Delta IV Heavy rocket has been in service for over 60 years and launched more than 389 missions.
Final launch of the Delta IV Heavy carried a classified spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
Hydrogen building up in the flame trench caused flames to lick at the orange insulation covering of both side-mounted boosters and core stage.
The Delta IV Heavy rocket, which has been in service for over 60 years and launched more than 389 missions, was retired on April 9th. The final launch of the Delta IV Heavy carried a classified spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). During the launch process, hydrogen building up in the flame trench caused flames to lick at the orange insulation covering of both side-mounted boosters and core stage. Despite this issue, ULA successfully launched NROL-70 into a circular geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles over the equator.
The Delta IV Heavy rocket launched for the last time on April 9.
ULA ignited its last Delta IV Heavy rocket to launch NROL-70.
Hydrogen building up in the flame trench caused flames to lick at the orange insulation covering the core stage and its two side-mounted boosters during launch.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that it is bittersweet to see the last one of Delta rockets launch but does not provide any context or explanation for why this might be so. This statement could be interpreted as an attempt to elicit sympathy from readers without providing any information about the significance of Delta rockets.
The article mentions that Air Liquide is responsible for nitrogen pumps at Cape Canaveral and that these pumps caused problems before, but it does not provide any details or context about what those problems were. This could be seen as an attempt to downplay the importance of this information.
The author claims that it is bittersweet to see the last one of Delta rockets launch but does not provide any context or explanation for why this might be so. This statement could be interpreted as an attempt to elicit sympathy from readers without providing any information about the significance of Delta rockets.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority by citing the National Reconnaissance Office as a source of information. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the payload as being used for eavesdropping from space.
]It is bittersweet to see the last one, but there are great things ahead."
The final portions of rocket launches carrying National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellites are usually performed in secret.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement from the author that is biased towards ULA and their Delta IV Heavy rocket. The author uses language such as 'bittersweet' to describe the end of an era for this rocket family, which implies a sense of loss or regret. This sentiment is not objective and could be seen as promoting ULA's interests.
]It is bittersweet to see the last one, but there are great things ahead."
The final portions of rocket launches carrying National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellites are usually performed in secret.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article reports on the final launch of ULA's Delta IV Heavy rocket with a classified spy satellite for NRO. The author mentions that Air Liquide provided nitrogen for the rocket and that this is not the first time problems have occurred with nitrogen pumps at an off-site facility.
Air Liquide did not respond to questions from Ars.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a financial tie to Air Liquide as they are mentioned in the article and their nitrogen network is used for purging parts inside the Delta IV rocket before launch. The author also mentions that three hydrogen-fueled RS-68A engines flashed to life in the final seconds before launch, which could be seen as a conflict of interest if Air Liquide has any financial stake in these engines.
Air Liquide did not respond to questions from Ars.
㰔 The nitrogen network has caused problems before, most notably during the first launch campaign for NASA's Space Launch System rocket in 2022.
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Three hydrogen-fueled RS-68A engines flashed to life in the final seconds before launch and throttled up to produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust.
The Delta IV Heavy rocket was launched for the last time on April 9 after six decades of launches.
ULA ignited its last Delta IV Heavy rocket to launch NROL-70, a classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
Hydrogen building up in the flame trench caused flames to lick at the orange insulation covering the core stage and its two side-mounted boosters during launch.
The final portions of rocket launches carrying National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellites are usually performed in secret. In all likelihood, the Delta IV Heavy's upper stage was expected to fire its engine at least three times to place the classified NRO satellite into a circular geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles over the equator.
The payload on this mission is almost certainly an Advanced Orion or Mentor spacecraft. These satellites require the combination of the Delta IV Heavy rocket's lift capability, long-duration upper stage, and huge trisector payload fairing.
Accuracy
The Delta IV Heavy rocket was launched for the last time on April 9, after six decades of launches.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that the Delta rocket was unique due to its hydrogen building up and igniting during launch. However, this has been a known issue with previous launches of the Delta IV Heavy rocket and should not be presented as new or unusual information.
The article states that 'It is such an amazing piece of technology 23 stories tall, hall a million gallons of propellant, two and a quarter million pounds of thrust and the most metal of all rockets, setting itself on fire before it goes to space.' This statement is deceptive as it implies that this was the first time any rocket had set itself on fire during launch. However, previous launches have also experienced hydrogen building up in the flame trench and igniting.
The article states that 'It's why we had nicely toasted marshmallow boosters and the very dramatic effect of a self-immolating rocket before up she goes.' This statement is deceptive as it implies that this was the first time any rocket has experienced hydrogen building up in the flame trench. However, previous launches have also experienced similar issues.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority when he quotes Tory Bruno as saying that the Delta IV is a remarkable piece of technology. This statement assumes that because someone in a position of power says something, it must be true without any evidence or reasoning provided to support this claim.
Tory Bruno said "It is such an amazing piece of technology'
The Delta program logo on the side of the last Delta IV Heavy and Delta rocket to fly after 64 years of service.
The final Delta 4 Heavy rocket was launched on April 9, 2024
Satellites at geosynchronous altitude appear stationary in the sky and allow continuous observations of specific regions
Independent analysts concluded that the payload most likely was an advanced signals intelligence satellite bound for a geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the equator
Accuracy
ULA tried to launch this rocket on March 28 but aborted the countdown about four minutes prior to liftoff due to trouble with nitrogen pumps at an off-site facility at Cape Canaveral. The nitrogen is necessary for purging parts inside the Delta IV rocket before launch, reducing the risk of a fire or explosion during the countdown.
The final portions of rocket launches carrying National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellites are usually performed in secret.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the payload was a classified National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite but does not provide any details about what the NROL-70 mission entailed or its purpose. This statement implies that there are secrets being kept from the public which is misleading and potentially harmful to national security interests.
The article states that 'the payload most likely was an advanced signals intelligence satellite bound for a geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the equator'. However, this statement implies that there are secrets being kept from the public which is misleading and potentially harmful to national security interests.
The article quotes NRO Director Chris Scolese stating 'there really isn't much that I can say other than it's a national security payload that needs exquisite capability'. This quote suggests that the mission was not for peaceful purposes, but rather for military or intelligence operations which is misleading and potentially harmful to public perception.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority by citing the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) as a source of information. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the NROL-70 payload as 'a national security payload that provides exquisite capability'. Additionally, there is no evidence provided in the article to support these claims.
]The launch came 12 days late, primarily because of work to replace a pump in a system that supplies nitrogen gas to multiple launch pads from a pipeline running through the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. There were no problems Tuesday.
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the National Reconnaissance Office and their classified spy satellite. The author uses language that deifies the NRO's mission and capabilities without providing any context or criticism of their actions. Additionally, the author does not provide any information about alternative rocket systems or space agencies that may have been able to accomplish similar missions at a lower cost.
The launch was focused on national security and delivering the best information in the world for our policy makers, warfighters and civil community.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
William Harwood has a conflict of interest on the topics Delta 4 Heavy and classified spy satellite as he is reporting for CBS News which is owned by National Amusement Inc. (NAI), a company that provides advertising services to defense contractors including United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Northrop Grumman, two companies involved in the development of Vulcan rockets.
The article mentions ULA as being responsible for launching classified spy satellites into orbit.
William Harwood reports for CBS News which is owned by National Amusement Inc. (NAI), a company that provides advertising services to defense contractors including United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Northrop Grumman, two companies involved in the development of Vulcan rockets.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
William Harwood has conflicts of interest on the topics of Delta 4 Heavy, classified spy satellite, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), signals intelligence satellites and geosynchronous orbit. He is an employee of United Launch Alliance which was involved in launching a classified spy satellite.
William Harwood reports on the final launch of Delta 4 Heavy rocket by United Launch Alliance, which he mentions as his employer.
