[Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule

Mon Oct 2 23:19:33 EDT 2006

                             LAUNCH ALERT

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

				             2006 October 2 (Monday) 20:07 PDT
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		       VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
		            As of 2006 October 1

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

NOV 4			06:00?			Delta IV		SLC-6
Payload is the DMSP F-17 military weather satellite. The launch time
is believed to be roughly 06:00 (sunrise), but this is only
speculation.

DEC 7			To be announced		Delta II		SLC-2W
Classified National Reconnaissance Office payload. The DoD will
announce the exact launch time several hours in advance. NROL-21

NET FEB		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. GT-193GM

NET MAR 15		To be announced		Delta II		SLC-2W
Payload is the Missile Defense Agency's Block 2010 satellite

MAR 29		Mid-day?			Pegasus XL		Offshore
Vehicle will be air-dropped from an L-1011 jumbo jet staged from
Vandenberg AFB. Payload is the AIM scientific satellite

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

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	                   ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS
			          2006 October
                Computed for Los Angeles, California

		  	  Time
  Date		(PST/PDT)		            Event
--------		---------		-----------------------------

OCT 6			20:13			Full Moon
Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night

OCT 13		17:26			Last Quarter Moon
Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon

OCT 16		07:27			Lunar Conjunction
The Moon passes 2.0° north of Saturn. Time of closest approach and
separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly
depending on your location

OCT 16		21:08			Mercury Eastern Elongation
Elusive Mercury attains its greatest angular separation from the Sun
and is visible low in the west at dusk.

OCT 21-22		---			Dark Sky Weekend
Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may
hold observing sessions at dark sites

OCT 21		22:14			New Moon
Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises
at sunrise and sets at sunset

OCT 22		23:46			Mars Conjunction
Mars passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.

OCT 24		00:40			Lunar Conjunction
The Moon passes 1.4° south of Mercury. Time of closest approach and
separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly
depending on your location

OCT 27		10:50			Venus Superior Conjunction
Venus passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.

OCT 29		02:00			Time Change
Standard Time begins. Set clocks back one hour

OCT 29		13:25			First Quarter Moon
Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight

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                   WHITE SANDS LAUNCH OBSERVATIONS

A Hera target missile was launched at 04:30 MDT on September 13 from
White Sands, New Mexico as part of a missile defense test. An anomaly
occurred shortly after launch and the vehicle had to be destroyed by
range safety.

The launch and its aftermath was visible over a wide area and the
Editor received the following reports:

Cranston Reid
Lubbock, Texas

"I was able to view the bright orange flame and glowing white exhaust
plume as it gained altitude at a surprising speed. I was approximately
250 miles east of the launch and saw only the one launch from what I
believe originated at the north end of the range. The time was around
5:32 am CDT. Although I had a camera with me, I was unable to find a
suitably dark location before the launch, so I have no photos of this.
The single white plume vanished in a few seconds and I saw no other
activity."

Dennis Collins
Fountain Hills, Arizona

"I got up late and only saw the smoke trail in the dawn sky.

One good thing, this tells me exactly what direction to look for White
Sands from Fountain Hills, AZ. And it also tells me that it will be
well up in the sky."

Chris Wagner of Queen Creek, Arizona photographed the sunlit exhaust
from the launch. His work is posted at www.spacearchive.info under
"Abort Aftermath".

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