[FPSPACE] FW: [Launch Alert] Wednesday Vandenberg Launch

[LARRY KLAES]

>From: "Brian Webb" <kd6nrp at earthlink.net>
>Reply-To: kd6nrp at earthlink.net
>To: "Launch Alert" <launch-alert at mailman.qth.net>
>Subject: [Launch Alert] Wednesday Vandenberg Launch
>Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 19:39:17 -0800
>
>
>                              LAUNCH ALERT
>
>			            Brian Webb
>		        Ventura County, California
>		            kd6nrp at earthlink.net
>	              http://www.spacearchive.info
>
>				           2007 December 4 (Tuesday) 19:35 PST
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>                      WEDNESDAY VANDENBERG LAUNCH
>
>A Delta II rocket carrying Italy's COSMO-2 Earth imaging satellite
>is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg AFB tomorrow night. The
>Delta is set to lift-off from Space Launch Complex 2-West at 18:31:39
>PST, the start of a 1-second launch window.
>
>Following lift-off, the Delta II will begin turning toward the south
>and follow a flight azimuth (heading) of 196°. Several minutes later
>the rocket insert COSMO-2 into a 100 x 348 nautical mile (185 x 645
>km) polar orbit inclined 97.80° to the equator.
>
>A launch weather forecast issued this morning by the 30th Weather
>Squadron called for a 20% probability of violating weather
>constraints due to winds. The forecast also predicted 2/8ths cloud
>cover from cirrus between 30,000 and 35,000 feet. In other words,
>the weather was predicted to be quite good.
>
>In the event the launch is scrubbed, other launch opportunities will
>occur for several days with the brief launch window opening about
>0.7-seconds earlier each day. Although a launch opportunity occurs
>Thursday night, the Air Force estimated the probability of violating
>launch constraints at that time at 80% due to thick clouds and 40%
>due to precipitation.
>
>Liftoff occurs after nightfall. If the weather is clear, the launch
>should be visible to the naked eye from at least as far away as San
>Francisco, Sacramento, the Sierras, and San Diego. During the first
>minute of flight, the Delta will be a bright orange thanks to the
>bright orange flames of the four solid rocket motors strapped around
>the first stage for extra thrust.
>
>Once the solid motors burnout, the liquid fuel, first stage main
>engine will continue to burn and the Delta will resemble a moving
>white star.
>
>While liftoff occurs too long after sunset for the rocket's exhaust
>to catch the Sun's rays, observers at dark locations may still see the
>main engine's ghostly exhaust plume during the later portion of the
>first stage burn.
>
>Few photos of the exhaust plume from Delta II night launches exist. If
>you have a digital camera, you can try to record this unusual
>phenomenon by placing your camera on a tripod, using a 50 to 100mm
>lens, and employing these settings:
>
>ISO: 1600
>
>Noise Reduction: On
>
>f/ Stop: 2.8
>
>Exposure: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, and 4 seconds
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Copyright © 2007 Brian Webb. All rights reserved. This newsletter may
>be distributed in its entirety without restriction. Excerpts may not
>be reprinted or posted elsewhere without prior permission.
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>To subscribe or unsubscribe from this newsletter, go to:
>
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/launch-alert
>
>Questions and comments regarding this newsletter and editorial 
>contributions
>should be directed to kd6nrp at earthlink.net