[Launch Alert] Monday Vandenberg Launch

[Brian Webb]

                             LAUNCH ALERT

			            Brian Webb
		         Ventura County, California
		        E-mail: kd6nrp@earthlink.net
	         Web Site: http://www.spacearchive.info

				              2004 April 18 (Sunday) 08:13 PDT
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                      MONDAY VANDENBERG LAUNCH

A Delta II booster carrying NASA's Gravity Probe B scientific
satellite is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg AFB tomorrow
morning. The Delta is set to lift-off from Vandenberg at 10:01:20 PDT,
the start of a one-second launch window.

Following lift-off, the Delta II will head southward. Several minutes
later the vehicle will place Gravity Probe B into a polar orbit.
Weather permitting, tomorrow's launch could be visible from Paso
Robles to coastal Orange County.

For further information on this launch and the Gravity Probe B
mission, go to the following locations:

  www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/delta/delta2/gp-b/msn_info.htm

  www.gravityprobeb.com

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			        COUNTDOWN STATUS

The best source of countdown status for the Delta II/Gravity Probe B
launch is the Spaceflight Now web site. Space journalist Justin Ray is
now providing current countdown status on a web page devoted to this
launch. Point your browser to:

  www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d304/status.html

On launch day, this page will be updated frequently beginning at about
T-1 hour. Be sure to regularly hit the refresh button on your browser
to see the latest information.

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		       VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
			       As of 2004 April 18

		  Launch
		Time/Window
  Date	 (PST/PDT)		   Vehicle		Pad/Silo
--------	-----------		-------------	--------

APR 19	10:01:20		Delta II		SLC-2W
Payload is NASA's Gravity Probe B satellite. Launch delayed from April
17th to 19th to troubleshoot an apparent short in launch pad ground
support equipment. Backup launch dates and times are: April 20 09:57,
April 22 09:49, April 23 09:45 PDT

MAY		Late morning	Taurus		SLC-576E
Payload is Taiwan's ROCSAT-2 satellite

JUN?		01:01-07:01		Minuteman III	LF-09
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one warhead (probably a
Mk-12). Impact area is in the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein in the
central Pacific. Postponed following two unsuccessful launch attempts
on March 24th. Vehicle may be launched separately or launched during
the same window as the Minuteman III scheduled for June 9th. Glory
Trip 184GM

JUN 9		01:01-07:01		Minuteman III	LF-10
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one or more unarmed
warheads (probably Mk-12). Impact area is in the Reagan Test Site at
Kwajalein in the central Pacific. Glory Trip 185GM

JUN 17	03:01:48		Delta II		SLC-2W
Payload is NASA's AURA scientific satellite

JUL 21	01:01-07:01		Peacekeeper		LF-02
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is unarmed warheads (probably
Mk-21). Impact area is in the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein in the
central Pacific. Glory Trip 33PA?

AUG-SEP	10:00-13:00		Falcon I		SLC-3W
Payload is the Naval Research Laboratory's TacSat-1 satellite. The
launch window is fixed and does not change if the launch date changes.

SEP 15	01:01-07:01		Minuteman III	LF-04
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one or more unarmed
warheads (probably Mk-12). Impact area is in the Reagan Test Site at
Kwajalein in the central Pacific. Glory Trip 185GM?

SEP 18	~03:22		Delta II		SLC-2W
Payload is NOAA N environmental satellite. Launch time is based on
informed speculation

OCT 18	Unannounced		Pegasus XL		Offshore
Payload is DART satellite

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                              ON THE WEB

Launch Alert reader Jason Hatton imaged last month's rare triple jovian
transit shadow transit. His superb images were used to create a movie
of the event. The animation is posted at:

   www.skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1241_1.asp

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Copyright � 2004 Brian Webb. All rights reserved. This newsletter may
be distributed in its entirety without restriction. Excerpts may be
reprinted elsewhere without permission if the source is clearly
identified as follows:

  Reprinted from Launch Alert (www.spacearchive.info/newsletter.htm)