[Launch Alert] Wednesday Minuteman Launch

[Brian Webb]

                             LAUNCH ALERT

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

				              2005 March 20 (Sunday) 20:29 PST
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                     WEDNESDAY MINUTEMAN LAUNCH

Weather permitting, sky watchers in southern California and outlying
areas have an opportunity to see the launch of a strategic missile
from Vandenberg AFB early Wednesday morning. The Minuteman III is
scheduled to lift-off from a silo at northwest Vandenberg at one
minute past midnight, the start of a launch window that extends from
00:01 to 06:01 PST (08:01 to 14:01 UTC).

The missile will send an unarmed warhead on a 4,800 mile flight to
the central Pacific. Approximately thirty minutes after launch the
warhead should reenter the atmosphere and arrive at its target at
Kwajalein atoll.

The missile is a mix of components from a Minuteman III that was on
alert in Montana and recently remanufactured stage 1, 2, and 3 solid
rocket motors. Remanufacturing involves the removal and replacement of
the motors' solid propellant in an effort to avoid "field ago out".

The Minuteman III is the mainstay of the U.S. land based strategic
missile force. The overhaul of the rocket motors is part of a larger
modernization program to extend the service life of the weapon system
to the year 2020.

The flight will provide data on the performance of the solid rocket
motors and the reliability and accuracy of the 500-missile Minuteman
III fleet.

Although Minuteman III night launches are usually visible over great
distances, Wednesday's display will be diminished by a bright sky
from a nearly full Moon. Observers in southern California should be
able to see the launch using just the naked eye. Those in outlying
areas may need optical assistance such as binoculars. For detailed
information on viewing Vandenberg launches, refer to
www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

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Copyright © 2005 Brian Webb. All rights reserved. This newsletter may
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