Largest Rocket Ever Launched From Vandenberg AFB Makes Lift-Off

[zorgon]

Largest Rocket Ever Launched From Vandenberg AFB Makes Lift-Off

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE (CBSLA.com) — The largest rocket ever to be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base had a successful lift-off Wednesday.

The Delta IV Heavy rocket was launched with a $1 billion spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) "in support of national defense," according to aerospace engineering firm United Launch Alliance (ULA).

Once in orbit, the classified payload is expected to be able to distinguish details back on Earth as minute as the make and model of an automobile, according to a ULA spokesperson.

ULA officials alerted the public about the launch through its Facebook and Twitter pages "so they wouldn't be concerned when they felt their windows rattle and felt the vibrations," Hennigan added.

"It's the largest rocket ever to be launched from Vandenberg," Hennigan said. "They launched the same rocket in January of 2011, and it was so big, it caused such a stir, people were pulling off the road to see this and some people reported hearing it about 50 miles away."

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/08/28/vandenberg-set-for-launch-of-largest-rocket-ever/

http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/default.shtml



http://www.nro.gov/

[zorgon]

[zorgon]

[Amaterasu]

What do You think They're putting into orbit that needs THAT much power?  I mean, You KNOW They're not saying, "Gee.  How big a rocket can We launch?  Let's see if We can launch a really big one - twice!"

Something went up with those rockets.

EDIT to add:  Never mind.  It's late, I'm tired, and I missed that We think We need more spyware up there.

[Ellirium113]

Yeah I'm sure they need a rocket that big to launch a spy camera.   

I think something else must have went on that rocket.

[Amaterasu]

Well now that You mention it, El, I think You're right.

[Eighthman]

http://vault-co.blogspot.com/2013/03/rods-from-god-military-hardware.html

Gee, it sounds like they need to loft something extremely heavy  I wonder what that could be? Hmmm...
perhaps it would be something already exposed or rumored about for sometime.  Something that could prepare them for the next big war - which is Iran and its deep underground bunkers.

[zorgon]

What do You think They're putting into orbit that needs THAT much power?

Had you studied my test you would know

[The Seeker]

Had you studied my test you would know

launch number nrol-65, yet only the second from vandenburg... wonder what number it is by starcraft's count?  the Aquila flies again...


seeker

[zorgon]

launch number nrol-65, yet only the second from vandenburg... wonder what number it is by starcraft's count?

Yeah but not the second launch   So where did the rest launch from?

the Aquila flies again...

At least ONE is paying attention

[The Matrix Traveller]

[zorgon]

Notice anything?


In the second launch in just nine days for the U.S. Air Force, United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched a Delta IV rocket carrying the sixth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-6) satellite from Space Launch Complex-37. Wideband Global SATCOM provides anytime, anywhere communication for the warfighter through broadcast, multicast, and point to point connections.

In the second launch in just nine days for the U.S. Air Force, United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched a Delta IV rocket carrying the fifth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-5) satellite from Space Launch Complex-37. Wideband Global SATCOM provides anytime, anywhere communication for the warfighter through broadcast, multicast, and point to point connections.

[zorgon]

United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket blasts off from Space Launch Complex-37 with the U.S. Air Force?s Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF-3 satellite. This launch marks the 9th ULA launch this year, the 54th Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) mission, and the 65th launch since ULA was formed nearly six years ago.



65TH LAUNCH

[zorgon]

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 37

Well at least Vandenburg launches I can go watch  Its only a 4 hour drive


The launch of GOES-N atop a Delta IV, from SLC-37B in 2006

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 37[1][2] (SLC-37), previously Launch Complex 37 (LC-37), is a launch complex on Cape Canaveral, Florida. Construction began in 1959 and the site was accepted by NASA to support the Saturn I program in 1963. The complex consists of two launch pads. LC-37A has never been used, but LC-37B launched unmanned Saturn I flights (1964 to 1965) and was modified and launched Saturn IB flights (1966 to 1968), including the first (unmanned) test of the Apollo Lunar Module in space. It was deactivated in 1972. In 2001 it was modified as the launch site for Delta IV, a launch system operated by United Launch Alliance.

The original layout of the launch complex featured one Mobile Service Structure which could be used to service or mate a rocket on either LC-37A or 37B, but not on both simultaneously. The Delta IV Mobile Service Tower is 330 ft (100 m) tall, and fitted to service all Delta IV configurations, including the Delta IV Heavy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Canaveral_Air_Force_Station_Space_Launch_Complex_37

[zorgon]

Interesting how NO ONE has been really watching what all is being launched lately