Rocket Successfully Launches With U.S. Defense Satellite
Delta 4-Heavy rocket being readied for launch.An AP newswire article, via The Boston Globe, reports that:
A Delta 4 rocket blasted off Saturday night, carrying a national security satellite into space.More here.
The 23-story rocket, which replaced the Titan fleet two years ago, blasted slowly at 8:50 p.m., taking nearly 15 seconds to clear the launch pad.
It carried the 23rd and final satellite of the Air Force's Defense Support Program. The satellite was expected to set into orbit 6 1/2 hours after liftoff, more than 22,000 miles above the Earth.
The reconnaissance satellites use infrared sensors that detect heat from missile and booster plumes against the background of the Earth.
Image source: Space.com / United Launch Alliance
posted by Fergie @ 11/11/2007 12:20:00 AM
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