[FPSPACE] FW: [Launch Alert] Successful 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] Successful Launch
>Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:44:30 -0700
>
>
>                              LAUNCH ALERT
>
>                               Brian Webb
>                      Ventura County, California
>                          kd6nrp at earthlink.net
>                      http://www.spacearchive.info
>
>                            2008 September 24 (Wednesday) 04:39 PDT
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>            VANDENBERG SUPPORTS MISSILE DEFENSE TRACKING TEST
>                     Vandenberg AFB News Release
>
>VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Vandenberg successfully launched a
>space launch vehicle, the Chimera target launch vehicle, which is a
>modified Minuteman booster vehicle with a simplified target payload at
>11:57 p.m. today from North Vandenberg.
>
>The launch was part of an exercise involving the tracking of a
>long-range target missile by the Near Field Infrared Experiment, or
>NFIRE, research satellite.
>
>"For the past 50 years Vandenberg has been at the forefront of advancing
>space power." said Col. David J. Buck, 30th Space Wing commander.  "This
>launch showcases Vandenberg Air Force Base's global impact and its
>critical role in advancing space and missile systems."
>
>This exercise provided an opportunity for the NFIRE satellite to collect
>high- and low-resolution images of a boosting rocket which will improve
>understanding of missile exhaust plume observations and plume-to-rocket
>body discrimination.
>
>Program officials will continue to evaluate system performance based
>upon telemetry and other data obtained during the exercise. The Missile
>Defense Agency, a joint service agency of the Department of Defense,
>will use this data to validate and update models and simulations that
>are fundamental to missile defense technologies.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Copyright C 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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