The largest rocket ever, Delta IV Heavy is launched by United States from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Thursday, 20th January 2011, carrying the 1-billion-dollar top secret satellite NROL-49 into orbit. The largest rocket has the height of 235 feet (72 meter), width of 53-foot and contains three hydrogen-fueled engines. The size of each engine is approximately a semi-truck. Three engines of Delta IV provide 17 million horsepower.
Image source: www.reuters.com Delta IV was blasted off at 1:10 p.m. (2110 GMT) from the base, 130 miles (209 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. government will become capable of snapping pictures detailed sufficient to distinguish the make and model of an automobile hundreds of miles below with the launch of secret satellite. United Launch Alliance and a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp. & the Boeing Co. built Delta IV Heavy Launch Vehicle. This is the 5th launch of the rocket since 2004 when it made its maiden flight. Payloads can be lifted up to 24 tons into low Earth orbit by this vehicle. According to reports, all the preceding Delta IV Heavy launches happened at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Video of Largest Rocket in the History of the American West Coast Launches from Vandenberg AFB! from youtube: |
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US Launches Largest Rocket with Secret Payload
Posted By vikasha4 on Jan 24, 2011 FROM: reuters.com report abuse
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