[Launch Alert] Friday Morning Launch

[Brian Webb]

                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
			           Brian Webb
		         Ventura County, California
		            kd6nrp at earthlink.net
	               http://www.spacearchive.info
		       
				          2008 June 19 (Thursday) 05:58 PDT
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                      FRIDAY VANDENBERG LAUNCH

A Delta II rocket carrying the OSTM/Jason-2 oceanographic satellite
is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg AFB early Friday morning. The
Delta is set to lift-off from Space Launch Complex 2-West during a
launch window that extends from 00:46:25 to 00:55:25 PDT.

Following lift-off, the Delta will head southward and insert its
payload into a 1,317 x 1,329 km initial orbit with an inclination of
66°.

If the weather is clear, Friday's launch should be visible from King
City to coastal Orange County and 100 miles inland.

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			            RESOURCES

Space journalist Justin Ray provides current countdown status for many
launches on the Web. He may do so for this launch as well. Point your
browser to:

   http://www.spaceflightnow.com

NASA TV will cover the mission. Coverage of launch countdown will
begin at 10:45 p.m. PDT, tonight. Coverage will be webcast at:

   http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

TV coverage of the OSTM/Jason 2 launch also will be available on 
satellite AMC-6, transponder 12.

Extensive prelaunch and launch day coverage of the OSTM/Jason 2 
mission will be available on the NASA Web site at:

   http://www.nasa.gov

A prelaunch webcast is set for 9 a.m. PDT today. The webcast will 
give visitors a close-up look at the mission, including how the 
countdown will unfold, what goes into a launch and why the spacecraft 
will be sent into orbit from California. Launch and mission experts 
will talk about the mission and what similar spacecraft have told us 
about Earth's oceans.

Tonight, live countdown coverage on NASA's launch blog begins at 
10:45 p.m. PDT. Coverage features real-time updates of countdown 
milestones, as well as streaming video clips highlighting launch 
preparations and liftoff.

To access these interactive features, go to NASA's OSTM/Jason 2 
mission Web site at:

http://www.nasa.gov/ostm

For information about launch viewing and photography, refer to the
following pages:

   www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

   www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm

For detailed information about the OSTM/Jason-2 mission, go to:

   Launch Press Kit

   http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press_kits/jason-2.pdf

   OSTM Science Writers Guide

   http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/226999main_OSTM_SWG_final.pdf

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