Delta IV rocket - first launch from Vandenberg AFB, NROL-49

First launch of a Delta IV Heavy from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The rocket carried a secret military payload, and is the largest rocket ever launched from the US western coast.
This video was recorded from the UCSB campus, about 90 miles east-southeast of the launch site. Due to air conditions, the rocket was virtually invisible until it passed out of the haze and into a cold layer where it started to create a substantial contrail. This clip begins close to a minute after liftoff.
Apologies for the camerawork. I couldn't see the display very well under the bright sunlight, and I had my eyes on the sky most of the time.
Edit: Unfortunately, it looks like YouTube's video compression also fuzzed out the booster flame pretty badly, especially during the first part. I'd recommend watching at 720p in the full-size frame if possible.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• rocket
• launch
• space
• delta
• iv
• satellite
• nrol-49
• vandenberg
• afb
• science
• ucsb

[shadowwarrior97]

its getting longer

[ferociousfrankie]

Damn, now I think I should applied to SB...