[Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule

Sun Mar 2 21:37:18 EST 2008

                             LAUNCH ALERT

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

						   2008 March 2 (Sunday) 18:19 PST
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			 VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
				 As of 2008 March 2

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

Mid-March		To be announced	Atlas V		SLC-3E
Classified National Reconnaissance Office payload. Launch delayed from
FEB 29 to avoid debris from the FEB 20 intercept of a non-functional
U.S. satellite. The DoD will announce the exact launch time several
hours in advance. NROL-28

Spring		To be announced	TLV			---
The vehicle will fly a ballistic trajectory to an impact area in the
Pacific. The NFIRE satellite will observe the launch from orbit and
collect data for the U.S. missile defense system. The DoD will
announce the launch window a day in advance.

Spring		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.

Spring		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.

NET APR 17		To be announced	Delta II		SLC-2W
Vehicle will launch the Missile Defense Agency's STSS ATRR (STSS-2010)
payload

JUN 15		01:47			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.

JUL			To be announced	Atlas V		SLC-3E
Payload is the DMSP F-18 military weather satellite

Late AUG		To be announced	Delta IV		SLC-6
Classified National Reconnaissance Office payload. The DoD will
announce the exact launch time several hours in advance. NROL-25

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

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				 ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS
				     2008 March
		    Computed for Los Angeles, California

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

MAR 3			03:13			Mercury Western Elongation
Mercury attains its greatest angular separation from the Sun and is
visible low in the east at dawn.

MAR 5			06:00			Conjunction
The Moon passes 0.2° south of Mercury. Time of closest approach and
separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly
depending on your location

MAR 7			09:14			New Moon
Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises
at sunrise and sets at sunset

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

MAR 8			12:19			Uranus Conjunction
Uranus passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.

MAR 9			02:00			Time Change
Daylight Savings Time begins. Set clocks ahead one hour

MAR 14		03:46			First Quarter Moon
Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight

MAR 14		20:00			Conjunction
The Moon passes 1.7° north of Mars. Time of closest approach and
separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly
depending on your location

MAR 21		11:40			Full Moon
Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night

MAR 23		03:00			Conjunction
Mercury 1.0° south of Venus

MAR 29		14:47			Last Quarter Moon
Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon

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                                NEWS

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

  NROL-28 Launch Postponement
  http://www.spacearchive.info/

  DoD Intercepts Non-Functioning Satellite
  http://www.spacearchive.info/

  Ames Tests Kepler Image Detectors
  http://www.spacearchive.info/news-2008-02-19-arc.htm

  Navy to Engage Vandenberg Payload
  http://www.spacearchive.info/

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