[Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule

[Brian Webb]

                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
					Brian Webb
			   Ventura County, California
				 kd6nrp at earthlink.net
			   http://www.spacearchive.info
		       
			                   2008 June 1 (Sunday) 18:33 PDT
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			 VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
				  As of 2008 June 1

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

JUN 15	01:47-01:56			Delta II		SLC-2W
Delta II 7320 launch vehicle configuration. Payload is the
OSTM/Jason-2 scientific satellite. Spacecraft will enter a 1336 km,
circular, non-sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 66°. The
ground track will repeat every 10 days. 

AUG 22	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-km), 98°, sun-synchronous orbit with a
10:30 a.m. equator crossing time 

Fall		To be announced		GBI			---
Scenario calls for the launch of a mock warhead from Kodiak, Alaska
followed by a Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) from Vandenberg AFB. The
DoD will announce the launch time several hours in advance. 

Unk		To be announced		Delta II		SLC-2W
Vehicle will launch the Missile Defense Agency's STSS ATRR (STSS-2010)
payload 

Unk		Mid-morning?		Atlas V		SLC-3E
Payload is the DMSP F-18 military weather satellite 

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				 ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS
					2008 June
		    Computed for Los Angeles, California

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

JUN 1-2		---			Dark Sky Weekend
Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may
hold observing sessions at dark sites 

JUN 3			06:00			Large Tides
Moon at perigee. Large tides 

JUN 3			12:23			New Moon
Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises
at sunrise and sets at sunset 

JUN 7			08:27			Mercury Inferior Conjunction
Mercury passes between the Earth and the Sun and is lost in the Sun's
glare. 

JUN 7			19:00			Conjunction
The Moon passes 1.1° south of Mars. Time of closest approach and
separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly
depending on your location 

JUN 8			21:19			Venus Superior Conjunction
Venus passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare. 

JUN 10		08:04			First Quarter Moon
Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight 

JUN 18		10:30			Full Moon
Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night 

JUN 20		06:00			Conjunction
The Moon passes 3° south of Jupiter. Time of closest approach and
separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly
depending on your location 

JUN 26		05:10			Last Quarter Moon
Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon 

JUN 28-29		---			Dark Sky Weekend
Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may
hold observing sessions at dark sites 

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Copyright © 2008 Brian Webb. All rights reserved. This newsletter may
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