* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: NRO_L-24 Launch

Blobrana · L

A mysterious object that shed fiery debris across the Maritime sky and prompted worried residents to alert police was caused by the launch of U.S. rocket carrying a spy satellite, officials said.
Officials confirmed the mystery fire ball was actually debris from the launch of an Atlas V rocket carrying a spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.

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Blobrana · L

NROL-24 Centaur Fuel Dump Part 2

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Blobrana · L

A ball of fire in the sky over New Brunswick and Nova Scotia that alarmed observers Monday night was caused by rocket debris re-entering the Earth's atmosphere, officials say.

"You know when you see an atomic bomb go off or something? You get that bright intense flash for a second? Well it was kinda like that but solid for a bit" - Robert Jones, a fishermen who spotted the bright light low on the horizon in the Bay of Fundy.

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Blobrana · L

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket successfully launched a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payload at 5:05 p.m., EST, today from Space Launch Complex 41. This launch marks the fourth Atlas V EELV mission this year and the 12th ULA mission in 2007.

"ULA is proud to have played a critical role for this important NRO mission, ensuring that our nation has the technology and space borne assets needed to acquire intelligence worldwide. Close teamwork with the NRO Office of Space Launch, the U.S. Air Force Launch and Range Systems Wing and the 45th Space Wing at Cape Canaveral made today's successful mission possible" - Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president of Atlas programs.

This mission, designated AV-015, was launched aboard an Atlas V 401 configuration and it used a single common core booster powered by the RD-180 engine. This Atlas V flight marked the 208th RD-180 firing. Atlas V has 11 previous successful launches including two missions for NASA, one for the NRO, two for the Air Force, and six for commercial customers.
ULA's next launch, currently scheduled for Dec. 20, is the GPS IIR-18 satellite for the Air Force aboard a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, US.

Source United Launch Alliance

Blobrana · L

ATLAS V LAUNCH

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Blobrana · L

Rocket Fuel Dump

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Blobrana · L

The predicted fuel dump from the upper stage of the Atlas rocket (ie single-engine Centaur upper stage) was indeed spotted by many observers.
It seems a blue luminous `cloud` lasted for about 50 minutes and was even observed from the UK.

-- Edited by Blobrana at 03:59, 2007-12-11

Blobrana · L

There are rumours that a fuel dump will be visible over northern America

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Blobrana · L

All systems nominal.

The News is now Classified.