Twenty years ago today — March 8, 1991 — a Titan-IV rocket carrying a DoD payload launched from Vandenberg AFB.
(Titan-IVA launch. USAF image. Click to enlarge.)
The Titan-IV, an “A” model, was the first to be launched from Vandy, and carried a satellite identified as USA-69 for the National Reconnaissance Office.
A few years earlier, I had conducted environmental monitoring of a Titan-IV solid rocket motor test firing, and two years later I joined the Titan System Program Office at Vandenberg and worked on a number of related projects. At the time of this launch, however, I was stationed back in South Carolina and, if memory serves, was on leave — having welcomed my son into the world a few days before.
![Share on Facebook Facebook](http://www.graymanwrites.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/48x48/facebook.png)
![Share on Twitter twitter](http://www.graymanwrites.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/48x48/twitter.png)
![Pin it with Pinterest pinterest](http://www.graymanwrites.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/48x48/pinterest.png)
![Share on Linkedin linkedin](http://www.graymanwrites.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/48x48/linkedin.png)
![Share by email mail](http://www.graymanwrites.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/48x48/mail.png)
![feather](http://www.graymanwrites.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/icon.png)