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Largest Rocket Ever Launched From Vandenberg AFB Makes Lift-Off
cbslocal.com ^ | August 28, 2013 11:05 AM

Posted on 08/28/2013 12:49:43 PM PDT by BenLurkin

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE (CBSLA.com) — The largest rocket ever to be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base had a succesful 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 it reaches orbit in about two days, the classified payload is expected to be able to distinguish details back on Earth as minute as the make and model of an automobile.

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.

The official launch time was initially scheduled for 10:52 a.m., but the actual launch did not take place until 11:03 PDT.

Los Angeles Times aerospace reporter Bill Hennigan told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO residents up and down the California coastline may hear – and even feel – the 235-foot rocket following the launch.

“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.”

Click here to watch footage of the rocket launch on the ULA website


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: deltaiv; nasa; reconnaissance; vandenbergafb
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To: Resolute Conservative

No, Vandenburg is used for polar orbits. They launch due south, over water.


21 posted on 08/28/2013 1:23:28 PM PDT by Campion ("Social justice" begins in the womb)
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To: BenLurkin
The Delta IV Heavy rocket was launched with a $1 billion spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) “in support of national defense spying on Americans and supporting Muslim Brotherhoods Caliphate building,”

Fixed it.

22 posted on 08/28/2013 1:27:27 PM PDT by Darksheare (Try my coffee, first one's free.....)
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To: Campion

Ah-so. I did not know that.


23 posted on 08/28/2013 1:30:16 PM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: BenLurkin
I've always been a big fan of rocket launches. Would play sick as a kid to stay home from school to watch the Apollo launches. (Don't tell my mom!)
24 posted on 08/28/2013 1:30:49 PM PDT by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
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To: RJS1950; GraceG

I think the Titan III’s with the sold strap-on boosters were the biggest rockets launched at Vandenburg back in the day. Vandenburg didn’t have a vehicle assembly building big enough to put together a Saturn V. I just saw one at Houston Sunday. Those were really, REALLY big rockets.


25 posted on 08/28/2013 1:36:40 PM PDT by henkster (If the Feds create an unlimited demand for bastard children, you get an unlimited supply of them.)
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To: fwdude

I still remember grabbing mom away from her housekeeping to make her watch the Gemini launches. I was about four or five years old at the time.


26 posted on 08/28/2013 1:38:23 PM PDT by henkster (If the Feds create an unlimited demand for bastard children, you get an unlimited supply of them.)
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To: BenLurkin

I’m about 20 miles from Vandenberg. We were all surprised at work as there were no windows rattling or ground shaking when the rocket was launched today, unlike the launch in January 2011.


27 posted on 08/28/2013 1:42:57 PM PDT by luv2lurkhere
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To: BenLurkin

There was a shuttle launching facility at Vandenberg, SLC 6. Apparently after the Challenger disaster they scrapped it due to safety issues and politics. They’ve modified it and today it’s used for the Delta IV launches.


28 posted on 08/28/2013 1:50:04 PM PDT by luv2lurkhere
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To: BenLurkin
the classified payload is expected to be able to distinguish details back on Earth as minute as the make and model of an automobile.

Well, yes, they've had that ability for some time. This one makes out the make and owner of any particular human face that is in the database. And if you've ever owned a drivers license, had your pic posted on facebook, surfed the web with a computer that has a built in camera, or driven through a toll, they have your face.

29 posted on 08/28/2013 1:55:02 PM PDT by Sirius Lee (All that is required for evil to advance is for government to do "something")
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To: null and void

‘_______to step outside and see it rise_______’

Ditto that - we’re in Ventura county and have easily seen the contrails from Vandenberg, for years. Not lately, tho.
Guess next to nothing has been launched.

Occasionally we knew beforehand.


30 posted on 08/28/2013 2:08:01 PM PDT by USARightSide (S U P P O R T I N G OUR T R O O P S)
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To: BenLurkin

I worked the VAFB GSS program for 7 years.

There were multiple reasons it was never used.

Post Challenger, they decided they didn’t want liquid fueled Centaur upstages flying on shuttle, and most all missions required this upper stage.

The VAFB Shuttle missions require a high escape velocity, which was to be aided by lighter filament wound solid rocket cases. After the seals failed on the East coast steel cases, this was less attractive.

There were also issues with the ducting under the launch mount trapping gases, which would have been a very expensive fix.

The first reason is the primary reason.


31 posted on 08/28/2013 2:13:58 PM PDT by G Larry (Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Psalms 109:8)
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To: Doogle

WOW beyond description. What kind of camera, and where is it located? Fantastic. Thanks for the post.


32 posted on 08/28/2013 2:16:19 PM PDT by Rannug ("God has given it to me, let him who touches it beware.")
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To: Rannug

http://www.youtube.com/user/SpaceVidsNet?feature=watch


33 posted on 08/28/2013 2:25:44 PM PDT by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: BenLurkin

Space X is supposed to launch their three-core, 27 engine, Falcon Heavy from Vandenberg “in 2013” . Should be very impressive. Haven’t heard much about their heavy lately however and it’s nearly September.


34 posted on 08/28/2013 2:26:21 PM PDT by Dagnabitt (Amnesty is Treason. Its agents are Traitors.)
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To: BenLurkin
Once it reaches orbit in about two days, the classified payload is expected to be able to distinguish details back on Earth as minute as the make and model of an Tea Party bumper sticker on the back of your automobile.

Fixed it.

35 posted on 08/28/2013 2:28:17 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (Army dad. And damned proud.)
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To: Sirius Lee

they say 5 inches.....


36 posted on 08/28/2013 2:28:51 PM PDT by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: BenLurkin

Do we even still have a space program these days, except to turn Hubble telescopes on us earthlings?


37 posted on 08/28/2013 2:30:57 PM PDT by OldNewYork (Biden '13. Impeach now.)
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To: Sirius Lee
They have an imaging resolution of 5-6 inches, which means they can see something 5 inches or larger on the ground. These satellites probably can't read your house number, but they can tell whether there is a bike parked in your driveway.
38 posted on 08/28/2013 2:32:16 PM PDT by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: Doogle
They have an imaging resolution of 5-6 inches

Yes, they can image 5-6 inches. That is not a lie. What you are not told is how much more resolution it has, just as the government claimed that the SR-71 was capable of flying at 60,000 back in it's heyday. Of course, now we know it flew much higher.

39 posted on 08/28/2013 2:38:00 PM PDT by Sirius Lee (All that is required for evil to advance is for government to do "something")
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To: OldNewYork
-- ... except to turn Hubble telescopes on us earthlings? --

Wouldn't that burn us up like ants?

40 posted on 08/28/2013 2:41:44 PM PDT by Cboldt
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