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comment by kleinbl00




AlderaanDuran  ·  3911 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Do you remember what type of rocket that launch was? Obviously hard to tell from the photo, but I'm curious. Looks like a Delta IV medium from the profile, maybe a Minotaur of some sorts?

Just curious if you remember what that launch was, assuming you took the pic. :)

kleinbl00  ·  3910 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Totally remember. The video is NROL-25, a Delta IV Heavy carrying an FIA-R synthetic aperture radar satellite. The photo is NROL-49, the first Delta IV Heavy launched from SLC-6 (which was created for military shuttle launches, and then the Challenger happened). NROL-49 is a Block IV KH-11:

(the latin is "the devil you know")

It was put up generally to provide IMINT of the middle east, specifically to provide IMINT of bin Laden's Abbotabad compound. Sen. Robert Byrd griped about the cost, pointing out that the price of a Block IV KH-11 and launch is roughly equivalent to a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Here's a better shot from Oil Platform Irene (I took the other two; did not take this one)

Now remind me why you have me muted.

AlderaanDuran  ·  3910 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Ahhh, was hard to tell it was a heavy from your angle. Just looked like a single. Easily my favorite rocket, would love to see a Delta IV heavy launch, but I live in Minnesota where none of that shit goes on. :(

    Now remind me why you have me muted.

I normally enjoy what you have to say on many subjects, and your submissions, but the hostility and e-dick-wagging stuff is why I'm not on other forum communities like Reddit anymore. Hubski is normally pretty polite and laid back. Sometimes, you are not. Not trying to start and argument or anything, but you asked, so there it is.

Also, you can tell when people have you muted? Seems to kind of defeat the purpose, that and it doesn't actually seem to do anything except put a line through your name. So, might as well unmute.

Thank you for the info on the launch! I bet it was amazing to see in person.

kleinbl00  ·  3910 days ago  ·  link  ·  

If you post something, I can't comment on it. Which is exactly the purpose.