[Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Story

[Launch Alert]

                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
                              Brian Webb
                     Ventura County, California
                  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
                        www.spacearchive.info
		       
                               2014 December 15 (Monday) 19:04 PST
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                   VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE

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

JAN 29          06:20:42-06:23:42        Delta II            SLC-2W
Vehicle will launch the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite.
Launch delayed from NOV 5 to allow for additional testing and
evaluation. The liquid propellant first stage will use three solid
rocket motors. Launch window opens 42 minutes before sunrise at
Vandenberg, which could cause a weak Twilight Effect if the vehicle's
exhaust is illuminated at high altitude by the Sun's rays  

MAR 31          To be announced          Falcon 9            SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch the Jason 3 satellite

APR 15          To be announced          Delta IV            SLC-6
Vehicle will launch the classified NROL-45 payload for the U.S.
National Reconnaissance Office. The liquid propellant first stage will
use two strap-on solid rocket motors.  

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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                        FRIDAY EVENING LAUNCH

If you saw or heard last Friday's Atlas V rocket launch from
Vandenberg AFB, the editor would like to read your account of the
event. If you obtained high quality images of the launch, those would
also be of interest.

Send your reports and photos to launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net.

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