Rocket with Secret Payload Launches from California

Rocket with Secret Payload Launches from California

news.yahoo.com

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — A rocket carrying a top-secret payload blasted off Tuesday from the California coast.

The Delta IV rocket lifted off at 4:12 p.m. from the Vandenberg Air Force Base, about 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Since the launch involved a classified cargo for the National Reconnaissance Office, no details were immediately available about whether it was boosted to its intended orbit.

The reconnaissance office, which oversees the nation's constellation of spy satellites, has kept mum about the purpose of the mission and directed United Launch All

(visit the link for the full news article)

Did a search and couldn't find this on here. Sorry if it already is, I've noticed the search isn't the best.


I've seen these secret payload launches before. What are they launching? If it is really a radar imaging satellite, why can't they just come out and say so? Any other info on secret payload launches as of late?

news.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

launch pic's
its a new spy satalite isnt it? NROL-25,

economictimes.indiatimes.com...

I guess I'm confused...if they come out and say it is one of four spy satellites they will be launching this year, why do they call it a secret payload?

reply to post by tport17


grabs attention on the media's part

www.abovetopsecret.com...

This is my first thought and concern...

reply to post by tport17


i lived really close to that base for a short while and noticed 2 or three of these thing go up we shoot allot of stuff in the sky

Spy satellites...

How many of them China has?

Does China can spy on the USA just like the USA spies on China?

It's probably a planet x tracker.

Originally posted by tport17
I've seen these secret payload launches before. What are they launching? If it is really a radar imaging satellite, why can't they just come out and say so? Any other info on secret payload launches as of late?

because its secret

but to keep up with the latest... try United Launch Alliance

www.ulalaunch.com...

NROL-25
source

NRO website
www.nro.gov...

duplicate

It bothers me that so much is kept secret from US citizens while it's their taxes that are paying for these secret projects. Probably a spy sat being used to spy on their own citizenry. Pathetic.

reply to post by tport17


oh my dayz...another top secret payload.....

that shouldnt be allowed...by anyone....full stop.

cmon, anything that happens in 2012 has been planned and organised i dont believe in any coincidences.

dodgy ass...


peace

reply to post by drivebricker


Really

It's probably a planet x tracker

Theres more chance that it would be a delivery of easter eggs to the ISS
Than that

Cran

From source.

the mission is in support of national defence.

www.ulalaunch.com...


In other words, unless you are on a need to know...tough luck.

Ain't it great to spend this much money for which you contribute and not knowing what that money does?

But relax...it's for your own good !

Hey Phar. I'm your no.1 Fan,

I wish I could meet you.

Hope that helps,

Mr medinet

No.1 Fan

Originally posted by thePharaoh
reply to post by tport17

 

oh my dayz...another top secret payload.....

that shouldnt be allowed...by anyone....full stop.

cmon, anything that happens in 2012 has been planned and organised i dont believe in any coincidences.

dodgy ass...


peace

reply to post by tport17


i find it amusing that while these " secret launches " are openly discussed [ only the nature of the payload is actually secert ] people still persist in believing thaty an entire armada of launches occured with out wnyone noticing

We can have a little fun.

The NROL-25 launch is named Altair,
The original patch was with depictions of an eagle and a compass
www.nasaspaceflight.com...

Wikipedia has removed the old image, although the Launch Name still shows
Altair.
en.wikipedia.org...



The orbit is unusual - its backwards

The official Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs, released to the public this week to establish clear warning zones around the rocket's flight path indicate the booster is headed southwestward from Vandenberg Air Force Base on its trek downrange.

Typical Vandenberg launches head southward toward polar orbits or slightly southeastward on so-called "coast-hugger" ascents, depending on the payload's desired orbit.

In the upcoming launch, however, the Delta 4 rocket will take a distinct trajectory out over the Pacific Ocean that would result in delivering its classified satellite cargo into a retrograde orbit flying against Earth's natural rotation

spaceflightnow.com...

Explore:

Aquila, the Eagle, is surrounded by no fewer than nine other constellations that touch its borders. Most prominent are Sagitta that bounds most of its northern flank and Sagittarius its southern. Aquarius is to its east and Serpens Cauda to the west. Aquila is at its most prominent to northern hemisphere observers during midsummer months when its brightest star, Altair forms the southernmost corner of the Summer Triangle with Deneb in Cygnus and Vega in Lyra. The Milky Way is rich in this area of the sky, running diagonally through Aquila. h2g2.com...

Altair- A Star that has been used for navigation:
Altair - The Flying Eagle



photo credit Thomas Fahey

The rocket appears to have been named "Electra"

Photos:
spaceflightnow.com...

More Photos
www.flickr.com...


www.youtube.com...#!
Some infomation as to the
123 degree retrograde inclination
www.satobs.org...

About the new patch .....

dust turned up by the Incorrect stomping on the 'Earth', even the 'blows' by the right hoof..
XXY on the shoulder of the Bull...

Victoria Commissa Omnibus”, meaning “Committed to victory for all”

OPERATION BLUEBEAM......gots to be!

peace

Take a look at this site, you can track pretty much everything up there.