[Launch Alert] Vandenberg Launch Tonight

[Brian Webb]

		ASTRONOMY/SPACE ALERT FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
 				  
			    Brian Webb, KD6NRP
			Ventura County, California
			E-mail: kd6nrp@earthlink.net
		Web Site: http://home.earthlink.net/~kd6nrp
 				       
					     2002 November 24 (Sunday) 14:45 PST
----------------------------------------------------------------------

			SCUD LAUNCH TONIGHT

The second of two Scud missiles is set for launch tonight from
Vandenberg AFB. This information came from an article in today's Santa
Maria Times*.

According to the article, the Scud will be launched at 23:45 PST, the
start of a launch window that runs until 06:00 PST tomorrow morning.

My sources indicate that, although there is some concern that winds
may interfere with the launch, the odds of having acceptable launch
weather are actually very good.

*The article is posted at:

	http://www.santamariatimes.com/display/inn_news/news04.txt

----------------------------------------------------------------------

			LAUNCH VIEWING

The Scud is a liquid fuel missile. Missiles of this type tend to
produce a much fainter flame than their solid fuel counterparts. Scuds
are also short-range and have a small engine.

It's unclear what tonight's launch will look like, but the vehicle's
propellant type and engine size lead me to believe that it will be
much less impressive than other night Vandenberg late night launches.

Still, the launch may be worth looking for. The best approach would
be to find a dark location and visually scan the horizon in the
direction of Vandenberg. Once you spot the vehicle, you could switch
over to tripod mounted binoculars or an astronomical telescope to
follow the remainder of the flight.

A few launch enthusiasts may try to observe tonight's launch from the
observatory parking lot at Moorpark College. If you're in the area,
you might want to join them.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

			BACKGROUND INFORMATION

For additional information about the Vandenberg Scud launches, go to

	http://home.earthlink.net/~kd6nrp/library.htm

and look for the link titled "scud.mp3".

-----------------------------------------------------------------------