[Launch Alert] Thursday Launch

[kd6nrp at earthlink.net]

Here are a few of notes about Thursday morning's Atlas V launch from Vandenberg:

1. Lift-off is scheduled for sometime between 02:00 and 04:00 PDT. Although one source has said this is the launch window, it may actually be the "launch period", a much larger time block within which the launch window falls.

2. The DoD typically releases the actual launch time several hours in advance. I only provide a launch time if it has been officially released to the public.

3. Weather may be a problem. This morning's weather forecast placed the probability of the weather being outside of acceptable limits at launch as 60%. If they scrub 24-hours, the forecast for Friday is worse with a pobability of violation of 80%.

4. A good source of information about this launch is www.spaceflightnow.com.

5. If you are thinking about driving to the Vandenberg area for the launch, you might want to read "Team rehearsals, new pad makes Atlas V ready for first launch" at http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123089715
The story discusses launch viewing.