A first attempt at a rocket launch time exposure leads to some mixed results. Launching on-time at 8:50 p.m. on 29 April 2005 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the last ever Titan 4 rocket from Florida sweeps up, out, and over toward the horizon. The rocket is carrying a spy satellite into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office after long months of delays caused by hurricanes and unrelated technical problems. Clockwise from lower left, the rocket is shown bathed in a v-pattern of white spotlights. At launch the great intensity of the light from liftoff causes an overexposure. Above that the rocket streaks across the sky trailing a long tail of orange and yellow fire leading to the arc as the rocket heads toward the horizon. A couple of events are labeled. The separation of the solid rocket boosters causes a distinct streak of their own as they fall away. Separation of the core booster stage can also be identified as it falls away. The final launch of a Titan 4 rocket carrying, again, another spy satellite will occur from Vandenberg Air Force Base later in 2005.
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