From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Mon Jun  2 22:20:49 2014
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2014 19:20:49 -0700
Subject: [Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule
Message-ID: <mailman.3406.1401762087.15074.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>


                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
                              Brian Webb
                     Ventura County, California
                  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
                        www.spacearchive.info
		       
                                    2014 June 2 (Monday) 18:52 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                   VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE

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

APR-JUN         To be announced          GBI                 ---
Missile defense test involving the launch of a target missile from
the Central Pacific followed by a Ground Based Interceptor from
Vandenberg AFB. FTG-06B  

JUL 1           02:56                    Delta II            SLC-2W
Vehicle will launch the Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 environmental
satellite. 1-second launch window  

AUG 13          11:29                    Atlas V             SLC-3E
Vehicle will launch the WorldView 3 earth imaging satellite  

NOV 5           06:16-06:25              Delta II            SLC-2W
Vehicle will launch the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite.
Launch window occurs just after sunrise  

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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From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Sun Jun 15 15:08:44 2014
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2014 12:08:44 -0700
Subject: [Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule
Message-ID: <mailman.5386.1402859339.15074.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>


                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
                              Brian Webb
                     Ventura County, California
                  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
                        www.spacearchive.info
		       
                                   2014 June 15 (Sunday) 11:49 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                   VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE

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

APR-JUN         To be announced          GBI                 ---
Missile defense test involving the launch of a target missile from
the Central Pacific followed by a Ground Based Interceptor from
Vandenberg AFB. FTG-06B  

JUL 1           02:56:44                 Delta II            SLC-2W
Vehicle will launch the Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 environmental
satellite. 1-second launch window  

AUG 13          11:29                    Atlas V             SLC-3E
Vehicle will launch the WorldView 3 earth imaging satellite  

NOV 5           06:16-06:25              Delta II            SLC-2W
Vehicle will launch the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite.
Launch window occurs just after sunrise  

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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                       LAUNCH ALERT WEB PAGE

For information about this newsletter, including how to:

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Point your browser to www.spacearchive.info/newsletter.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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newsletter may be used without identifying Launch Alert as the
source and providing a functioning hyperlink or text that point to
http://www.spacearchive.info/newsletter.htm.



From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Thu Jun 19 22:54:24 2014
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 19:54:24 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Missile Defense Test Scheduled
Message-ID: <mailman.6108.1403232872.15074.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>

The following is a press release from Vandenberg AFB


Missile Defense Test Scheduled

30th Space Wing Public Affairs

6/18/2014 - VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A U.S. Missile Defense Agency flight test of a Ground-based Interceptor missile is scheduled for Sunday, June 22, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. PDT from Vandenberg Air Force Base, conducted by the 30th Space Wing, the Missile Defense Agency, and U.S. Northern Command.

Col. Brent McArthur, 30th Space Wing vice commander, is the Launch Decision Authority.

"The 30th Space Wing has a long and proud history of working diligently alongside our Missile Defense Agency partners to provide safe launch operations for missile defense tests," said McArthur. "It's an honor for the wing to work with the Missile Defense Agency and other mission partners on this test mission which is extremely important to our national security."



From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Sun Jun 22 18:50:30 2014
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2014 15:50:30 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Target Missile Intercepted Over the Pacific
Message-ID: <mailman.6493.1403477433.15074.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>

The following is a Department of Defense news release about today's missile defense test


Target Missile Intercepted Over the Pacific Ocean During Missile Defense Exercise
06/22/2014 05:15 PM CDT

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 	No. NR-331-14
June 22, 2014
Target Missile Intercepted Over the Pacific Ocean During Missile Defense Exercise

The Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Air Force 30th Space Wing, the Joint Functional Component Command, Integrated Missile Defense, U.S. Northern Command and the U.S. Navy completed an integrated exercise of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). During the test today, a long-range ground-based interceptor launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, intercepted an intermediate-range ballistic missile target launched from the U.S. Army's Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The test, designated Flight Test Ground-Based Interceptor-06b (FTG-06b), will provide the data necessary to assess the performance of numerous BMDS elements for homeland defense.

Navy Vice Adm. James D. Syring, Missile Defense Agency director, said, "I am very proud of the government and industry team conducting the test today. Their professionalism and dedication made this test a success."

He added, "This is a very important step in our continuing efforts to improve and increase the reliability of our homeland ballistic missile defense system. We'll continue efforts to ensure our deployed Ground-based Interceptors and our overall homeland defensive architecture continue to provide the warfighter an effective and dependable system to defend the country."

For this exercise, a threat-representative, intermediate-range ballistic missile target was launched from the Reagan Test Site. The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70), with its Aegis Weapon System, detected and tracked the target using its onboard AN/SPY-1 radar, which provided data to the GMD fire control system via the Command, Control, Battle Management and Communication (C2BMC) system. The Sea-Based X-Band radar also tracked the target, and relayed information to the GMD fire control system to assist in the target engagement and collect test data.

About six minutes after target launch, the Ground-Based Interceptor was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base. A three-stage booster rocket system propelled the interceptor's Capability Enhancement II EKV into the target missile's projected trajectory in space. The kill vehicle maneuvered to the target, performed discrimination, and intercepted the threat warhead with "hit to kill" technology, using only the force of the direct collision between the interceptor and the target to destroy the target warhead. This was the first intercept using the second- generation Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle.

An operational crew of U.S. Army soldiers from the 100th Missile Defense Brigade, located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, remotely launched the interceptor.

Initial indications are that all components performed as designed. Program officials will spend the next several months conducting an extensive assessment and evaluation of system performance based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test.

The test was the 65th successful hit-to-kill intercept of 81 attempts since 2001 for the Ballistic Missile Defense System. The GMD element of the system has completed four intercepts using the operationally configured interceptor since 2006. Operational Ground-Based Interceptors are currently deployed at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, protecting the nation, our friends, and allies against a limited long-range ballistic missile attack.

Additional information about all elements of the Ballistic Missile Defense System can be found at www.mda.mil.


From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Wed Jun 25 12:31:20 2014
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 09:31:20 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Delta II Launch Scheduled
Message-ID: <mailman.132.1403713888.14758.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>

The following is a media advisory from Vandenberg AFB:
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
From: 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, www.vandenberg.af.mil

DELTA II LAUNCH SCHEDULED

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team Vandenberg is scheduled to launch
a NASA satellite on a United Launch Alliance rocket from Space Launch
Complex-2 here Tuesday, July 1, at 2:56 a.m. PST.

The Delta II rocket will carry NASA's Orbiting Carbon
Observatory-2; the second of NASA's five Earth science missions to launch
in 2014.

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

"A launch like this takes dedication and teamwork," said Balts. "I
am proud of this launch team and our partnership with NASA. Everyone
involved has been working tirelessly to ensure this launch is a safe and
successful one."

OCO-2 is NASA's first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric
carbon dioxide, the leading human- produced greenhouse gas driving changes
in Earth's climate. OCO-2 will provide a new tool for understanding the
human and natural sources of carbon dioxide emissions and the natural
"sinks" that absorb carbon dioxide and help control its buildup. The
observatory will measure the global geographic distribution of these
sources and sinks and study their changes over time.

For more information about the OCO-2 mission, visit:

http://oco.jpl.nasa.gov or call George Diller from NASA at 321-867-2468.

For more information about NASA's Earth science activities in 2014, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/earthrightnow

----------

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From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Thu Jun 26 23:04:53 2014
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 20:04:53 -0700
Subject: [Launch Alert] Launch Visibility
Message-ID: <mailman.417.1403838327.14758.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>

                                    
                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
                              Brian Webb
                     Ventura County, California
                  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
                     www.spacearchive.info
		       
				 2014 June 26 (Thursday) 19:47 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                     DELTA II LAUNCH VISIBILITY

Tuesday's early morning launch of a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg
AFB remains on schedule. The Delta is slated to lift off from Space
Launch Complex 2 West at 02:56:44 PDT (09:56:44 UTC), the start of a
30-second launch window. Following liftoff, the rocket will rise
vertically for several seconds, and then slowly pitch over and head
southward. Several minutes later, the Delta should place NASA's
Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 satellite into a polar orbit.

Since the launch occurs on a moonless night, the event could be
visible to the naked eye for hundreds of miles - perhaps as far away
as portions of Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico.

Just before liftoff, the Delta's first stage liquid propellant main
engine and three strap-on solid fuel rocket motors will ignite.
Observers in outlying areas (15 to 75 miles away) may see a flash on
the horizon from the direction of the pad, a few seconds of darkness,
and then a rising orange orb or "star". The brightness and color of
the Delta at this point will be largely due to the solid fuel motors'
brilliant orange flame.

At T+ 1 minute 4 seconds, the solid rocket motors will burnout and the
first stage will be powered solely by its liquid propellant main
engine. Since the liquid propellant engine produce a dimmer, colorless
flame compared to the solid rocket motors, the Delta will drop in
brightness and resemble a moving white star. 

Late into the first stage burn, observers in dark locations may see a
tenuous, elongated or jellyfish-like, exhaust plume from the main
engine. At T+ 4 minutes 24 seconds, the first stage main engine will
cut off and the vehicle will disappear. 

Several seconds later, the second stage will ignite and the rocket
will continue its gradual climb into orbit. For most naked eye
observers, however, the second stage burn will probably be invisible.

The visibility of the launch will depend almost entirely on the
weather. During the warmer months of the year, the weather in central
and southern California is fairly predictable. During the pre-dawn
hours, the coast and areas several miles inland are usually plagued by
fog or a layer of low clouds that extend up to about 1,500 to 2,000
feet (457 to 610 M) above sea level. However, at the same time,
California's interior tends to be clear.

Although the naked eye is adequate for viewing the launch, optical
assistance will provide a better view. Binocular are good, but
tripod-mounted binoculars are even better. An astronomical telescope
will give the best view and may provide a dynamic, surreal light show.

To view the launch, find a location that is as high as possible, has
an unobstructed horizon, and is far from city lights. Perhaps the best
place to watch would be a spot in the coastal mountains or hills
parallel to the rocket's flight path and high enough to be above any
coastal low clouds.

If you plan to drive to the mountains for the launch, allow yourself
plenty of time to get there and drive very carefully. Mountain roads
are dangerous and careless driving or parking can lead to tragedy.
Also, be aware of your surroundings after you get out of your vehicle.
I once had a small rattlesnake slither by me as I waited on top of a
mountain to view a launch.

For further information about viewing Vandenberg AFB rocket and
missile launches, go to the following Web page:

  www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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e-mails that I receive.

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Copyright 2014, Brian Webb. All rights reserved. No portion of this
newsletter may be used without identifying Launch Alert as the
source and providing a functioning hyperlink or text that point to
http://www.spacearchive.info/newsletter.htm.


From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Sun Jun 29 00:12:01 2014
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 21:12:01 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Delta II / OCO-2 Launch Status
Message-ID: <mailman.737.1404015130.14758.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>

The following Delta II / OCO-2 launch status was issued by the United Launch Alliance (the launch services contractor) at 12:19 p.m. PDT today:

"Everything is progressing toward NASA?s OCO-2 launch. The mission is set to lift off on a ULA Delta II rocket on Tuesday, July 1 from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The launch is scheduled at 2:56 a.m. PDT at the opening of a 30-second launch window. Today?s L-3 forecast shows a 100 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch."

ULA has posted a mission booklet at:

http://www.ulalaunch.com/uploads/docs/Mission_Booklets/DII/dii_oco2_mob.pdf


From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Sun Jun 29 22:10:29 2014
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 19:10:29 -0700
Subject: [Launch Alert] Launch Status
Message-ID: <mailman.890.1404094268.14758.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>


                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
                              Brian Webb
                     Ventura County, California
                  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
                        www.spacearchive.info
		       
                                   2014 June 29 (Sunday) 19:03 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                     TUESDAY VANDENBERG LAUNCH

The launch of a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg AFB remains on
schedule for Tuesday morning. The Delta is scheduled to lift off on
July 1 at 02:56:44 PDT, the start of a 30-second launch window.

If the Delta II functions as planned, the vehicle will climb
vertically for several seconds, begin heading towards the
south-southwest, and carry NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 into
orbit.

Weather permitting, the launch could be visible to the unaided eye
over a wide area.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

                     LAUNCH AND COUNTDOWN STATUS

For launch and countdown status for Delta II / OCO-2, consult the
following sources:

   Web Sites with Countdown Status:

      www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d367/status.html

   Webcasts:

      www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d367/status.html

      www.ulalaunch.com/news-press.aspx

   Satellite Feeds: None announced

   Twitter Updates:

      twitter.com/spaceflightnow/

      twitter.com/30thSpaceWing

----------------------------------------------------------------------

                              RESOURCES

For additional information related to the Delta II / OCO-2 launch, go
to the following locations:

   Launch Events and Flight Path

      www.ulalaunch.com/uploads/docs/Mission_Booklets/DII/dii_oco2_mob.pdf

   Launch Vehicle

      www.ulalaunch.com/Products_DeltaII.aspx

 
www.ulalaunch.com/uploads/docs/Launch_Vehicles/Delta_II_Product_Card.pdf

      www.ulalaunch.com/uploads/docs/DeltaIIPayloadPlannersGuide2007.pdf

   Payload

      oco.jpl.nasa.gov

   Launch Viewing

      www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

   Photographing Launches

      www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm

   Weather Forecasts

      www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/main.php?suite=public

      cleardarksky.com/csk

----------------------------------------------------------------------

                       LAUNCH ALERT WEB PAGE

For information about this newsletter, including how to:

   - Subscribe, unsubscribe, or change addresses

   - Handle a forgotten or lost password

   - Make a donation

Point your browser to www.spacearchive.info/newsletter.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright 2014, Brian Webb. All rights reserved. No portion of this
newsletter may be used without identifying Launch Alert as the
source and providing a functioning hyperlink or text that point to
http://www.spacearchive.info/newsletter.htm.


