projecthabu: September 2, 2015 A particularly impressive spectral was seen over the Space
projecthabu: September 2, 2015 A particularly impressive spectral was seen over the Space Coast of Florida this morning. At 6:18 AM, an Atlas V 551 rocket launched from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The 500 series core stage roared along with its five solid rocket boosters. The Centaur upper stage successfully put the Mobile User Objective System 4 (MUOS4) satellite on station. This spacecraft will remain in geosynchronous orbit, allowing our US Navy a higher bandwidth for 21st century tactical communications. This, being United Launch Alliance’s 99th launch, was business as usual; all except for an incredible visual display. Most of the time, launches from The Cape are accompanied by many clouds, severely limiting visibility. Not so for this launch. The rocket lifted off just before dawn, cresting the shadow of the earth as it penetrated the upper reaches of the atmosphere, showing a back-lit vapor plume expanding rapidly as it sailed skyward. The vehicle could be seen until it arced over the horizon, out of view. The sight was stunning. Never has man produced a more visually beautiful thing than rocketry. -- source link