[Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule

Tue Jul 31 21:33:44 EDT 2007

                             LAUNCH ALERT

			            Brian Webb
		         Ventura County, California
		             kd6nrp at earthlink.net
	               http://www.spacearchive.info

				              2007 July 31 (Tuesday) 18:13 PDT
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		       VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
			       As of 2007 July 31

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

Mid-SEP	To be announced		Delta II			SLC-2W
Payload is the Worldview 1 commercial Earth imaging satellite. The
booster will use the Delta-7420-10C configuration and insert the
payload into a sun-synchronous orbit

Summer?	To be announced		Minuteman III		---
The vehicle will probably send one or more unarmed warheads on a
ballistic trajectory to an impact area in the Central Pacific. The Air
Force will announce the launch date and window a few days in advance.

Fall		To be announced		GBI				---
An anti-missile interceptor launched from Vandenberg AFB will attempt
to intercept a mock warhead launched from Kodiak, Alaska. This test is
very similar to the test conducted on 2006 SEP 1. Test delayed from
December-January to allow for software changes and upgrades to the
interceptor. The test was attempted on MAY 25, but was aborted after
the target missile malfunctioned following launch.

NET NOV 8	To be announced		Delta II			SLC-2W
Payload is the Missile Defense Agency's Block 2010 satellite

2007?		To be announced		Delta II			SLC-2W
Payload is the GeoEye 1 commercial Earth imaging satellite. The
booster will use the Delta-7420-10C configuration and insert the
payload into a 425-mile (684-kilometer), 98°, sun-synchronous orbit
with a 10:30 a.m. equator crossing time

2007?		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
			           2007 August
                Computed for Los Angeles, California

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

AUG 5			14:20			Last Quarter Moon
Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon

AUG 11-12		---			Dark Sky Weekend
Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may
hold observing sessions at dark sites

AUG 12-13		00:00-04:40		Perseid Meteor Shower
Observers in dark locations should see several meteors per hour. The
shower is predicted to peak on AUG 12 at 22:00 PDT (AUG 13 05:00 UTC).

AUG 12		16:03			New Moon
Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises
at sunrise and sets at sunset

AUG 13		11:27			Neptune Opposition
Neptune is opposite the Sun with respect to Earth and rises at sunset.

AUG 15		12:57			Mercury Superior Conjunction
Mercury passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.

AUG 17		20:42			Venus Inferior Conjunction
Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun and is lost in the Sun's
glare.

AUG 17		22:00			Conjunction
The Moon passes 2.0° south of the star Spica. Time of closest approach
and separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary
significantly depending on your location

AUG 20		16:54			First Quarter Moon
Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight

AUG 21		03:14-04:46		Occultation
The Moon passes in front of the +2.9 magnitude star tau Scorpii. The
star disappears at 20:14:47 and reappears at 21:46:00. Time computed
for downtown Los Angeles and will vary for other locations

AUG 21		16:29			Saturn Conjunction
Saturn passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.

AUG 21		18:00			Conjunction
The Moon passes 0.7° south of Antares. Time of closest approach and
separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly
depending on your location

AUG 23		17:00			Conjunction
Mars 5° north of the star Aldebaran. Time of closest approach and
separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly
depending on your location

AUG 28		01:52-05:25		Total Lunar Eclipse
Moon enters umbra 01:52, totality begins 02:53, totality ends 04:24,
and Moon leaves umbra 05:25.

AUG 28		03:35			Full Moon
Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night

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                          WEB SITE UPDATES

The following news stories were recently added to the Space Archive
web site:

  Supergiant Star Spews Molecules Needed for Life
  http://www.spacearchive.info/news-2007-07-23-ua.htm

  Mercury Gleams in the Morning
  http://www.spacearchive.info

  START Exercise Preps Vandenberg for Inspectors' Visit
  http://www.spacearchive.info/news-2007-07-16-afspc.htm

  NASA Awards Upper Stage Engine Contract for Ares Rockets
  http://www.spacearchive.info/news-2007-07-16-nasa.htm

The Vandenberg AFB Rocket and Missile Launch Multimedia page was
recently posted to provide easy access to Vandenberg launch photos,
movies, video, and audio reports. To view the page, go to:

  http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbmultimedia.htm

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