[Launch Alert] Next Vandenberg Launch

[Brian Webb]

                             LAUNCH ALERT

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

				               2006 July 16 (Sunday) 11:27 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                       NEXT VANDENBERG LAUNCH

According to the public Vandenberg AFB web site, the next Vandenberg
launch is a Minuteman III on the morning of July 19 during a 01:01 to
07:01 PDT launch window. Although details of the launch haven't been
released, the ICBM will probably send one or more unarmed warheads on
a ballistic trajectory to Kwajalein in the Central Pacific.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

		       VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
			       As of 2006 July 15

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

JUL 19		01:01-07:01		    Minuteman III     LF-09
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.

Late Summer		To be announced	    Interceptor       ---
Missile defense test. A mock warhead will be launched from Kodiak,
Alaska followed by a Ground-Based Midcourse Interceptor from
Vandenberg AFB. The test is primarily for ground radar
characterization. Warhead intercept is not an objective, but may
occur. The DoD will announce the launch window several hours in
advance. FT-2

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

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

JAN			To be announced	    Atlas V           SLC-3E
Classified National Reconnaissance Office payload. The DoD will
announce the exact launch time several hours in advance. NRO L-28

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2006 Brian Webb. All rights reserved. This newsletter may
be distributed in its entirety without restriction. Excerpts may be
not be reprinted or posted elsewhere without prior permission.