[Launch Alert] Thursday Vandenberg Launch

[Brian Webb]

                             LAUNCH ALERT

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

				           2008 March 12 (Wednesday) 05:08 PDT
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                     THURSDAY VANDENBERG LAUNCH

An Atlas V booster carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload
is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg AFB tomorrow morning. The
Atlas is set to lift-off from Vandenberg sometime between 02:00 and
04:00 PDT.

Following lift-off, the Atlas will probably head southward and carry
its classified cargo into orbit.

Weather permitting, tomorrow's launch should be visible from King
City to coastal Orange County and 100 miles inland. That is a
conservative estimate and the event will likely be visible over a
much wider area.

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			        COUNTDOWN STATUS

Since the Atlas V will be carrying a classified payload for a U.S.
intelligence agency, live countdown audio and video may not be
available to the general public.

However, Space journalist Justin Ray usually provides current
countdown status for many launches on the Spaceflight Now web site.
He may do so for this launch as well. Point your browser to:

   http://www.spaceflightnow.com

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                        E-MAIL CONSIDERATIONS

In the days leading up to a launch, I'm often very busy and have a
hard time answering questions via e-mail. Many questions about launch
viewing and photography can be answered by reading the following
pages:

   www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

   www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm

Also, please DO NOT e-mail me any launch photos or video without
asking first.

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Copyright © 2008 Brian Webb. All rights reserved. This newsletter may
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be reprinted or posted elsewhere without prior permission.