[Launch Alert] Next Vandenberg Launch

Tue Dec 12 22:41:30 EST 2006

                             LAUNCH ALERT

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

			                2006 December 12 (Tuesday) 19:36 PST
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                       NEXT VANDENBERG LAUNCH

The next Vandenberg AFB rocket launch is a Delta II carrying a
classified National Reconnaissance Office payload on December 14
sometime between 11:30 and 17:00 PST. Note that 11:30-17:00 is the
launch period, a large time block within which the launch window
falls. The Defense Department will announce the exact launch time
several hours in advance.

Following lift-off, the vehicle will climb vertically for several
seconds and then head southward. Weather permitting, the launch may be
visible for more than 100 miles due to the bright orange flames and
white smoke from the nine solid rocket motors strapped to the Delta's
first stage.

The weather forecast is calling for 50% cloudcover at 1,500 to 2,200
feet and 50% cloudcover at 27,000 to 30,000 feet. The probability of
acceptable weather at launch time is 60%.

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			        COUNTDOWN STATUS

The Spaceflight Now web site might provide countdown status for
Thursday's launch. Point your browser to:

   www.spaceflightnow.com

Boeing may offer a webcast of the launch. To search for a webcast,
go to:

   www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/delta/delta2/delta2.htm

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                        E-MAIL CONSIDERATIONS

In the days leading up to a launch, I'm often very busy and have a
hard time answering questions via e-mail. Many questions about launch
viewing and photography can be answered by reading the following
pages:

   www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

   www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm

Following a launch, I receive anywhere from a handful to literally
hundreds of e-mails. However, just when I may be under a deadline and
trying to send an important e-mail, I can be flooded with incoming
launch observations and photos any my e-mail access incapacitated.

To prevent any problems, I ask that you do the following:

   - Only send images that are of high quality

   - Send no more than three images

   - Do not send any photo, video, or other attachments larger than
     750 kB.

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