Classified satellite launched from California air base

[WhiteTara]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/14916814.htm
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office was launched into space Tuesday night aboard a Boeing Delta 4 rocket.

The rocket blasted off at 8:33 p.m. PDT from the central coast, leaving a thin trail in the twilight sky.

The purpose of the mission was not revealed. The National Reconnaissance Office builds and manages the nation's spy satellites.

It was not immediately known whether the satellite entered its planned orbit. Calls to the NRO were not immediately returned late Tuesday.

It was the first West Coast launch for the Delta 4 rocket, which has been launched five times from Cape Canaveral, Fla. At 20-stories high, it was the tallest rocket launched from Vandenberg.

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[MADem]

1. Over what country might it sit, in geosynchronous orbit?

Inquiring minds want to know~~!

I got two guesses, though....

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. Probably not Geosynchronous

I think that launches from Vandenberg are generally placed in polar orbit. Which country? All of them.

[MADem]

4. I think I'm right

It was a DELTA 4:

The most basic version of Delta 4, known as Delta 4 Medium, is just the two-stage vehicle, no solid motors and a four-meter fairing. It is capable of placing 4,210 kg (9,285 pounds) into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The configuration flying on the first launch is the Delta 4 Medium+ 4,2. That translates to the two-stage vehicle with a four-meter payload fairing and two strap-on solids. It can deliver 5,845 kg (12,890 pounds) into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The next step up is the Delta 4 Medium+ 5,2 with the five-meter fairing to accommodate larger satellites and two solids to loft 4,640 kg (10,230 pounds) to GTO.

A five-meter fairing with four solids is the Delta 4 Medium+ 5,4 to carry 6,565 kg (14,475 pounds).

The largest of the family, the Delta 4 Heavy, features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body. The massive rocket will be able to launch 13,130 kg (28,950 pounds) to GTO, such as a dual payload of two communications spacecraft.

http://spaceflightnow.com/delta/d315/050609delta4.html

[ThoughtCriminal]

8. It's not the spacecraft that provides the clue

It's the launch site. Launches to geosychronous orbit are west to east. From Kennedy Space Center this is over the Atlantic Ocean. Launches from Vandenberg over the Pacific Ocean are north to south. A west to east launch from Vandenberg would be dropping boosters over land.

A Delta 4 can deliver 50,000 pounds to low Earth orbit, so whatever the DoD was putting up there is a big puppy or they would have used something smaller. It's also possible that there are multiple satellites.

[MADem]

9. I stand corrected, then! NT

[salvorhardin]

2. Spaceflight Now has a time line and photo gallery

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d317/status.html
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d317/060627launch/01.html

[lazarus]

5. I watched it

Kinda neat, actually. We could see it down here in San Diego. Went right across the moon, then the final stage blew off. By the time it was out of sight, it was probably over Hawai'i.

Really neat coincidence: I was born on Vandenberg AFB, where my dad trained the guys to launch Atlas and other missiles.

[frylock]

7. that was one of coolest moonrises i've ever seen!

unfortunately, I was away from home and didn't have access to my camera.

[lazarus]

13. my camera

was dead. I think I managed to get a couple of shots off, I'll have to check.

[sweetheart]

6. spending more money....

More waste of money by the free-spending militarists. Nobody is safer, just poorer.

[Xenotime]

10. *'s plan to shoot the 4th Amendment down from outer space.

[flaminbats]

11. but never fear..big daddy is here!!

[Massacure]

12. Did they launch from SLC-6? What happened to the old indian curse???

Hell's frozen over I tell ya!