[Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule
Launch Alert
launch-alert at mailman.qth.net
Mon Mar 31 22:44:42 EDT 2014
LAUNCH ALERT
Brian Webb
Ventura County, California
launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
www.spacearchive.info
2014 March 31 (Monday) 19:25 PDT
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VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
Launch
Time/Window
Date (PST/PDT) Vehicle Pad/Silo
-------- ----------------- ------------- --------
APR 3 07:46-07:56 Atlas V SLC-3E
Vehicle will launch the DMSP F19 military weather satellite. Liftoff
will occur an hour after sunrise
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 To be announced Atlas V SLC-3E
Vehicle will launch the WorldView 3 earth imaging 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 LAUNCH VISIBILTY
by Brian Webb
An Atlas V rocket carrying the DMSP F-19 military weather satellite
is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg AFB on the morning of April
3. Plans call for the Atlas to lift off from Space Launch Complex 3
(SLC-3) at south Vandenberg at 07:46 PDT, the start of a 10-minute
launch window. However, issues such as technical problems, bad
weather, or ships or aircraft straying into the range can cause the
launch to happen at any time during the window or to be rescheduled
for another day.
At liftoff, the Atlas will rise vertically from SLC-3 for several
seconds before it slowly begins to pitch over and head southward. The
vehicle will briefly produce a contrail as it passes through a zone
that extends roughly from 33,000 to 38,000 feet above sea level.
The Atlas V rocket variant for slated for launch on Thursday uses
liquid propellant engines, but no strap-on solid rocket motors.
Unlike solid motors, which produce a brilliant flame, liquid
propellant engines produce a much fainter flame. At launch time, the
Sun will be above the horizon, creating a bright sky background. The
rocket's use of liquid propellants and the bright sky will greatly
diminish the visibility of the launch.
Under the best of circumstances, the Atlas V will probably only be
visible for the first few minutes of flight from liftoff to first
stage cutoff and stage 1/2 separation.
Under good conditions, observers within seven miles of the launch pad
should enjoy a nice display. For launch watchers in outlying areas,
the display will be subdued.
Under very good conditions, the first stage flame may be visible to
the naked eye as far away as Ventura, Pismo Beach, and Taft. The short
contrail from the first stage may be visible to the unaided eye as far
away as Pasadena, King City, and Bakersfield.
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LAUNCH AND COUNTDOWN STATUS
For launch and countdown status for the Atlas V/DMSP F-19 launch,
consult the following sources:
Web Sites with Countdown Status:
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av044/status.html
Webcasts:
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av044/status.html
http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Multimedia_Webcast.shtml
Satellite Feeds:
Satellite: AMC-1
Transponder: 12- Lower
Band: C-Band Digital
Orbital Position: 103 Degrees West
HD Bandwidth: 18 MHz (Half Transponder)
Downlink Freq: 3931.0 MHz (Vertical)
Uplink Freq: 6156.0 MHz (Horizontal)
Symbol Rate: 13
FEC: 3/4
Data Rate: 17.9705
DVBS: QPSK
Mpeg 2
Audio Embedded
Twitter Updates:
http://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/
http://twitter.com/30thSpaceWing
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RESOURCES
For additional information related to the Atlas V/DMSP F-19 launch, go
to the following locations:
Launch Vehicle
http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Products_AtlasV.shtml
Payload
http://www.losangeles.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5321
Launch Viewing
www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm
Photographing Launches
www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm
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sensitive, or inside information. All information comes from open
sources or is approved for public release.
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