[Launch Alert] X-43A Flight Delayed

[Brian Webb]

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

	  Reaching more than 2,420 e-mail addresses worldwide
 				       
				           2004 February 15 (Sunday) 07:48 PST
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                        X-43A FLIGHT DELAYED

The February 21st reflight of NASA's X-43A hypersonic research vehicle
appears to have been delayed for at least a week due to a booster
software issue. Designed to demonstrate air-breathing engine
technology at speeds above Mach 5, the unmanned X-43A is now scheduled
to fly no earlier than February 28th.

On launch day, observers may be able to spot the contrails from the
F-18 chase planes and the B-52 bomber carrying the X-43A/Pegasus
booster combination as they fly from Edwards AFB to the launch point
offshore. The contrails from the chase planes and mother ship may
also be visible as they return to Edwards.

There's a good chance that favorably placed observers will also see
the smoke trail from the Pegasus booster as it pushes the X-43A to its
operating altitude of 95,000 feet. In addition, suitably equipped
radio enthusiasts across a wide area should be able to hear radio
communications from the F-18s and the B-52.

The X-43's first flight occurred in June of 2001. The release from the
B-52 was normal, but the flight was terminated by ground controllers
when the Pegasus booster/X-43A went out of control shortly after
booster ignition.

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		       VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
		           As of 2004 February 15

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

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.
Glory Trip 184GM 

APR 17	10:09:12		Delta II		SLC-2W
Payload is NASA's Gravity Probe B satellite 

MAY 13	Unannounced		Falcon I		SLC-3W
Payload is the Naval Research Laboratory's TacSat-1 satellite 

JUN		Unannounced		Minuteman III	LF-10
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is unarmed warheads. Impact
area is in the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein in the central Pacific.
Glory Trip 185GM 

JUN 20	Unannounced		Delta II		SLC-2W
Payload is NASA's AURA scientific satellite 

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		                  GLOSSARY

Glory Trip	Name given to strategic missile test launches
LF-		Launch facility. A missile silo (such as LF-10)
PDT		Pacific Daylight Time
PST		Pacific Standard Time
SLC-		Space Launch Complex. A launch pad (SLC-2W for example)