[Launch Alert] Thursday Missile Launch

[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
 				       
					   2003 February 5 (Wednesday) 06:00 PST
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				THURSDAY LAUNCH

A missile is set for launch tomorrow from Vandenberg AFB. The EKV
booster) Taurus Lite booster is set to lift-off from Vandenberg AFB at
13:00 PST, the start of a four hour launch window. After launch, the
vehicle will head west and fly a ballistic (non-orbital) trajectory.

The Taurus Lite is a prototype booster designed to launch the EKV
anti-missile interceptor. The EKV currently uses a surplus Minuteman
II upper stage as a booster.

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		The following is an Air Force news release

				TAURUS LITE LAUNCH

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team Vandenberg is set to launch
a new Orbital Sciences Corp. Taurus Lite vehicle Thursday to conduct
a booster test. The planned 4-hour launch window is scheduled for 1
to 5 p.m. PST.

This launch is in support of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense
program. The booster is a Taurus/Pegasus derivative with no payload,
which will be launched from a stool rather than a silo.

Detachment 9 is the launch agency with Capt. Carrie Brackett acting as
the test program manager for this launch.
Col. Wayne E. Louis is the launch commander or the final "go, no-go"
launch decision maker.
The Ground-Based Midcourse Defense program, formerly the National
Missile Defense Program, is managed by the Missile Defense Agency,
Washington, D.C.

This is the fourth Vandenberg launch for the agency this year.