Lockheed Martin-Built Titan 4 Launches Defense Support Program Payload

LAUNCH PAD

illustration only

Cape Canaveral - Feb 14, 2004
A Lockheed Martin-built Titan IV B rocket thundered off its Complex 40 seaside launch pad today at 1:50 p.m. Eastern Standard Time carrying a Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite into orbit for the U.S. Air Force. The DSP satellite constellation provides early warning of missile launches worldwide. An Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) transferred the satellite to its final orbit approximately 22,000 miles above Earth.

Today's launch was the first of two Titan IV launches planned for this year from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Fla. The second launch will be the final launch of a Titan IV from Cape Canaveral. Next year the last Titan IV will fly from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. This was the 37th Titan IV launch overall. Twenty-six Titan Ivs have been launched from CCAFS and 11 from Vandenberg.

"The Lockheed Martin Titan team is treating these final missions of the Titan IV like they are first-time launches, not final launches," said G. Thomas Marsh, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. "The pride of our entire team is riding on these missions, because we know how important they are for our nation's security. Today's launch is a result of the great partnership between industry and the Air Force."

Titan IV, the nation's largest and most powerful expendable launch vehicle, is built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Denver, Colo. The Titan IV B is capable of boosting payloads weighing 38,800 pounds into low-Earth polar orbit, 47,800 pounds into low-Earth equatorial orbit, or more than 12,700 pounds into geosynchronous orbit.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. Is under contract to the U.S. government to complete the launch of 39 vehicles. As prime contractor and systems integrator, the company builds the first and second stages and provides overall program management and launch services. The IUS was built by The Boeing Company at facilities in Kent, Wash., under separate contract with the U.S. Air Force. The satellite was built by Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, Calif.

Other members of the Titan IV contractor team and their responsibilities include: GenCorp Aerojet Propulsion Division, Sacramento, Calif., liquid rocket engines; Alliant Techsystems, Magna, Utah, solid rocket motor upgrade; The Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, Calif., payload fairing; and Honeywell Space Systems, Clearwater, Fla., advanced guidance.

LAUNCH PAD

ILS Closes Out 2003 with Six Launches, Eleven Orders

Mclean Jan. 6, 2004--International Launch
Services (ILS) wrapped up an outstanding year in 2003, having launched six times, won contracts for 11 new missions and received nine additional assignments for future U.S. government launches.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.