[Launch Alert] Delta II Launch Scheduled

Sun May 3 17:42:40 EDT 2009

                             LAUNCH ALERT

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

                                     2009 May 3 (Sunday) 14:33 PDT
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                      DELTA II LAUNCH SCHEDULED
                     Vandenberg AFB News Release
                            2009 April 30

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A Delta II rocket is scheduled to
launch from Space Launch Complex-2 here, between 1:24 p.m. and 1:52
p.m. May 5.

The rocket will carry an experimental satellite into polar orbit to
perform the Missile Defense Agency's Space Tracking and Surveillance
System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction mission.

Col. Steve Winters, the 30th Space Wing vice commander, will be the
western range launch decision authority for this mission.

The purpose of the STSS ATRR mission will be to enhance MDA's
Ballistic Missile Defense System. It will serve at a space based
component of a multi-layered system designed to detect, track, and
intercept ballistic missiles.

Launch preparation is on schedule with the final launch rehearsal
scheduled for May 1; this shake-down run will be the final opportunity
to work out any lingering glitches, according to mission planners.

To perform this launch, 30th Space Wing personnel are working in
conjunction with the United Launch Alliance, NASA and MDA. 

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                   LAUNCH VISIBILITY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

The Delta II rocket launch scheduled for May 5 occurs during daylight.
Weather permitting, it should be visible for a distance of at least 75
miles from the launch site.

For information on launch viewing, go to:

  http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

For advice on launch photography, go to:

  http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm

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                          COUNTDOWN STATUS

A good source of countdown status for Tuesday's Delta II/STSS-ATRR
launch is the Spaceflight Now web site. Space journalist Justin Ray is
now providing current countdown status on a web page devoted to this
launch. Point your browser to:

  http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d341/status.html

On launch day, this page will be updated frequently beginning at about
T-1 hour. Be sure to regularly hit the refresh button on your browser
to see the latest information.

Because of the sensitive nature of the payload, there will probably
be no audio or video feeds of the launch available to the public.

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                        E-MAIL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Launch-Related Questions

   Many questions about launch viewing can be answered by re-reading
   your Launch Alert or consulting:

     www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

   For information regarding photographing launches, go to:

     www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm

2. Address Changes, Subscribing, and Unsubscribing

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   If you have made a good faith effort to manage your subscription,
   but are still having problems, please contact me at
   kd6nrp at earthlink.net.

3. Photographs

   If you have a launch or other photo that you would like to submit
   for publication on my web site, please observe the following
   guidelines:

   - Only submit images that are of publication quality or are in some
     way unique.

   - Limit the total size of your e-mail plus attachments to 1 MB

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