Final Titan 4 Flight Set to Fly [Vandenberg launch at 9 AM Pacific]

Space ^ | 10/18/05 | Tariq Malik

[ZGuy]

A Titan 4B rocket is set to launch into space Wednesday, marking the final flight of a Titan 4 rocket.

Set to launch a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaisance Office (NRO), the Titan 4B booster is set to liftoff from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base sometime between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. EDT (1600-2000 GMT) on Oct. 19.

The Titan 4 rocket family, built by Lockheed Martin, debuted in 1989. This week's flight, set to lift off from Space Launch Complex 4E, has been delayed since 2003.

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Still America's most powerful unmanned booster -- at least for a short time more -- the Titan 4B is built by Lockheed Martin. Originally designed as an ICBM, the Titan 4's first two stages and attached pair of solid rocket boosters can be flown with different upper stages, including the mighty Centaur, and nose fairings. At it's most capable, it stands more than 20 stories tall and can carry the same payload weight as NASA's shuttle.

[ZGuy]

As of Monday, the probability that the weather would be within acceptable limits at launch time was 60%.

Although this is a daytime launch, it could potentially be visible for over a wide area.

If you have the day off, go over and watch it from the launch site. It's quite spectacular to watch a rocket launch when your close enough to read the writing on it.

[mdefranc]

What is replacing the Titan 4?

[RonF]

What is replacing the Titan 4?

New Orleans.

[manwiththehands]

At it's most capable, it stands more than 20 stories tall and can carry the same payload weight as NASA's shuttle.

And probably for 50% of the cost? Good idea getting rid of it. /sarc

[ZGuy]

The EELV [Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle]

EELV is a space launch system development program to replace the current fleet of medium- to heavy-lift expendable vehicles (Titan II, Delta II, Atlas II, and Titan IV) with a more affordable family of vehicles. The new space launch vehicles must be able to meet the Government’s combined spacelift needs (DoD, intelligence, and other missions) through at least 2020. The primary EELV configurations are the Medium-Lift Variant (MLV), required by FY 2002 to support satellite block changes and transitions, and the Heavy-Lift Variant (HLV), required by FY 2005 to assure continued access to space following Titan IV phaseout.

[LexBaird]

Been there for a night launch. Very cool.

[ZGuy]

To clarify -- 9 AM is the beginning of the launch window only. The exact time of launch has not been announced.

[BigBobber]

We've got to move beyond these shiny silver cylinders and start making some really cool looking rockets.

[RightWhale]

Good idea getting rid of it.

Actually, it is. The fuel/oxidizer is bad stuff. Modern propellants--oxygen/hydrogen and oxygen/kerosine--are much friendlier to all concerned.

[manwiththehands]

I'm assuming the Heavy-Lift Variant is operational? If so, then yes, you would be correct. The 40's/50's technology fuels/oxidizers are not very friendly.

[Paladin2b]

But what is EELV a relation to? Is it part of the Atlas family, or is it closely enough related to Titan II/IV to be really considered "Titan V"?

I've always been impressed that our main launch vehicles have been follow-ons to models first unveiled in the late 50s.

[ZGuy]

LAUNCH ON SCHEDULE

Wednesday's launch of a Titan IV rocket from south Vandenberg AFB appears to remain on schedule. The final Titan IV is set to lift-off from SLC-4E at 11:04 PDT. The Air Force's L-1 weather forecast calls for a 70% probability of acceptable launch weather. Some cloudcover is expected from 400 to 1,200 feet and from 27,000 to 30,000 feet.

[Ben Hecks]

Pinging Mr. Centaur

[RightWhale]

spaceflightnow.com

1630 GMT (9:30 a.m. PDT)

The very quiet countdown is proceeding at Vandenberg. Clocks are still ticking to liftoff at 11:04 a.m. PDT (2:04 p.m. EDT; 1804 GMT).
Unlike other rockets that are fueled during the final hours before launch, the Titan 4's core stages were loaded with storable hypergolic propellants more than a week ago. That makes for a less hectic launch morning.

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hour and a half

[ZGuy]

1735 GMT (10:35 a.m. PDT)

T-minus 29 minutes and counting. The launch weather officer just reported that all conditions at Vandenberg and along the Titan 4B rocket's southerly flight path are acceptable.

[ZGuy]

NEW LAUNCH TIME! The target liftoff time is being adjusted one minute to 11:05 a.m. PDT (2:05 p.m. EDT; 1805 GMT).

[COBOL2Java]

Looks cool to me...

[RightWhale]

spaceflightnow.com

1816 GMT (11:16 a.m. PDT)

T+plus 11 minutes, 27 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The Titan 4 rocket has released the top-secret National Reconnaissance Office satellite into space, completing today's ascent. The era of Titan rockets has ended.

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The era of Titan rockets has ended, and that's official

[Ben Hecks]

LOCKHEED MARTIN'S LAST TITAN IV SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERS NATIONAL SECURITY PAYLOAD TO SPACE. PROUD ERA CLOSES FOR AIR FORCE AND LOCKHEED MARTIN TITAN IV TEAM AT WEST COAST LAUNCH SITE

Last mission a success. This is from a Lockheed Martin press release.