Agreed..You never know the problems with alot of "Top Secret" programs. But the actual launches even if not published have always been visible to everyone in Florida, a huge,roaring fireball combined with white vertical plume visible for 80 to 100 miles away has always had us saying.."Huh, i didn't hear of anything being launched up there today?" Nothing is secret anymore except the purposes of some of these programs..perfect example yesterdays Delta Rocket. The 2nd test of the new,(although 10 yrs old) x-37B robotic space plane,the launch itself was public until sub-orbit,then complete information "Blackout". This unmanned vehicle was originally built by Boeing for NASA,(Yes NASA owned and operated 2002-2004) as an experimental testbed for many things including Tile wear and exp.coatings for re-entry ect..When funding ran out, sold to Defense Advanced Research Agency in 2004, until bought out by U.S. Air Force in 2006 until present. Used now for National Recon. Agency "Classified" projects. X-37B was built by Boeings own Space and Intelligence Systems in 2002. United Launch Alliance handles all aspects related to launch, and private contractors who manufacture components of the Rockets ect..... Hopefully, U.L.A. will move more operations here to Florida as shuttle program ends. Florida has a special relationship with space exploration, and have always welcomed innovation and the risks associated. I hope our new Governor R.Scott reconizes this. We have been here from the very start...last yr Pres. Obama didn't seem to when he was here, Sen. Bill Nelson (retired astronaut) was working him pretty hard on it though... I gathered from Obama's speech about funding for Florida's future this: " LESS Rockets..MORE Choo Choo's " I hope he's wrong.
