!)
Dragon SpX-10 delivered three external payload components - SAGE-III NVP and IP (seen in this video) and the Space Test Program - Houston 5 payload (its installation is covered here: https://youtu.be/stQvMaz-5gY) Open robotics tasks include the installation of the Robotic Refueling Mission and a MISSE Flight Support Equipment component in the Dragon Trunk for disposal.
More about SAGE-III: http://bit.ly/2luKv65
More about the Robotic Refueling Mission: http://bit.ly/2m7HXb2
More about OPALS: http://bit.ly/2m52QTB")
