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Stay up late to watch ULA launch a secret satellite with its most powerful rocket
The Verge ^ | Dec 8, 2018, 9:39am EST | Loren Grush

Posted on 12/08/2018 7:23:32 AM PST by BenLurkin

Tonight, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) is set to launch its most powerful rocket — the Delta IV Heavy — sending up a secret spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from California. The mission will be the 132nd mission for the ULA, and the latest of many launches the company has done for the NRO, a significant customer of the launch provider.

NRO keeps the purposes of its missions under wraps. However, the satellite is likely pretty heavy and is perhaps going to a high orbit if it requires the power of the Delta IV Heavy. The rocket consists of three cores strapped together, which provide more than 2 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.

NROL-71, is slated for takeoff at 11:06PM ET / 8:06PM PT out of Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The ULA plans to live stream the launch, with coverage beginning about 20 minutes before takeoff.

(Excerpt) Read more at theverge.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: deltaivheavy; elonmusk; falcon9; falconheavy; launch; spacex; ula; vandenberg

1 posted on 12/08/2018 7:23:32 AM PST by BenLurkin
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsX1TmAmeEU


2 posted on 12/08/2018 7:23:45 AM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

Not so secret, apparently


3 posted on 12/08/2018 7:35:09 AM PST by a fool in paradise (Denounce DUAC - The Democrats Un-American Activists Committtee)
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To: BenLurkin
a secret spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

Big Brother getting ready to take over one of these days...

4 posted on 12/08/2018 7:38:19 AM PST by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: BenLurkin

So secret they are going to publicly televise the launch.

We are a long way from the days when the very existence of the NRO was something only those with the ‘need to know’ were aware of, and NSA meant “No Such Agency.”


5 posted on 12/08/2018 7:45:26 AM PST by VietVet
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To: a fool in paradise

In today’s world, no launch or deployment of a satellite can be kept secret....the inability to tap into what it is processing classifies it. They stopped the obvious lies a while ago as far as this sort of thing....when I was in Korea in the mid ‘80s, the official stance was we had no spy birds on hand....but you could watch them circling above the base on the way up in the mornings and on the way down in the evenings....modified U2 birds.


6 posted on 12/08/2018 7:51:26 AM PST by trebb (Those who don't donate anything tend to be empty gasbags...no-value-added types)
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To: trebb

Maybe this one belongs to Google or Amazon.
“Be seeing you”


7 posted on 12/08/2018 7:53:34 AM PST by a fool in paradise (Denounce DUAC - The Democrats Un-American Activists Committtee)
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To: BenLurkin

thanks.


8 posted on 12/08/2018 11:29:37 AM PST by CaliforniaCraftBeer
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To: BenLurkin
Pretty as a picture.

This was NROL 37 taking flight June 11, 2016. Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace

9 posted on 12/08/2018 12:10:12 PM PST by higgmeister ( In the Shadow of The Big Chicken)
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To: VietVet
We are a long way from the days when the very existence of the NRO was something only those with the ‘need to know’ were aware of, and NSA meant “No Such Agency.”

I knew the "need to know" era was over when they presented us with wine glasses with the NRO logo on them.

10 posted on 12/08/2018 12:30:56 PM PST by Inspectorette
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To: BenLurkin

27% as much thrust as a Saturn V. Big whoop.


11 posted on 12/08/2018 12:50:04 PM PST by Paal Gulli
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To: BenLurkin

As some have been telling me for some time, evidence is only just beginning to emerge, Mark Warner is either working for the FSB, or he is FSB. Consider the potential influence of his position on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Also, evidence indicates both of the Clintons, and some of their long time Arkansas loyalist are clearly tied to the Kremlin, and amongst others, this may well include, one certain governor of Virginia.

As well, I have been hearing for years, Weiners former wife, and girlfriend of HRC, was also working as a point person for Moscow and Tehran (who had sloppily stored highly classified info on her husband’s computer, which was related to the Iranian/Russian/Clinton-Obama nuclear arrangement to arm Iran, (or some varriatuon of this), and the Obama DOJ/FBI had to make an effort to clean that up. In other words, obtain and destroy the evidence.

It is increasingly plausible some of our Uranium was smuggled to Tartus, Syria, or Syria, and then some material went to Syevestopal and or then to Tehran. Shortly after Obama took office, we pulled out of Iraq, and the Iranians did roughly establish a couple of secure routes through Iraq to the border of Syria.

The Clintons working to serve the Kremlin needs has been going on since they were in college, through Bill Clinton’s presidency, and then on through Obama’s presidency. Obama really did help provide a lot of cover for the Kremlins efforts in Europe, the ME, and East Asia.

This conspiracy is truly massive.

Bongino is only touching the surface.


12 posted on 12/08/2018 3:02:23 PM PST by patriotfury ((May the fleas of a thousand camels occupy mo' ham mads tents!))
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To: patriotfury

Wow, that is the first time I responded to the wrong post since 98.

Nice


13 posted on 12/08/2018 3:03:54 PM PST by patriotfury ((May the fleas of a thousand camels occupy mo' ham mads tents!))
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To: higgmeister

That rocket looks like something a James Bond Villain would be using to threaten the world with some kind of outer space weapon.


14 posted on 12/08/2018 3:04:48 PM PST by DAC21
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To: VietVet

1976 DCA before it became DISA.


15 posted on 12/08/2018 5:41:09 PM PST by higgmeister ( In the Shadow of The Big Chicken)
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To: BenLurkin

Hi.

Could it be that Skynet isn’t far away?

5.56mm


16 posted on 12/08/2018 5:47:09 PM PST by M Kehoe (DRAIN THE SWAMP!)
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To: a fool in paradise

If not so true, it would be funny.


17 posted on 12/09/2018 1:57:49 AM PST by trebb (Those who don't donate anything tend to be empty gasbags...no-value-added types)
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To: BenLurkin

I enjoy those DIVH launches, it’s a big ‘un.


18 posted on 12/09/2018 2:32:48 AM PST by SunkenCiv (and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
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To: BenLurkin

Anyone have the next launch date?


19 posted on 12/10/2018 10:35:15 AM PST by US_MilitaryRules (I'm not tired of Winning yet! Please, continue on!)
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