[Launch Alert] Vandenberg Launch Delayed

[kd6nrp at earthlink.net]

Friday evening's launch of a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg AFB has been delayed.

The Delta was scheduled to leave Vandenberg tomorrow at 7:20 p.m. during a 1-second launch window and carry an Italian Earth imaging satellite into orbit.

The launch was delayed until Sunday evening. The launch time is the same: 7:20 p.m.

Liftoff occurs about an hour after sunset at Vandenberg AFB. Barring any clouds or fog, the launch should be visible for hundreds of miles. However, the launch will occur too long after sundown for the Sun to illumunate the first stage's exhause plume.

The Delta will climb out of the Earth's shadow just after MECO (cutoff of the first stage main engine). Although the rocket will be in sunlight during the second stage burn, the second stage exhaust plume typically does not produce a Twilight Effect.

Brian Webb


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Delta II COSMO - SkyMed 4 Mission Rescheduled for Oct. 31
United Launch Alliance Statement

Vandenberg AFB, Calif., (Oct. 28, 2010) - The launch of Delta II COSMO-SkyMed 4 (Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation) mission has been rescheduled for Sunday, Oct. 31 with a launch time of 7:20 p.m. PDT.  Previously, the launch was scheduled for Friday, Oct. 29.  During final preparations Wednesday to ready the Delta II rocket for flight, a sample from the propellant to be loaded into the Delta II to power it during flight failed to meet established standards. 

To allow engineers the additional time required to correct this issue, the scheduled Friday launch attempt was delayed 48 hours.  Updates to the COSMO SkyMed-4 mission status will be issued as new information becomes available. United Launch Alliance provides the Delta II launch vehicle and mission services under a commercial launch service contract administered by Boeing Launch Services for Thales Alenia Space-Italia (TAS-I).

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 28, 2010
Release No. 04-1010

TEAM VANDENBERG SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH COSMO-4 SATELLITE

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-Vandenberg is scheduled to launch a Delta
II rocket carrying the Thales Alenia Space-Italia COSMO-SkyMed Satellite,
Sunday, Oct. 31, at 7:20 p.m. from Space Launch Complex-2 on north
Vandenberg.  

The rocket launch, originally scheduled for Oct. 29, has been delayed
48-hours due to propellant issues.

This launch is the fourth and final completing the COSMO-SkyMed
constellation.  

The overall objective of the COSMO-SkyMed program is global Earth
observation, particularly in the Mediterranean area. Some applications
include territorial surveillance; analyzing effects of natural disasters;
coastal surveillance to assess erosion and sea/river pollution, monitoring
of farming, forestry resources and urban buildings; mapping with a
resolution on the order of one meter; and territorial security and strategic
defense.

The first three COSMO-SkyMed satellites were launched from Vandenberg in
June 2007, December 2007, and October 2008, respectively.

The Delta II launch vehicle will deliver COSMO-4 into a circular
Sun-synchronous orbit, phased on the same orbital plane as COSMO-1, COSMO-2
and COSMO-3, where it will begin its mission of data observation and data
recording for the needs of both the military and civilian communities.  

This launch is a partnership among the 30th Space Wing, United Launch
Alliance, the Boeing Corporation, Thales Alenia Space-Italia, Italian Space
Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defense.

Col. Richard Boltz, 30th Space Wing commander, is the launch decision
authority.

-30-

Launch Broadcast Satellite Coordinates: AMC1 @ 103 degrees west; Transpoder:
K18; Bandwidth -36 MHz (KU Band); 103 Degrees West; Uplink:  14360 MHz
Horizontal; Downlink:  12060 MHz Vertical.

Live Webcast:
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bls/missions/cosmo-4/