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30 September 2001 |
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A Titan 4B rocket, the largest unmanned space booster in the nation's fleet, is set to fly Monday from Vandenberg Air Force Base to loft a top-secret payload into orbit. The 20-story tall rocket, built by Lockheed Martin Corp., will blast off from Space Launch Complex-4 East on South Base to carry a satellite the size of a school bus. The team will shoot for a 2:19 p.m. liftoff, but the length of the launch window remains classified. A previously released launch period extends until 4 p.m. "Everything's proceeding according to plans and everything's good to go as of right now," said Art Haubold, National Reconnaissance Office spokesman. The Titan 4 rocket costs about $300 million; price tag on the payload remains classified. While Vandenberg continues to have heightened security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, officials wouldn't talk about any additional measures to ensure the Titan mission doesn't become a target. "We don't discuss security preparations or details," said Haubold. "Suffice it to say we will take the security precautions necessary." In a usual move, the Air Force Friday warned boaters to stay out of the waters off Vandenberg's 35-mile-long coastline until at least Wednesday. Typically, the notice to mariners only encompasses the southern portion of the base and less time for Titan 4 launches. Jalama Beach, just south of Vandenberg, will close from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. Road blocks on Ocean Avenue, west of the 13th Street Gate, will prevent people from going to Surf and Ocean beaches as well as their parking lots Monday afternoon. The closures come as a safety precaution in case the rocket veers off course and must be destroyed. Air Force officials said weather appears generally favorable for launch, with only a 20 percent chance conditions won't allow liftoff Monday. It also appears to be good day to view the rocket's flight. If the launch slips a day, military officials forecast "another nice weather day." This marks the second launch in less than a month from Vandenberg for the National Reconnaissance Office, which designs and operates U.S. spy satellites. An Atlas 2AS rocket that launched Sept. 8 from Vandenberg carried an top-secret NRO payload. "Obviously, for our launch folks it's been a busy time," said Haubold. "We adapt to whatever the requirements are." NRO has a third launch coming up, another Atlas awaiting liftoff in mid-October from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
NRO only admitted its existence in 1992, after the
Cold War and Operation Desert Storm. The agency's spy
satellite launches also remained secret, with
Vandenberg officials not even admitting a liftoff was
near. |
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