[FPSPACE] FW: [Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule

Sun Mar 2 22:28:59 EST 2008



>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] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule
>Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2008 18:37:18 -0800
>
>
>                              LAUNCH ALERT
>
>					Brian Webb
>			   Ventura County, California
>				 kd6nrp at earthlink.net
>			   http://www.spacearchive.info
>
>						   2008 March 2 (Sunday) 18:19 PST
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>			 VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
>				 As of 2008 March 2
>
>			     Launch
>			  Time/Window
>    Date		   (PST/PDT)	   Vehicle		Pad/Silo
>----------		---------------	-------------	--------
>
>Mid-March		To be announced	Atlas V		SLC-3E
>Classified National Reconnaissance Office payload. Launch delayed from
>FEB 29 to avoid debris from the FEB 20 intercept of a non-functional
>U.S. satellite. The DoD will announce the exact launch time several
>hours in advance. NROL-28
>
>Spring		To be announced	TLV			---
>The vehicle will fly a ballistic trajectory to an impact area in the
>Pacific. The NFIRE satellite will observe the launch from orbit and
>collect data for the U.S. missile defense system. The DoD will
>announce the launch window a day in advance.
>
>Spring		To be announced	GBI			---
>Scenario calls for the launch of a mock warhead from Kodiak, Alaska
>followed by a Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) from Vandenberg AFB. The
>DoD will announce the launch time several hours in advance.
>
>Spring		To be announced	Minuteman III	---
>ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one or more unarmed
>warheads. Impact area is probably the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein in
>the central Pacific. The Air Force will announce the launch window a
>few days in advance.
>
>NET APR 17		To be announced	Delta II		SLC-2W
>Vehicle will launch the Missile Defense Agency's STSS ATRR (STSS-2010)
>payload
>
>JUN 15		01:47			Delta II		SLC-2W
>Delta II 7320 launch vehicle configuration. Payload is the
>OSTM/Jason-2 scientific satellite. Spacecraft will enter a 1336 km,
>circular, non-sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 66°. The
>ground track will repeat every 10 days.
>
>JUL			To be announced	Atlas V		SLC-3E
>Payload is the DMSP F-18 military weather satellite
>
>Late AUG		To be announced	Delta IV		SLC-6
>Classified National Reconnaissance Office payload. The DoD will
>announce the exact launch time several hours in advance. NROL-25
>
>AUG 22		To be announced	Delta II		SLC-2W
>Payload is the GeoEye 1 commercial Earth imaging satellite. The
>booster will use the Delta-7420-10C configuration and insert the
>payload into a 425-mile (684-km), 98°, sun-synchronous orbit with a
>10:30 a.m. equator crossing time
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>				 ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS
>				     2008 March
>		    Computed for Los Angeles, California
>
>			   Time
>   Date		 (PST/PDT)				Event
>--------		-----------		-----------------------------
>
>MAR 3			03:13			Mercury Western Elongation
>Mercury attains its greatest angular separation from the Sun and is
>visible low in the east at dawn.
>
>MAR 5			06:00			Conjunction
>The Moon passes 0.2° south of Mercury. Time of closest approach and
>separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly
>depending on your location
>
>MAR 7			09:14			New Moon
>Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises
>at sunrise and sets at sunset
>
>MAR 8-9		---			Dark Sky Weekend
>Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may
>hold observing sessions at dark sites
>
>MAR 8			12:19			Uranus Conjunction
>Uranus passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.
>
>MAR 9			02:00			Time Change
>Daylight Savings Time begins. Set clocks ahead one hour
>
>MAR 14		03:46			First Quarter Moon
>Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight
>
>MAR 14		20:00			Conjunction
>The Moon passes 1.7° north of Mars. Time of closest approach and
>separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly
>depending on your location
>
>MAR 21		11:40			Full Moon
>Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night
>
>MAR 23		03:00			Conjunction
>Mercury 1.0° south of Venus
>
>MAR 29		14:47			Last Quarter Moon
>Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>                                 NEWS
>
>The following news stories were recently added to the Space Archive
>web site:
>
>   NROL-28 Launch Postponement
>   http://www.spacearchive.info/
>
>   DoD Intercepts Non-Functioning Satellite
>   http://www.spacearchive.info/
>
>   Ames Tests Kepler Image Detectors
>   http://www.spacearchive.info/news-2008-02-19-arc.htm
>
>   Navy to Engage Vandenberg Payload
>   http://www.spacearchive.info/
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Copyright © 2008 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.
>
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