[Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule

[Brian Webb]

                             LAUNCH ALERT

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

				         2006 February 16 (Thursday) 19:06 PST
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		       VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
			     As of 2006 February 16

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

FEB 28	05:57:21-07:19:21		Pegasus XL		Offshore
Payload is JPL's SpaceTech 5 microsatellites. Airborne launch with a
target drop time of 06:02 PST. Possible twilight effect because launch
window opens during morning twilight and payload will be placed in a
2,800-mile-high orbit.
Flight Simulation No. 4, an integrated test with the ST5 spacecraft
and the Pegasus rocket, completed FEB 8. The flight termination
system, avionics batteries and ST5 logo installed. Final functional
testing and spacecraft closeouts was scheduled for FEB 11-12. The
three-day operation to install the Pegasus vehicle fairing around the
ST5 slated to start FEB 14. Pegasus will be mated to its transporter
on FEB 20 and moved to Vandenberg's runway for mating to the Orbital
Sciences L-1011 carrier jet aircraft on FEB 24.

MAR 30	Unknown			Minotaur		SLC-8
Payload is COSMIC and Taiwan's FORMOSAT-3 scientific satellites

APR		~03:00			Delta II		SLC-2W
Payload is the CloudSat and CALIPSO environmental satellites

APR 7		To be announced		Minuteman III	---
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one or more unarmed
warheads. Impact area is the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein in the
central Pacific. The Air Force will announce the launch window a few
days in advance.

APR-JUN	10:00-13:00?		Falcon I		SLC-3W
Payload is the Naval Research Laboratory's TacSat-1 satellite. The
vehicle will carry the ashes of U.S. astronaut Gordon Cooper, Star
Trek actor James "Scotty" Doohan and several other people into space.
The launch window is fixed and does not change if the launch date
changes.

APR-JUN?	To be announced		Minuteman III	---
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one or more unarmed
warheads. Impact area is the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein in the
central Pacific. The Air Force will announce the launch window a few
days in advance.

JUL-SEP?	To be announced		Minuteman III	---
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one or more unarmed
warheads. Impact area is the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein in the
central Pacific. The Air Force will announce the launch window a few
days in advance.

2006		To be announced		Delta IV		SLC-6
Classified National Reconnaissance Office payload. The DoD will
announce the exact launch time several hours in advance. NRO L-22

2006		To be announced		Delta IV		SLC-6
Payload is the DMSP F-17 military weather satellite

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