Kunio Sayanagi visited Vandenberg yesterday to watch the first Delta IV Heavy launch there. That rocket had a 23 ton payload pushed by 9 MN thrust. For contrast, the Shuttle goes up with more than 30 MN of push. (Saturn had 35 MN or 7.8 million pounds force see also conversion center)
For a personal impression of the Delta Heavy launch and a bit of history behind the Vandenberg launch facility, see Kunio’s essay at ars technica.
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