APOD: Launch of a Delta IV Heavy (2010 Dec 14)

[APOD Robot]

Launch of a Delta IV Heavy

Explanation: It is the tallest rocket in active use. The Delta IV Heavy is the largest of the Delta series, packing the punch of three rocket boosters instead of the usual one. The resulting rocket, the most powerful in use by the US Air Force, is capable of lifting over 23,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit, comparable to NASA's Space Shuttle. Pictured above is the second launch of the Delta IV Heavy from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA in 2007, and the first night launch. Complex service towers are visible to each side of the soaring rocket. The rocket successfully lifted a reconnaissance satellite to low Earth orbit. The Delta IV Heavy has since completed several more successful lift-offs, while its next launch is currently planned from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA, next month.

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[NoelC]

Big boosters.

One eye-opening piece of info I saw on that linked Wiki page (click the word "comparable", then scroll down)... I didn't realize the Russians had a shuttle that appears surprisingly similar to ours, and it's already been launched twice!

Do I detect a bit of turn about happening here? The US moves from shuttle back to boosters, while the Russians move from boosters to a reusable orbiter?

And what's wrong with the American media that a science-oriented person could miss hearing about the Russian Energia entirely? Too much worry over the latest starlet and not enough over the stars.

-Noel

[Chris Peterson]

Do I detect a bit of turn about happening here? The US moves from shuttle back to boosters, while the Russians move from boosters to a reusable orbiter?

There's no indication that the Russians have any plans for a reusable orbiter. The Energia was a copy of the American shuttle, and failed for a variety of reasons.

Here's the reality: reusable orbiters seem to be impractical. The shuttle launches always cost hugely more than single use boosters. It really does make more sense to use conventional boosters the majority of the time. We'll have to see some fundamental technology advancements before that changes.

And what's wrong with the American media that a science-oriented person could miss hearing about the Russian Energia entirely?

I've seen many stories about the Russian shuttle over the last 30 years. It's hardly been a secret, and everybody I know who is actively interested in space exploration is aware of the program. There was talk in the early days that the Russians stole much of the design, but with the fall of the USSR, and the cancellation of the Energia program, I guess nobody really cared anymore.

[BPCooper]

Big boosters.

. I didn't realize the Russians had a shuttle that appears surprisingly similar to ours, and it's already been launched twice!

That was in 1988 and it only launched once, unmanned, before being canceled. In 2002 or so, that shuttle was destroyed when the hangar at Baikonur collapsed under snow.

[bystander]

Energia and the Buran shuttle were discontinued in 1988.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energia#Discontinuation

[tootsie2u]

very cool pix.....................I can feel the blast from here...

[neufer]

Launch of a Delta IV Heavy

Pictured above is the second launch of the Delta IV Heavy from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA in 2007, and the first night launch.

Herbert L. Becker (right)

<<Delta Ramona Leah Burke (born July 30, 1956) is an American television and film actress. Burke was born in Orlando, Florida to a single mother, Jean. Frederick Burke, an Orlando realtor, adopted her after marrying her mother. In her senior year of high school, she won the Miss Florida title for 1974; she was the youngest Miss Florida titleholder in pageant history. In 1974, as part of winning Miss Florida, Delta appeared on the ABC TV show Bozo the Clown, filmed in Orlando Florida. She worked as the magical assistant to Herbert L. Becker for 6 months.

Her best-known role as Suzanne Sugarbaker in Designing Women was created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. Burke was slender when she started on Designing Women in 1986, but as the show gained in fame, she gained weight. In 1989, Burke asked Thomason to write an episode addressing her weight. The episode, "They Shoot Fat Women, Don't They?", had Suzanne Sugarbaker going to her 15-year high school reunion and getting her feelings hurt after hearing disparaging remarks about her weight. This episode is said to have earned Burke her first Emmy nomination as Best Actress. Burke briefly became a blond for the short-lived TV sitcom Delta (1992), where she played an aspiring country singer.

Burke recently lost about 60 pounds, due to her nearly 10-year battle with type-2 diabetes. She says she plans to keep on losing weight to remain healthy, as well as to improve her prospects for playing "Truvy" in the Broadway production of Steel Magnolias, a role that required her to be more slender. She recently played Bella Horowitz during a 5 episode arc on Boston Legal as a former flame of William Shatner's character, Denny Crane in season three. Burke is a very successful designer and manager of the clothing company Delta Burke Design, headquartered in New York City.

Burke has compulsive hoarding syndrome, for which she received therapy. "At one time I had 27 storage units. I don't have a big enough house!" she said. "My mom had it, it's my mother's fault. She saved the diaper I came home from the hospital in!">>

[lenka]

http://www.launchphotography.com/
This guy knows how to use light:)

There is an information on polish portal frazpc.pl about how Ben Cooper took this picture. And they provide such information:

"Lens did not survive, but-amazingly-camera returned to the owner, known for lovers of everything that can fly, photographer Ben Cooper, intact.
The picture was taken remotely and accurately has been done by clever sensor / trigger acting on the principle of auto-activation at the time of emergence of high-intensity sound. All the camera settings made manually before. Unfortunately, not given accurate information about the 'hero equipment';) by which the picture was taken. It is known that he survived the blast and fall to the ground, and the sound sensor carried on a flight distance of about 60 meters (and still works!)"

That is cool

[lenka]

I also like these installations in the picture, they are full of triangles and it is very hard to count them becouse triangles makes triangles.
I do not try to count them really, but I take pictures of installations becouse of the triangles.

[neufer]

I also like these installations in the picture, they are full of triangles and it is very hard to count them becouse triangles makes triangles.
I do not try to count them really, but I take pictures of installations becouse of the triangles.

http://asterisk.apod.com/vie ... le#p138622

[nstahl]

Lenka thanks for the info on how it was taken.

It's a great picture. I wonder what all the recon satellite's capabilities include. But I guess if I knew they'd have to shoot me.

[orin stepanek]

I loved APOD's link of the launch on youtube.

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

[NoelC]

Hmmm, <embarrassed>, I guess I just wasn't paying attention back then (working too long hours or something)... But I feel some relief that it's not a current development that somehow I've missed entirely.

I wonder what all the recon satellite's capabilities include.

Photography of nude sunbathers on tops of buildings; showing what the satellite operators' houses look like from outer space; gauging the extent of people's hair loss; among other things.

-Noel

[DCStone]

Big boosters.

. I didn't realize the Russians had a shuttle that appears surprisingly similar to ours, and it's already been launched twice!

That was in 1988 and it only launched once, unmanned, before being canceled. In 2002 or so, that shuttle was destroyed when the hangar at Baikonur collapsed under snow.

Somewhere, there is a Russian shuttle (possibly a training mock up?) in a childrens' playground. It's been shown in a couple of documentaries about the Russian space program post-Apollo-Soyuz.

[track22]

The "service towers on both sides of the rocket are actually for lightning protection. Thwe service tower is on the left.

[Paul Douglas]

Great image. But backwards we go with size. Saturn V over 200,000 lb payload. We need to do more gun and run probes. Hold back on sending people for now. We need lots more data.

[NoelC]

Saturn V burned refined kerosene, no? The Shuttle's solid boosters ran on that aluminum-based solid fuel stuff...

This one looks to be burning cleaner from the photos - which seems to me to be a Very Good Thing. The Delta IV-H burns liquid hydrogen/oxygen...

From this page:

The Delta IV Heavy is the only rocket in service that uses only cryogenic propellants; all of its stages use liquid hydrogen as fuel and liquid oxygen as an oxidiser.

-Noel

[emc]

Arrrgggh argh argh!

[BPCooper]

Big boosters.


Somewhere, there is a Russian shuttle (possibly a training mock up?) in a childrens' playground. It's been shown in a couple of documentaries about the Russian space program post-Apollo-Soyuz.

Gorky Park, Moscow.

[FrankTKO]

I'm curious about something and hoping someone will know. I followed the link "Service Towers" and was looking at the picture of the astronaut in the tower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:STS_white_room.jpg). I noticed that all had fluorescent tubes on their sleeves. Would anyone know what is the use of this, not mentionning that it's just look cool!

[BPCooper]

I'm curious about something and hoping someone will know. I followed the link "Service Towers" and was looking at the picture of the astronaut in the tower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:STS_white_room.jpg). I noticed that all had fluorescent tubes on their sleeves. Would anyone know what is the use of this, not mentionning that it's just look cool!

Glowsticks in case of bailout and ocean recovery, or other emergency use.

[FrankTKO]

I'm curious about something and hoping someone will know. I followed the link "Service Towers" and was looking at the picture of the astronaut in the tower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:STS_white_room.jpg). I noticed that all had fluorescent tubes on their sleeves. Would anyone know what is the use of this, not mentionning that it's just look cool!

Glowsticks in case of bailout and ocean recovery, or other emergency use.

Well, the guys that won't be going on for the ride also have them...

[bystander]

NASA Image of the Day (2010 Dec 15)

Click to view full size image

Soyuz Heads for the Space Station

The Soyuz TMA-20 rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 (Dec. 16 in Kazakhstan), carrying Expedition 26 Soyuz Commander Dmitry Kondratyev of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Cady Coleman of the U.S. and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli to the International Space Station.

They're set to dock at the orbital outpost on Friday, Dec. 17.

Photo Credit: NASA/Carla Cioffi

[mexhunter]

A brutal power.
Extraordinary photo, too.
Greetings
César