Delta IV Heavy Launch; January 17th 2009.

[astrosammy]

One more hold and I'll do an ATB (Abort to Bed). :lol:

 

[Zatnikitelman]

New T-0 at 21:47 EST


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T-2 Minutes
Go for launch
Hail Probe!


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Liftoff!


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Partial thrust mode commanded in core booster.


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Passing Max-Q and mach 1


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Partial thrust mode commanded for outer CBCs


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MECO for port and starboard CBCs


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Core MECO


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Good second stage burn so far.


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Fairing sep


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Live webcast is finished, and so am I.
Goodnight everyone

 

[Andy44]

Totally missed it, had to answer the door...*&%$

 

[Arrowstar]

It's funny, when the main engines started I thought the vehicle had exploded because the flames were so high... is it supposed to do that?

 

[astrosammy]

Great launch, now I'll do an ATB.

 

[C3PO]

Man! That thing is slow of the pad. Good show!
Now go home and design a manned 'payload' for it.

 

[SlyCoopersButt]

Easily my favorite modern day launcher. It looks so,, Powerful!

 

[Messierhunter]

It's funny, when the main engines started I thought the vehicle had exploded because the flames were so high... is it supposed to do that?

It was a great show. Watched it from the driveway. I thought it must have exploded - when the engines ignited and you saw the flames go that high, what I saw was the sky all lit up, but then it "went out" suddenly when the flames came down. Couldn't see the rocket directly for about 20 seconds, so I thought it blew up or shut down. I got a picture of the launch trail, but it wasn't as bright as I anticipated (I used the same settings I use for shuttle night launches) so it underexposed everything to the point that all you can see is a broken up launch trail - tree was in the way as well as clouds. Not really worth posting.

 

[SlyCoopersButt]

Even if quality isn't good I think anything of it is worth seeing! How far do you estimate you were roughly?

 

[Spicer]

Well, it's launched. Another spectacular Delta IV launch from the Cape. I caught a bit of the webcast, but only the part around when the shroud was jettisoned. I'm hoping to see it on Youtube. Any ideas when it might be up there?

 

[astrosammy]

 

[tblaxland]

It's funny, when the main engines started I thought the vehicle had exploded because the flames were so high... is it supposed to do that?

DSP-23 looked similar, so I'd say it is nominal:

The way the plume rises up around the vehicle, it looks to me like it is the combustion of excess hydrogen vapour in the atmosphere just prior to engine ignition.

 

[SiberianTiger]

A fabulous sight, this launch must have been:

The pre-launch info on the payload was understandably scarce, but the independent experts agreed it was a Mentor 4 (USA 202, NROL 26) geostationary signals intelligence satellite. Its purpose is to intercept communications transmissions, especially line-of-sight microwave links and missile telemetry interception, from Russia and China.

The sat's mass is estimated to be between 5 and 6 tons. The large dish antenna is reported to be 350 feet wide.

The mission patch:

The only under-the fairing public sight has appeared after the launch on youtube.

 

[Messierhunter]

Even if quality isn't good I think anything of it is worth seeing! How far do you estimate you were roughly?

I'll post it tonight, but don't say I didn't warn you. It's a waste of time. I was about 15 miles away, roughly.

 

[Messierhunter]

Sorry, I completely forgot about posting my image of the launch. Here it is.

 

[Andy44]

That's pretty cool. Wish I lived close enough to get shots like that.

 

[SlyCoopersButt]

Very nice, That's a good picture! I hope I can get to try some rocket photography with the camera I have some day. Night shots like that would be tricky.