Huge Delta rocket flies from Vandenberg, California

Gerald · 01-21-11, 07:18 AM

The biggest rocket ever to launch from the US West Coast has lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The 72m-high Delta IV Heavy was carrying a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).It has previously only operated from Florida, and the launch pad at the Californian base had to be upgraded to handle the giant vehicle.Flying the Delta from the West Coast allows the largest reconnaissance satellites to be put into polar orbits.

The vehicle is reserved for military and intelligence use, although there has long been discussion about modifying it for a role in human spaceflight.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12249645

Note: 21 January 2011 Last updated at 10:10 GMT

Sledgehammer427 · 01-21-11, 07:54 AM

saw that on the news this morning, BIG rocket, thats for sure.

Ducimus · 01-21-11, 04:50 PM

Heh, I completely forgot about Vandyland. I thought they closed most of the base down. It's amazing that old SAC base is still around.

breadcatcher101 · 01-21-11, 05:27 PM

I always like the Deltas, very dependable and good payload.

Years back Shuttles were to be launched from there, we took an external fuel tank there back in the '80's, but after millions of dollars for the fixtures and other hardware it was slashed from the budget.

tater · 01-21-11, 05:34 PM

Looks like some insulation caught fire:

UnderseaLcpl · 01-21-11, 06:29 PM

They must be compensating for something.

Platapus · 01-21-11, 07:34 PM

The Delta IV is not man-rated nor can it easily be modified to be man-rated
Also the burn profile of the Delta IV sustains more than a 6 G acceleration and that is a bit high for human missions.

For reference, the Shuttle went in to orbit with a 3 G profile. It is a trajectory thing.

If any non-man-rated vehicle would be modified to be Man-rated, I would imagine the Atlas V is probably the best candidate. But it still will be expensive, perhaps too expensive.

Ducimus · 01-21-11, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

They must be compensating for something.

A sense of identity.

01-21-11, 07:18 AM	#1
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Huge Delta rocket flies from Vandenberg, California The biggest rocket ever to launch from the US West Coast has lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The 72m-high Delta IV Heavy was carrying a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).It has previously only operated from Florida, and the launch pad at the Californian base had to be upgraded to handle the giant vehicle.Flying the Delta from the West Coast allows the largest reconnaissance satellites to be put into polar orbits. The vehicle is reserved for military and intelligence use, although there has long been discussion about modifying it for a role in human spaceflight. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12249645 Note: 21 January 2011 Last updated at 10:10 GMT __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

01-21-11, 07:54 AM	#2
Sledgehammer427 PacWagon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Drinking coffee and staring at trees in Massachusetts Posts: 2,908 Downloads: 287 Uploads: 0	saw that on the news this morning, BIG rocket, thats for sure. __________________ Cold Waters Voice Crew - Fire Control Officer Cmdr O. Myers - C/O USS Nautilus (SS-168) 114,000 tons sunk - 4 Spec Ops completed V-boat Nutcase - Need supplies? Japanese garrison on a small island in the way? Just give us a call! D4C!

01-21-11, 06:29 PM	#6
UnderseaLcpl Silent Hunter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Storming the beaches! Posts: 4,254 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	They must be compensating for something. __________________ I stole this sig from Task Force

01-21-11, 07:34 PM	#7
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	The Delta IV is not man-rated nor can it easily be modified to be man-rated Also the burn profile of the Delta IV sustains more than a 6 G acceleration and that is a bit high for human missions. For reference, the Shuttle went in to orbit with a 3 G profile. It is a trajectory thing. If any non-man-rated vehicle would be modified to be Man-rated, I would imagine the Atlas V is probably the best candidate. But it still will be expensive, perhaps too expensive. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

01-21-11, 04:50 PM	#3
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	Heh, I completely forgot about Vandyland. I thought they closed most of the base down. It's amazing that old SAC base is still around.

01-21-11, 05:27 PM	#4
breadcatcher101 Captain Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southeastern USA Posts: 546 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I always like the Deltas, very dependable and good payload. Years back Shuttles were to be launched from there, we took an external fuel tank there back in the '80's, but after millions of dollars for the fixtures and other hardware it was slashed from the budget.

01-21-11, 05:34 PM	#5
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	Looks like some insulation caught fire: