[Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule

Sat Sep 1 12:36:02 EDT 2007

                             LAUNCH ALERT

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

				         2007 September 1 (Saturday) 09:30 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

		       VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
			      As of 2007 September 1

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

SEP 18		11:35-11:49			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.

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

FEB 21		To be announced		Delta II		  SLC-2W
Payload is the Missile Defense Agency's Block 2010 satellite

JAN-MAR		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

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

				ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS
				   2007 September
		    Computed for Los Angeles, California

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

SEP 2			23:16			Occultation
The Moon passes in front of the +4.4 magnitude star 19 Tauri. The star
reappears at 23:16:15. The disappearance is not visible. Time computed
for downtown Los Angeles and will vary for other locations

SEP 2			23:23			Occultation
The Moon passes in front of the +4.0 magnitude star 20 Tauri. The star
reappears at 23:23:28. The disappearance is not visible. Time computed
for downtown Los Angeles and will vary for other locations

SEP 3			19:32			Last Quarter Moon
Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon

SEP 8-9		---			Dark Sky Weekend
Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may
hold observing sessions at dark sites

SEP 9			11:47			Uranus Opposition
Uranus is opposite the Sun with respect to Earth and rises at sunset.

SEP 11		05:44			New Moon
Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises
at sunrise and sets at sunset

SEP 19		09:48			First Quarter Moon
Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight

SEP 22		02:00			Conjunction
Mercury 0.08° north of Spica. Time of closest approach and separation
computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly depending
on your location

SEP 23		16:00			Venus Maximum Brightness
The planet Venus attains its maximum brightness

SEP 26		12:45			Full Moon
Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night

SEP 29		09:10			Mercury Eastern Elongation
Mercury attains its greatest angular separation from the Sun and is
visible low in the west at dusk.

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

                          WEB SITE UPDATES

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

  Boeing to Study Conventional ICBM
  http://www.spacearchive.info/index.htm

  Scientists Find Elusive Waves in Sun's Corona
  http://www.spacearchive.info/news-2007-08-27-ncar.htm

  Palomar Sky Survey Featured in Google Sky
  http://www.spacearchive.info/news-2007-08-22-cit.htm

  Launch Update and Media Advisory
  http://www.spacearchive.info/index.htm

  Launch Update
  http://www.spacearchive.info/index.htm

  Speeding-Bullet Star Leaves Enormous Streak Across Sky
  http://www.spacearchive.info/news-2007-08-15-jpl.htm

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

          VANDENBERG LAUNCH IMAGES, VIDEO, AND AUDIO FILES

If you haven't already done so, be sure to visit my Vandenberg AFB
Rocket and Missile Launch Multimedia page. From there you can access
Vandenberg launch images, video, and audio files. Point your browser
to:

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

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