posted 04-25-2005 09:47 PM               

The Titan 4B, which will be the next to last to fly (the last will occur late this summer from Vandenberg AFB, Calif.), is to carry a classified payload into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office.

This will also be the very last rocket of original space vehicle heritage to fly from Florida. Here is an intersting site on that (which was formerly a real website!):
http://www.geocities.com/launchreport/heritag.html

The launch may also be visible for those living along the East Coast of the US and Canada much the way Shuttle is when it heads to the ISS and Mir at night.

Given a recent dispute with Canada over whether the Titan 4's first or second stage could hit oil platforms off the coast of Newfoundland on the way up, the launch inclination is expected to be very high, near or at the 63 degree limit imposed on launches Cape Canaveral.

Having witnessed Shuttle launches from NYC before; and knowing what the first stage flame is like on Titan 4 after the SRBs separate, I would say viewers have a very good chance of seeing it (unlike the Atlas-Centaur on Feb. 3 which was a very dim flame). The first stage separates from the vehicle about 400 miles downrage and the second stage takes it the rest of the way into orbit. Both stages use the same fuel.

Launch is scheduled between 8:00 and 10:30pm EDT, with the exact launch time and window expected, as usual with classified launches, to be announced one to three days before liftoff.

For updates check the SpaceflightNow.com status later this week.

Titan was developed as an ICBM in the late 1950s as a supplement to the Atlas rocket, and first became intended for use as a space launch vehicle by NASA for the two-man Gemini launcher.

Titan was first fired on an orbital trajectory on April 8, 1964 with the unmanned Gemini 1 launch, and on March 23, 1965 launched John Young and Gus Grissom on the first manned Gemini flight. In the 40 years since then, Titan's have launched countless military payloads as well as many for NASA, having sent the Voyagers to the outer solar system, the Vikings to Mars and Cassini to Saturn. The program has had its share of failures, however, including one of the most spectacular explosions in the Cape's history on August 12, 1998.

Here is a short history:
http://www.aero.org/publications/crosslink/winter2003/07.html

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-Ben

www.launchphotography.com

(edited in note about first stage sep time and second stage engine igntion).

posted 04-26-2005 09:26 AM               

Anybody planning on trying to watch?

posted 04-26-2005 12:58 PM               

are you planning to make photographes of this historic event ???

posted 04-26-2005 01:12 PM               

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-Ben

posted 04-26-2005 01:45 PM               

The best viewing is from Port Canaveral, right where the cruise ship terminals are, and alongside the road that leads to the CCAFS main Gate.

Directions to get there are simple if you know how to get to 528/The Beeline Expressway.

If you are staying in Cocoa Beach get on A1A north and it becomes 528 as it curves around towards the west. If you are in Titusville just take I-95 or Route 1 south to 528 East.

Coming from either way (528 from the West or A1A from Cocoa Beach) you want to take the BLUE sign exit marked: Terminal A: North Cargo Pier.

After you exit, go over the drawbridge and proceed about half a mile until where the road goes under an overpass and turns sharply to the right at the same time (you can't miss this turn).

Pull off on the left (water) side of the road in the grass. This is where everyone watches from and is the closest public spot to pad 40, despite being about ten miles away.

It's a great clear view across the water and if the wind is calm the sound will be loud.

Hope this helps guys.

Here is a not-so-geat map of the Port area:
http://shrimpin.com/154c8f60.jpg

posted 04-26-2005 01:45 PM               

quote:

---

The weekend will launch on Friday evening with ASF's annual Induction Gala, followed by Saturday's Induction Ceremony. Guests will be transported from Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to its award winning Apollo Saturn V Center for the gala, to include a reception and an exquisite dinner. The night will be full of excitement, as old and new inductees are introduced while making their red carpet entrance.

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posted 04-30-2005 12:19 AM               

The United States Air Force and Lockheed Martin (LMT:NYSE) wrote the final chapter in a five-decade history at Cape Canaveral tonight with the final launch of a Titan IV B heavy-lift rocket carrying a critical national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket thundered away from its pad adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean amid the cheers of many who had gathered to watch the historic mission.

"With our customers, we share a tremendous pride in this successful flight, tempered only by our sense of sadness as the proud history of Titan here at Cape Canaveral comes to a close for our team," said G. Thomas Marsh, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "It is always impressive to hear the roar of a Titan IV as it streaks into space, but this rocket got help in getting off the ground by the hard work, prayers and wishes of thousands of employees and retirees whose dedication to mission success is unparalleled."

Tonight's launch was the second-to-last launch for the venerable heavy-lift workhorse Titan IV. The final vehicle will fly from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. this summer. In all, 27 Titan IVs have been launched from CCAFS and 11 from Vandenberg. Titan IV is the culmination of a long evolution from the original Titan I intercontinental ballistic missile.

Col. Michael T. Baker, director, Launch Programs, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, said, "Titan has performed honorably by providing us strategic deterrence in the form of the Titan ICBMs, helping us explore our universe by launching NASA missions like Cassini, assisting our manned space activities by launching NASA's Gemini test flights and supporting our national decision makers and our warfighters in the field by deploying spacecraft such as the one launched tonight. The men and women of the Martin Marietta Corporation, now Lockheed Martin Space Systems, have much to be proud of. The Air Force is grateful to have been a part of this wonderfully successful program."

Titan IV developed into the nation's heavy-lift workhorse following the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy in 1986 when assured access to space became critical for the U.S. government. Titan IV A was followed by Titan IV B with a new generation of large solid rocket motors, state-of-the-art guidance and electronics and a new ground processing system.

posted 04-30-2005 11:54 PM               

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-Ben

www.LaunchPhotography.com

posted 05-02-2005 09:25 PM               

A bunch of friends of mine went there Friday for the launch. They said it was fantastic but the sound was not too great as the wind was coming from the South.

When you are that far away the wind can make a big difference; I've seen launches from that spot that are very loud or barely audible.

But a night launch dazzles no matter what; you don't realize just how unbelievably bright it is until you see it in person..it lights up the state. My friend called from a highway out of Orlando and asked "was there just a launch?!."

Ryan, do you have photos or video you could share?

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-Ben

posted 05-05-2005 04:35 AM               

really great shots...i am interested in how you take this photos from such close positions to the pad..are you using automatic controlled cameras or are you working with remote sensors ?

posted 05-05-2005 06:12 AM               

Occasionally you will find vibration or light sensors too, namely as a supplement, but most use sound by itself or as the base trigger.

Thanks.

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-Ben

posted 05-07-2005 10:22 AM               

we have to thank you for this interesting information and the great shots !!

how close to the pad the camera have been located during the titan launch IV ???