[Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule

Wed Oct 14 23:04:33 EDT 2009

                             LAUNCH ALERT

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

                             2009 October 14 (Wednesday) 19:58 PDT
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                   VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
                       As of 2009 October 14

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

OCT 18         09:12-09:22              Atlas V         SLC-3E
Payload is the DMSP F18 military weather satellite.  

DEC 7          06:10-06:23              Delta II        SLC-2W
Payload is the WISE scientific satellite. Launch occurs before
Sunrise and may provide a Twilight Effect  

Unknown        To be announced          GBI             ---
Missile defense Ground-based Interceptor. Delayed from SEP 27  

Unknown        Evening                  Minotaur IV     SLC-8
First-ever Minotaur IV launch. Payload is the Space-Based Space
Surveillance (SBSS) satellite.  

The above schedule is a composite of unclassified information
approved for public release from government, industry, and other
sources. It represents the Editor's best effort to produce a schedule,
but may disagree with other sources. Details on military launches are
withheld until they are approved for public release. For official
information regarding Vandenberg AFB activities, go to
http://www.vandenberg.af.mil.

All launch dates and times are given in Pacific Time using a 24-hour
format similar to military time (midnight = 00:00, 1:00 p.m. = 13:00,
11:00 p.m. = 23:00, etc.). 

The dates and times in this schedule may not agree with those on other
online launch schedules, including the official Vandenberg AFB
schedule because different sources were used, the information was
interpreted differently, and the schedules were updated at different
times.

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                       ATLAS V LAUNCH VIEWING

In the last issue of Launch Alert, I asked readers for their
suggestions on where to view Sunday morning's Atlas V launch from
Vandenberg AFB. The following are a selection of the responses I
received.

"There is a fantastic spot for viewing Atlas launches that I've used
in the past.  It's North on Hwy 1 about 1.5 miles from the North
entrance of the base. It's at the top of the hill before heading out
of the area and it's on a small road called 'Firefighter road'. If you
take a right (east) and head up the hill for a bit you will see an oil
rig on the left with a parking lot around it (usually with a slew of
launch enthusiast). You will also see a tracking camera above the lot
where you can receive launch countdown audio from. You can see the
launch pad clearly from this vantage point. Also, the engines point
right at your skeleton when it turns south for some bone rattling
fun."

"Does that Atlas launch from South Base? If so, and if you can't get
any closer, you could always go to one of the turn-outs up on Harris
Grade Rd..  That's about as high as you can get in the valley."

"Best I've found for the south base SLCs is from Harris Grade, I think
it's Hwy 135, the old road from Santa Maria to Lompoc. There's a
couple sizable turnouts - you can see across the valley to the
gantries with field glasses or telescope. A great view of ignition and
liftoff, sans fog of course."

"Brian, Starting at the local airport on Harris Grade Road and looking
southwest, the launch pads (SLC 3 / SLC 6 Plus one other?) are visible
from this highway for about a mile. Likewise these same launch pads
are visible from Highway 1 as it turns off Harris Grade and heads
north toward VAFB. There is ample space to park along the shoulder in
several areas. "

"Top of Harris Grade north of Lompoc"

"The pad is on the north side of south base. I'd guess that Ocean Ave
out by the flower fields might provide a view. May be a poor view
though due to it's low elevation relative to SLC-3...

Spaceport Park by Hancock college may be a good vantage point. I
don't recall if you can see SLC-3 from there, but that location is at
a fair elevation... Would likely get a nice view of initial climb and
kickover.

Good bet in general is to find a high spot on the north side of the
base. Highway 1 near Vandenberg Village comes to mind. I know you can
see the SLC when you're driving along hwy 1 around the Village area
-- just look south for the white rectangular tower south of Ocean."

"This launch will be a bit awkward, certainly; all the SLCs south of
the river are tougher than the northern ones.

I am assuming that Ocean Avenue will be closed at the usual place west
of Lompoc.  With that in mind, I have four ideas...

One: get as close as you can on Ocean Avenue.  I have watched launches
from SLC-2 from Union Sugar Road, just north of Ocean. That should
still work for this launch, although the flight trajectory will be
heading away from the viewer. If nothing else, you should hear it
pretty good!

Two: go to River Park, just east of Lompoc, off the 246.  My wife and
I watched a launch (can't recall the vehicle) some years ago from
there.  The view was very good, and it was quite loud, once the sound
got to us.  This launch from one of the SLCs south of Surf.

Three: if San Miguelito Canyon Road ('I' Street in Lompoc) is open,
viewing from the park might be fairly good. Elevation is about 600
feet, although there is a 1200 foot ridge due west. Still, once the
rocket is up, this might well be the best viewing area around. If I
make it out to Lompoc, this is where I plan to go. If not this time,
at some future launch I will watch from there, and I'll let you know
how it goes.

Four: anywhere along the coast east of Point Conception. Jalama Beach
is likely to be closed for this launch, but Gaviota SP, or any of the
pullouts and beach access points along US 101 from Gaviota east to
Goleta, or even east of there, should provide viewing of at least
some of the launch. I watched the Delta II launch last Thursday from
Spanish Hills in Camarillo, and with my 11x80 binox, had a nice view
of about 45-60 seconds of flight. I didn't get the best photos in the
world, but at more than 100 kilometers away, that's hardly a surprise.
The Atlas is bigger, so even from out here, the view should be good.
If one is willing to hike, there is a trail just *east* of the 101, at
the end of the frontage road south of the CA 1 junction (I think it
costs $5 to park there) that gets one up to over 1000 of elevation. 
One of these days, I'll have to drive the old rutted section of
Refugio Road (high-clearance only!) north of the beach, to see if the
 view from Camino Cielo is any good for a launch.

Bottom line, I think there are lots of options. None are optimal, but
most of them are certainly very serviceable."

"Perhaps the easiest location would be down West Ocean to Lasalle
Canyon and park in the Surf Amtrak station parking lot. I think that's
about as close as you can get. You might not be able to see the pad
and the actual liftoff but you would be able to see it immediately
after liftoff."

"It really depends on where they close hwy 246 and the wx"

"I was able to sit along Ocean Ave just before you cross between the 2
bases entrances"

"Jalama Beach - last I checked they were not evacuating..."

"I would think that even with the Southern launch pad location, the
Golf Course or the Ronald Regan observation area on Coral Road would
still provide good viewing.  I'm fairly sure Hyw 246 out to Surf will
be resticted...  I understand that Jalama Beach to the south may be
subjected to restrictions too, but I'm sure would provide a unique
view...."

Lift-off will occur from Space Launch Complex 3-East (SLC-3E), which
is on the southern part of the base. Although I can't offer any
specific guidance on where to go, I can give the following advice:

  - Put safety first and be aware of potential hazards around you
    (such as passing traffic)

  - Do not trespass

  - Obey all local, state, and federal laws

  - Follow the instructions of law enforcement, Air Force security
    personnel, and property owners

  - Heed all signs

  - Avoid loitering near the base

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