Posted: Fri, Oct 5, 2001, 6:59 PM ET (2259 GMT)
A Titan 4B booster sucecssfully launched a classified military payload late Friday. The Titan 4B lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, at 5:21 pm EDT (2121 GMT). Air Force officials said that the Titan's payload sucecssfully separated from the booster nine and a half minutes after liftoff. The identity of the payload has not been revealed by the Air Force, but independent analysts speculate that the Titan carried an advanced reconnaissance satellite. The launch had been scheduled for Monday but was delayed four days by a series of minor technical problems with the launch vehicle and support equipment.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now Titan launch status center