Delta IV Rocket: Flies From Vandenberg, California
Thursday’s launch of the Delta IV rocket was charged with the task of carrying a top secret satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, otherwise known as the NRO. seeing that the satellite previously operated from Florida, the California base had to undergo some upgrades in order to accommodate the huge vehicle.
Officials said that it was necessary to fly the Delta from the West Coast because of the fact that it was going up into polar orbits.
The vehicle is only used for military purposes as well as gathering intelligence, though there have been multiple talks about making some adjustments so it can be used for human spaceflight as well, a somewhat intriguing proposal that is still on the table.
The Delta IV contains a number of highly advanced technological features such as the boosters which are on located on both sides of the RS-68 engine that is unlike anything else in the entire world.
Just to give an idea as to how powerful the engine itself is, it burns around 2,900 kiloNewtons on thrust-off alone.
This was the fifth flight that the vehicle has taken and the second trip in just two short months. The NRO is known for operating multiple satellites which return information from space to the CIA as well as the Department of Defense.
Category: News
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