[Launch Alert] Falcon 9 Launched

[Launch Alert]

                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
                              Brian Webb
                     Ventura County, California
                  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
                        www.spacearchive.info
		       
                              2013 September 29 (Sunday) 13:00 PDT
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The following is a Vandenberg AFB news release.

                  VANDENBERG LAUNCHES SPACEX ROCKET

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team Vandenberg launched its
first-ever SpaceX launch from Space Launch Complex-4 here Sunday at 9
a.m.

Col. Keith Balts, 30th Space Wing commander, is the launch decision
authority.

"I am truly honored to work with such an amazing team here at
Vandenberg," said Balts. "With safety at the forefront during all
launch operations, we highlighted our mission three times in one week,
culminating in today's historic launch with SpaceX. What I have seen
in the past few months as Wing Commander is a true testament to the
professionalism and dedication the men and women of Vandenberg have
toward our mission."

30th Space Wing's 1st Air and Space Test Squadron was the lead for
all launch site certification activities at Vandenberg for SpaceX as
an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle New Entrant. Under the authority
of the Space and Missile Systems Center, the Squadron evaluated
SpaceX's flight and ground systems, processes and procedures for this
inaugural space launch campaign for the upgraded Falcon 9 rocket.

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                     FALCON 9 LAUNCH OBSERVATION
                            by Brian Webb

This morning's Falcon 9 launch was visually more impressive than I
expected. I have seen several daytime Vandenberg AFB rocket and
missile launches from distances of about 90 to 100 statute miles. I
would rate this morning's launch as being among the two best displays.

I observed the launch from a high hill in Ventura County located 102.6
statute miles (165 km) east of the launch pad. The sky was completely
free of clouds and the transparency of the atmosphere along the ground
to distant landmarks was 8.5 on a 0 to 10 scale. In other words, it
was very clear.

My equipment consisted of tripod-mounted 10x50 Nikon binoculars that
were aimed at the point where I expected the rocket to appear.

Several seconds before the start of the launch window, I began looking
through the binoculars. An elongated bright orange flame suddenly
appeared from behind a distant range of mountains.

During the initial portion of the launch, I was impressed by the flame
and how clearly I could see the rocket. Through the binoculars, the
flame was a vivid orange color and quite long. It was also very
dynamic and rapidly changing. The flame also exhibited detail that
included two or more bright knots apparently caused by shock diamonds.

I was not only impressed that I could see the shape of the rocket
through the binoculars, but also how large the rocket body was.
According to my calculations, the rocket appeared to be as large as a
224-foot high building when seen with the naked eye from a range of 10
statute miles.

I briefly left the binoculars and looked at the launch using the
unaided eye. The flame was a bright orange and I could see a hint of
its elongated shape. I could not see the rocket’s body.

I quickly returned to the binoculars and continued viewing the event.
As the Falcon 9 climbed, it left behind a narrow, colorless, and
mostly transparent trail. At the rocket, the trail was wider and
appeared to surround the Falcon 9. This gave the trail a tadpole-like
shape.

I continued following the rocket as it headed downrange and awaited
stage 1/stage 2 separation. At about this time, I could clearly see
the shape of the rocket and noted that I could see the Falcon 9’s
bluish-gray color.

Suddenly, stage 1 and stage 2 separation occurred. Not only did I see
staging, I could also see the shapes of the first and second stage.
The spent first stage did not tumble and was tilted about 20° to the
right of its flight path. The semi-transparent cloud around the first
stage was more pronounced and the stage appeared to be venting. As
before, a mostly transparent trail followed the first stage.

The second stage slowly began to pull ahead of the first stage. I then
tried to loosen the locks on my camera tripod so I could follow the
rocket. The binoculars then move too much and I could not find the
Falcon 9.

Just before I left my viewing site, I glanced at the western horizon
and saw a thick contrail that the rocket left when it passed through
the stratosphere.

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