[Launch Alert] Minuteman III Launched

Fri Jul 21 08:56:12 EDT 2006

                             LAUNCH ALERT

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

				               2006 July 21 (Friday) 05:51 PDT
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                  VANDENBERG LAUNCHES MINUTEMAN III
                     Vandenberg AFB News Release
                            2006 July 20

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An unarmed Minuteman III
intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from North Vandenberg
today at 3:14 a.m.

The launch was part of an operational test to determine the weapon
system’s reliability and accuracy. This launch also exercised U.S.
Strategic Command's Airborne Launch Control System which flies on a
U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft.

The missile's three unarmed re-entry vehicles traveled approximately
4,200 miles before hitting their pre-determined targets at the Reagan
Test Site located in the Marshall Islands.

Col. John Raymond, 30th Operations Group commander, was the spacelift
commander.

Lt. Col. S.L. Davis, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander, was the
mission director for this launch.

"This mission continues a long string of successful ICBM flight tests
from Vandenberg," Colonel Davis said. “It clearly demonstrates the
capability of both the Minuteman III weapon system and those who
maintain and operate it, to include the hundreds of professionals
across the Department of Defense who are critical to each mission's
success."

The reliability and accuracy data will also be used by United States
Strategic Command planners.

"This launch marks the first mission commanded from Vandenberg’s new
Western Range Operations Control Center," Colonel Raymond said. "This
is a significant milestone for the Western Range, representing a
tremendous amount of work by the 30th SW, the Space and Missile
Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, our range contractors and our
mission partners in the 576th FLTS."

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              SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASTRONOMY EXPOSITION

           Astronomy Exhibition at Oceanside Photo and
           Telescope (OPT) in Oceanside, California coming
           July 22 and 29. It is among the largest annual
           astronomy expos in Southern California.

             Oceanside Photo and Telescope News Release
                            2006 July 14

Oceanside, CA -- Some of the biggest names in the astronomy community
will gather here this month for the second annual Southern California
Astronomy Exposition hosted by Oceanside Photo and Telescope (OPT),
located at 918 Mission Ave., in Oceanside, CA.

The free exhibition, which attracted 800 visitors last year, is open
to the public, and will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 22
and 29 on the grounds of OPT's 15,000-square foot facility. The expo
is one of the largest annual astronomy events in Southern California.

A series of six astronomy-related seminars, which are scheduled for
July 29, will be held in OPT's new permanent Underground Photo
Gallery. The industrial-chic gallery opened in early July with a
variety of works by acclaimed local photographers specializing in
nouveau art, portraiture, sports in action, composite and landscape
photography.

Expo seminars on July 22 include "Southern Nights, Northern Lights,"
conducted by Dennis Mammana, a former astronomy writer from the San
Diego Union-Tribune and author of six books on astronomy. Also
included in the lineup is Gary Palmer, a published imager who will
speak on observing the sun. At the end of the day, guests are invited
to participate in a free "star party" at the San Pasqual Historic
Battlefield in Escondido, where telescopes will be provided.

The expo continues in OPT’s parking lot on July 29, with more than 20
different manufactures from the telescope and optical industries
conducting equipment demonstrations and various presentations in
astronomy geared for both novice and expert stargazers. Participating
companies include Meade, Celestron, Cannon and Nikon. More than
$12,000 worth of telescopes and astronomy-related items will be
raffled off. And food and beverages will also be served.

Oceanside Photo and Telescope, founded in 1947, remains Southern
California's largest, most established supplier of cameras and
telescopes. The store’s web site is: www.optcorp.com.

Interviews with OPT owner Craig Weatherwax, or exposition astronomers
can be arranged by calling Frank Sabatini Jr. at 619-543-9544 or OPT
at 800-483-6287.

This story was originally titled "Southern California Astronomy
Exhibition At Oceanside Photo And Telescope July 22 and 29 Visual
Seminars; Nighttime Sky Viewings for Visitors of All Ages" - Editor

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