[Launch Alert] Tuesday Rocket Launch
Brian Webb
[email protected]
Sun, 30 Nov 2003 17:29:37 -0800
ASTRONOMY/SPACE ALERT FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Brian Webb
Ventura County, California
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.spacearchive.info
Reaching more than 2,350 e-mail addresses worldwide
2003 November 30 (Sunday) 17:07 PST
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TUESDAY ROCKET LAUNCH
An Atlas IIas rocket is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg AFB early
Tuesday morning, December 2nd. The launch will place a classified
payload into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office.
The launch window is classified, but it falls between 01:00 - 05:00
PST. The Air Force is expected to announce the exact launch time
tomorrow.
Following lift-off, the vehicle will climb into the night sky, head
towards the east-southeast, and follow the coastline of the U.S.,
Mexico, and Central America.
Payload separation will occur about an hour after launch over the
Indian Ocean or Central Asia.
For more information on this mission, go to:
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/ac164/031128preview.html
http://www.ilslaunch.com/launches/cbin/Mission_Overview/atlas/mlv14_mo.pdf
Countdown status will be posted at:
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/ac164/status.html
If you visit the above web page on launch day, be sure to press your
browser's reload button frequently to see the latest information.
The National Reconnaissance web site contains information about the
agency along with declassified reconnaissance photos. The address is:
www.nro.gov
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LAUNCH OBSERVING TIPS
The Atlas II will probably be fairly bright during its boost (launch)
phase. Weather permitting the launch should be visible to the unaided
eye for at least 200 miles.
Although the naked eye is a good instrument for viewing the launch,
you'll see much more if you use optical assistance. Binocular are
good, but tripod-mounted binoculars are even better. An astronomical
telescope will provide the best view.
One of the more interesting aspects of the launch occurs at T+01:59
and 02:02 when the vehicle's spent solid rocket motors are jettisoned.
The motors will still be burning as they tumble, creating flashing
points of light.
If you see the launch, be sure to send me a detailed report.
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VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
As of 2003 November 30
Launch
Time/Window
Date (PST/PDT) Vehicle Pad/Silo
-------- ----------- ---------- --------
DEC 2 01:00-05:00 Atlas II SLC-3E
Payload is a classified National Reconnaissance Office satellite(s).
The actual launch window is classified, but falls between 01:00 and
05:00 PST. The Air Force should announce the actual launch time the
day before launch. NROL-18
JAN 14 Unannounced Taurus SLC-576E
Payload is Taiwan's ROCSAT-2 satellite
MAR Unannounced Minuteman III LF-09
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is unarmed warheads. Impact
area is in the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein in the central Pacific.
GT-184GM
MAR 19 Unannounced Delta II SLC-2W
Payload is NASA's AURA scientific satellite
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Southern California Astronomical Events
for 2003 December
Time
Date (PST/PDT) Event
-------- ----------- -----------------------------------
DEC 7 19:08-20:13* Lunar Occultation
The Moon occults (passes in front of) the star Upsilon Tauri. Star
disappears at 19:08 and reappears at 20:13.
http://www.planetkc.com/bobgraze/2003d.zip
DEC 8 12:37 Full Moon
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.html
DEC 8 22:00 Mercury Greatest Eastern Elongation
Elusive Mercury attains its maximum angular separation from the Sun.
Look for the planet low in the west at dusk. RASC Observer's
Handbook 2003, pg. 99
DEC 14 02:00-06:00 Meteor Shower
Geminid meteor shower. RASC Observer's Handbook 2003, pg. 223
DEC 16 09:42 Last Quarter Moon
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.html
DEC 20-21 --- Dark Sky Weekend
Optimum time this month for observing faint objects. Amateur
astronomers will congregate at dark observing sites
DEC 23 01:43 New Moon
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.html
DEC 26 17:00 Mercury Inferior Conjunction
Mercury is on the near side of the Sun relative to Earth and is lost
in the Sun's glare. RASC Observer's Handbook 2003, pg. 99
DEC 30 02:03 First Quarter Moon
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.html
DEC 31 13:00 Saturn Opposition
Saturn is opposite the Sun with respect to Earth. Look for a semi-
bright, beige-colored object low in the east after dark. RASC
Observer's Handbook 2003, pg. 99
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TIME FORMAT
All times in this newsletter are given in Pacific Time using a 24-hour
format similar to military time*. Under this system, regular time is
expressed as follows:
24-hour
Regular Time Format
--------------------- -------
12:00 a.m. (midnight) 00:00
6:00 a.m. 06:00
12:00 p.m. (noon) 12:00
6:00 p.m. 18:00
No distinction is made between Pacific Standard Time and Pacific
Daylight Time.
For assistance in converting military time to regular time, go to:
http://www.spacearchive.info/military.htm
* Military time doesn't use colons to separate hours, minutes, and
seconds. In this newsletter colons are inserted for clarity.
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GLOSSARY
GT- Glory Trip. Name given to strategic missile test launches
(GT-183GB, etc.)
LF- Launch facility. A missile silo (such as LF-10).
PDT Pacific Daylight Time
PST Pacific Standard Time
RASC Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
SLC- Space Launch Complex. A launch pad (SLC-2W for example).
T+ Elapsed time since launch