[corkoman]

I just saw this!

I just watched a big rocket launch from Kennedy about 10 minutes ago - it had two main boosters that fell off just like the shuttle.

A second staging event took place about 2 minutes later.

Another staging gave off a huge halo that I thought was too big for comfort.

Great view from my 2nd story balcony looking north from Hobe Sound. I didnt see ANYTHING on the Kennedy spaceport website about a launch.

[iso]

Yeah that's Titan 4B .

[OXENinFLA]

Yup, my bro-in-law called and asked "wasn't the shuttle put off for another month, cause something just lit up the sky!!"

We're in Jax.

I got outside just in time to see the halo!

[corkoman]

Yup - two big boosters. They glowed for a long time as they fell.

[Flyer]

I didnt see ANYTHING on the Kennedy spaceport website about a launch

I would guess that since the payload was a national security satellite, it wasn't publicized.

[Sam's Army]

I just got off a 2 hour drive on I-75 south if Tampa (across the state from the lift off site for those of you that are geographically challenged) and was startled to see what looked like a large red dagger in the sky. I figured it was the shuttle, and was pretty worried when I saw the halo go off. It seemed to have something else close to it well after the jettison, it was really a neat site.

I remember when Challenger blew up, I had just been to the Cape on the previous launch to see a night liftoff. It is glorious!

[Calvin Locke]

It's NASA, what do you expect?

I don't see how you could have missed all the press on the "secret" payload. Warnings to Canadian oil platforms
in the Atlantic, next-to-last Titan4B, strange looking vessel in Portland, ME harbor (including photo and mention of
the "unconventional" orbit), etc.

[feedback doctor]

I will second this observation. Saw it along the South Carolina coast. The separation was very bright, and the halo was bright and very large! The halo began before separation. After staging the jettisoned stage continued to be bright with a fuzzy glow, almost a comet like appearance. The whole thing was like a scene from a sci-movie. Found the info after the fact on spacefightnow.com I have seen a number of shuttle launches from this location, my own back yard. Was out to watch an Iridium flare, and there were a number of people with me so we all got to see a great show!

[Joe Boucher]

Was in back yard in Port St. Lucie when I looked up and saw it with my wife and friends.
Way cool.
Not like a shuttle, but way cool. Not like a moon shot but way cool.
Since nothing was said beforehand, It was a govt. secret agency spy type stuff.
But way cool guy.

[RightWhale]

The Gov't is lax on PR. You need to go to a commercial website to know what is going on, such as

http://spaceflightnow.com/