From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Sun Jan  4 17:07:29 2015
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2015 14:07:29 -0800
Subject: [Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule
Message-ID: <mailman.3265.1420409276.3107.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>

                 
                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
                              Brian Webb
                     Ventura County, California
                  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
                        www.spacearchive.info
		       
                                 2015 January 4 (Sunday) 13:51 PST
----------------------------------------------------------------------


                   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.

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

                     ATLAS V LAUNCH OBSERVATIONS

An Atlas V rocket carrying a classified payload was launched from
Vandenberg AFB on December 12 at 19:19 PST. The following are
descriptions of the launch from several observers across California.
No reports were received from persons outside of California.


Ken
San Francisco Bay Area

I was able to see the rocket launch from the San Francisco Bay Area.
Appeared to look like a bright star. 


Mike G.
North of San Luis Obispo

I was driving Southbound on US Highway 1, approximately 10 miles North
of San Luis Obispo, CA. This is a very natural, undeveloped area with
very few lights. Had read about the launch in Launch Alert, but really
driving in to run errands and pick up my wife on her arrival at the
airport after a business trip. Suddenly there was a very bright light
on the horizon at about my 1 to 2 o'clock position visually, and it
had motion. Was surprised as it was way past sundown and was fairly
dark and it was in the wrong location to be the moon rising. Then I
realized that I was seeing the launch live. Pulled to the shoulder of
the road and sat and watched it climb very slowly. I was struck by the
brightness and slow pace. It was very, very bright and a huge ball of
light with a very long and incandescent trail beneath it as it
climbed. I was also struck by how slowly it appeared to be climbing. I
remember thinking at the time that the payload must be very heavy or
that is was marginal on having enough thrust to get it up. Even as I
watched it slowly climb, I kept thinking that I would see it begin to
accelerate some as it got higher and gained airspeed. Never did seem
to gain much speed. Just continued to slowly climb atop a huge plume
of flame. I was also surprised that the light was very whitish in
color. I guess I thought it would be more orange flame colored in
person.

Also, I continued to watch closely for a separation, or booster rockets
falling away or some sort of transition or change in the visual and
the speed/amount of "blowtorch" beneath the rocket. Eventually, it
seemed to angle it's flight path slightly, to the West/Southwest I
would say. The plume of flame continued to get continually smaller and
eventually disappeared. I pulled back onto Highway 1 and drove into
San Luis Obispo, calling a friend while enroute, who is a space buff
and fellow Launch Alert subscriber. He was not home but I left a
message on the machine relaying that I had just watched the launch
from the side of the road, and describing what I had seen. Later, upon
reaching my first stop, I forwarded the Launch Alert notice of the
successful launch to him, noting:

"This is what I saw. Huge fire for a long time. Must have been very
heavy. Wow."

Hope this helps. Was beautiful and majestic and very powerful and
graceful all at the same time.


Tim F.
Near Oceano Dunes

I was fortunate to have been standing by to observe the Atlas V launch
from Vandenberg AFB. My location was 27.75 nautical miles due north
(true) from the launch site, just inshore from the coastal Oceano
Dunes area. In my 30 years of relatively regular launch observations
from this northern perspective, this Atlas V launch was by far the
most visually astounding launch to date. The weather overhead was
crystal clear and cold. The lower elevation view toward Vandenberg is
obliterated by the mountain range running east from the ocean that
makes up Pt. Sal at the northern boundary of Vandenberg AFB. It was
not apparent prior to launch but the launch site to my south was
encircled with cloud cover and broken skies. When the Atlas ignited,
the reflective glow was so intense that it illuminated the sky and
cloud cover for at least a 10 mile radius of the site and as high as
perhaps 8000' AGL. The cloud cover, with some relatively high tops,
were doused in a magnificent orange glow exposing what looked like a
view into the Grand Canyon with rays of light beaming from the areas
of broken cloud cover shining towards space. It was a magnificent,
almost biblical sight and like no other launch effect I had ever seen.

The glow persisted for an uncharacteristically long time before the
rocket and it's absolutely huge plume emerged from what appeared to be
a hole in the cloud cover. Perhaps the most startling aspect of this
portion of the launch was the rocket's highly unusual trajectory from
this point forward. Most typical launches are in a strong, southerly
direction, sometimes southwesterly, and even occasionally a somewhat
westerly trajectory. The Atlas V's trajectory was in a south-easterly
direction and from our northern perspective, traveled in a right to
left orientation. I can only assume it hugged the So Cal coastline
more so than usual.

SRB separation was again a great treat when viewed through a very
high quality 8x50 binocular. Upon separation, with the aid of the red
hot glowing ends, it was very easy to see all 4 SRB's come off and
begin their tumbling arc eventually out of the field of view of the
rocket that was still under main engine power. Second stage separation
was quite a sight as the plume of gasses gave the appearance of a
huge, multi-colored gaseous jellyfish that looked to be tens of miles
in diameter. Again, just a phenomenal visual. Shortly after that stage
motor cut off, we were left with just a bright orange dot as the ship
traveled downrange and eventually out of site.

With most launches, depending on the rocket model, we typically hear
the low, powerful rumble within a minute or two of launch. Most of the
time, if you hear it, it's too late to see it if you weren't watching
for it. Perhaps it was due to meteorologic conditions on this night or
just the powerplant but the sound was not apparent to us at our
location. It's also quite possible that it was covered by the sound
our excitement as we watched a tremendous launch unfold before our
very eyes! Great launch!


Caren B.
Ridgecrest

Witnessed the launch from Ridgecrest, CA - beautiful orange crescent
with bright dot in its apex ascended southward. Slow, rising arch.
When the 2nd stage began, there was a brief moment of "no color"
before the white star-sized spot appeared. It faded quickly.

Clear night for viewing!  Moisture in the air after the recent rains
made the show quite spectacular.


Peter V.
Vandenberg Village

I was driving through Lompoc, in very heavy traffic, shortly after
sunset and could see the vehicle illuminated by the spotlights. The
edge of a cloud was moving toward the pad from the west and the
western pointed spotlights cast a perfect Atlas V 500 series shadow on
the eastern edge of the cloud. I would have loved to have captured
that shot but, it wasn't to be.

I watched the launch from Vandenberg Village, just slightly West of
NW of the pad with the prison in between, approximately 6 miles away.
Watching the weather and listening to the launch director status, I
did not think the launch would come off. Approximately 30 minutes
prior, a patch of active lightening was working off the coast directly
west of the base. Another had started to approach from the NW at
launch time and looked to place the launch in jeopardy.

The vehicle came off of the pad very quickly, standard for an Atlas
with solids though. A small cloud blocked the view for several seconds
shortly after liftoff and then the vehicle was 100% in the clear as it
flew between two cloud banks. The vehicle pushed over rather rapidly
from my perspective, probably due to being near 90 degrees off of the
track. It took some time for the sound to reach my position and it was
fairly loud given the distance. 10 to 15 seconds after the initial
sound, the sound level increased significantly..perhaps due to drier
air slightly aloft.  All of the photographers at my location, myself
included, were surprised by the track and the vehicle quickly flew out
of our time exposure frames. We had assumed a S-SW track. I watched
until solids burnt out at about 90 seconds and, shortly thereafter,
jettison in pairs. The red hot nozzles from the solids were easily
visible in the crisp clear air as they tumbled after jettison. After
about 15 seconds I could no longer make out the nozzles due to light
saturation from bystanders. 


Anonymous
Near Lompoc

The atmosphere was just like the 4th of July, waiting for fireworks to
start. 300 guys crowded around the fence, laughing, joking. It was
dark with no wind, and almost totally clear, lots of stars. A few big
rain clouds hovered right around the launchpad, and the arc lights
that illuminated the white rocket shone onto the bottoms of the
clouds. Word was passed that there had been some delay, so I kept my
eye on my watch. Just as I was thinking it wasn't going to happen,
bursts of orange light began spattering from just below the top of the
hill line that obscured our view of the bottom of the rocket. After a
couple seconds it erupted into a massive orange glow, then the rocket
began to go up and instantly the blazing white flame appeared and
dominated the view. The buildings around the launchpad and all the
trees in sight suddenly appeared as if someone flicked on a light
switch. The rocket rose very smoothly, gently accelerating, and the
only sound was a chorus of voices chanting "one one thousand, two one
thousand, three one thousand..." The rocket went behind one of the
rainclouds, but rather than disappearing it lit up the entire cloud,
but the long streams of white flame were still crisply visible. As it
rose we suddenly heard some low pops and rumbles, and then a mighty
explosion silenced the chanting voices. Lots of guys cheered as the
sound hit us full force. A deep rumbling bass that we could feel
throughout our bodies, coupled with a great popping sound like
throwing a whole Jiffy Pop into a huge beach bonfire. As it slid
higher and higher the night melted away into what looked almost like
daylight. The stars disappeared, the sky went from black to blue, and
the clouds became as bright as they'd look on a summer day. The sound
continue jarring our ribs for what seemed like a minute. And then,
very gradually, everything began to quiet down. The sky darkened
slowly, the white tendrils drew up into small orange streaks, and as
the rocket headed downrange and away from us the roaring went lower
and lower in frequency, and the pops lengthened into tympani blows.
Darker and lower and smaller, and then a few guys pointed out some
orange dots falling away from the rocket as the spent solid rocket
boosters separated and were jettisoned. Darker and lower and smaller,
and as it faded, the crowd dissipated. Soon all that remained were
scattered thumps that you felt rather than heard. The launch was a
success!


Michael P.
Lompoc

Thursday's scrub made it possible for three of us from Los Angeles to
attempt to view NROL-35, knowing as we left the metropolis that the
weather meant the odds were worse than a coin flip.

We arrived to Lompoc about 45 minutes before the launch, planning to
watch from Ocean View Blvd, which is close, but has no direct view of
the pad.  

I queried a stranger on Twitter, who helpfully directed us to the only
place where you can lay eyes on Space Launch Complex 3 without
actually obtaining permission from the Air Force in advance. It was a
notch on a hilly road halfway between the Federal Penitentiary and one
of the gates to Vandenberg AFB.  We accidentally overshot our view
spot, and the helpful men at the Vandenberg gate provided us with a
useful map.

Driving back toward the prison, we found the spot, and could see the
200' rocket illuminated by spotlights. Still, we were wondering if we
were in the wrong place ... if cops were going to kick us out ... and
then at about T minus 30 minutes locals started to arrive, parking
where we had parked, and we knew we were in the right place. It was a
friendly crowd.

Then, the biggest worry remaining was that weather would require them
to scrub.  We kept listening to various feeds and crossing our fingers
(which worked!)

The internet audio feed was time-delayed by about a minute (spy
satellite!) so the actual launch caught everyone by surprise. The two
hundred foot tower ascended on a blindingly white ball of fire, much
brighter than the sun, even at 5 miles away; then slipped in-between
two layers of clouds, throwing around crazy shadows -- bright like:
alien invasion, heavenly like: second coming, energetic like: atomic
testing.

Children shouted "the sun" and "it's daytime!" and adults oohed and
ahhed appreciatively, until ten seconds later the all-consuming roar
of the engines engulfed us like a tidal wave of sound. The surprise
was feeling those low notes in the gut as much as the ear. Ten minutes
later everyone dispersed; we drove past the white collar criminals
into Buellton where we enjoyed a steak dinner at the Hitching Post,
before driving home.


Jon M. Sr.
Buellton

I reside in Buellton, which as you most likely know, is about 30 miles
from the launch site. On clear weather days/nights, I have an
excellent vantage point of just about anything launched from VAFB. 

The Atlas V was, I believe, originally scheduled for launch at
19:13:30 on 12/12/14, and as you know, it was a launched a few minutes
later. I was pleased to watch the launch, and even more excited to
hear the roar of the engines. It was truly a spectacular launch. It
went off at a very "convenient" time as all my neighbors and I were
able to stand in our driveways and watch the rocket for quite some
time. 

It's nice when you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn!


Julian N.
Goleta

Thanks, great view from Goleta [Hope Ranch]. I thought it was
unusually loud with the loudest sound here about 7:24:30 to 7:25.00
PDT.


Daniel W.
Santa Barbara

Was absolutely the most spectacular launch I've seen in 25 years here.
Santa Barbara. I saw the stage to separation with the for booster
rockets at came off and watch them tumble and drop for about half a
minute. At that point I was using like a old 80 year old five or six
power binoculars. I watch the rocket itself until we could finally not
see it at about 7:25 p.m.. The noise from it the booming started at
about 7 24 and its 727 the booming what does it come to sing the
entire sky hemisphere hemisphere. Amazing. 


Brian Webb
Ventura County

I arrived at my viewing site some 100 statutes miles southeast of the
launch pad at about 45 minutes before scheduled liftoff. Although the
eastern sky was mostly clear, the western sky (the sky toward
Vandenberg AFB) was at least 50% obscured by clouds. The sky near the
northwest horizon was almost totally obscured by high clouds.

Despite the cloudcover, I proceeded to set up my camera to record a
time exposure of the launch. As I waited for liftoff, I saw two
distant lightning flashes toward the north-northwest.

At about T-30 seconds, I opened my camera's shutter and waited for the
Atlas V to appear above the distant mountains. I waited and waited, but
I saw nothing. My camera then began malfunctioning. After a few
minutes, it was obvious that the launch had been delayed or cancelled.

I then hastily packed my equipment and drove away. About half a block
from my original location, I saw the silhouettes of people at a
viewing location at the end of a cul de sac.

After quickly parking my car, I walked over to the people and asked a
couple if they were there for the launch. Indeed they were. We began
talking as I kept glancing at the point on the horizon where the
rocket should appear.

I noticed that the distant clouds low on the horizon where the rocket
should appear appeared to have a faint orange glow. Over the next
several seconds, the glow grew brighter. Then suddenly, the bright,
long flame from the rocket appeared in a gap between the clouds.

Despite the less than optimum conditions, I could see the burnout and
jettison of the solid rocket motors. After they were jettisoned from
the first stage, I breifly saw the faint flashing from at least one
motor as it tumbled end over end.

The rocket then passed behind the clouds. However, the flame from the
rocket's first stage was so bright, I could actually see it through
the clouds!

The Atlas V then reappeared in a gap between the clouds. By this time,
the exhaust plume from the first stage had expanded and the forward
edge of the plume created a bright, thin crescent. At the center of
crescent was a bright orange light caused by the first stage main
engine. It was somewhat similar to a diamond ring.

After a minute or two, the diamond ring suddenly disappeared due to
BECO (first stage booster engine cutoff). A few seconds later, I saw a
quick, ghostly gray puff. Several seconds after the puff, I saw a very
faint star-like object that may have been the second stage heading
down range. However, the light pollution at my location made it hard
for me to determine if I was seeing the second stage or an actual
star.

After the rocket disappeared, I continued taking to two of the launch
watchers. After approximately three to six minutes, we heard a distant
low frequency rumbling similar to that produced by an airliner.
However, unlike a jet, this rumbling ended after about seven seconds.
The sound was probably from the Atlas V.


Miguel F.
Oxnard

I was able to see it here in Oxnard sporadically through openings in
the  clouds.  Looking westward, I saw the bright flame rise upward
above the rooftops until it disappeared behind clouds. The next time I
saw it was when it entered another gap in the clouds, this time much
higher overhead and due south. By then, it had lost its boosters and
there was a beautiful, conical halo trailing it as it rose further
until it disappeared again for the final time.

I'm not sure why this launch was different than most, but this one 
prompted many calls to local 911 from folks wondering if it was some 
sort of meteor or celestial fireball.  L.A. TV news also reported 
getting calls to their newsrooms and at least one station reported
that they had to do some digging around before learning that
Vandenberg had launched a rocket.  Don't they all get press releases?
Not surprisingly, the TV anchor bubblehead called it an Atlas "V" (as
in the letter V, not roman numeral V) rocket.


E.A.
Van Nuys

Last nights launch was spotted by me as i heard it on the radio and
saw the big orange Glow in the western skies. i live in van nuys ca
and it looks like the rocket flew over the city. e.a.


Len M.
Near Los Angeles International Airport

Clearly seen, apparently over a broad area of SoCal.
Near LAX-bright boosters and, after briefly disappearing behind an
overhead cloud, booster exhaust was followed by a cone
(hyperbola?)-shaped con-trail (?) until visual disappearance due to
distance.


Kevin T.
Fullerton

I must say last week's Atlas launch was one of the more spectacular
launches I have witnessed in my (many) years of rocket watching. I
really was very surprised that they were going to attempt a launch so
soon after a major storm, and really did not think that they would be
able to launch. From my vantage point in Fullerton, CA we were able to
pick up the launch pretty low on the horizon. After arching through/
behind a couple of clouds we had a clear view for what seemed like
much longer than usual, 3-4 minutes? This launch seemed to have a more
South-East trajectory than other NRO launches.? The rain cleaned air
really made for a nice view. And the plume or was it a shockwave, from
the Atlas had a very wide and visible "wake" almost like a jet flying
supersonic at altitude. As I had texted to a few friends prior to the
launch " it could be spectacular or it could be a dud" in rocket
watching you just never know, sometimes it is more rewarding than
others.


Robert F.
Long Beach

My 4.5 year old son and I witnessed the Atlas V launch from our back
yard in Long Beach, CA on Friday evening. The rocket became visible
over the rooftops almost due west, and was red-ish in color. This made
it very easy for my son to see it and he was very excited! As it
arched slowly southward and gained altitude, the exhaust plume became
wider and wider. My son said it must be going faster because there's
more smoke! He was almost right! Unfortunately the Atlas soon
disappeared behind a cloud as it reached almost due south. The
experience only lasted a few minutes but it was very memorable for my
son, mostly because it was so visible.


Ken B.
Orange

We watched Friday's launch from our driveway in Orange, CA, as we have
many other launches thru the years. However, this launch was the most
spectacular we have seen. During the early assent phase the rocket
exhaust tail was very long and pronounced.  Then as it headed
southward in the western sky there was a huge beautiful wide plume I
don't recall seeing on any other launches. I was using my Pentax 10 x
24 binoculars most of the time but the plume was quite visible to the
bare eye.  We really lucked out with the weather and the sky was very
clear with just a few small clouds along the flight path. I wish I had
my camera and telephoto lens out for this one!


Andres D.

Newport Beach

Last week I took my family out to watch the Atlas 5 launch from our
local park in Newport Beach. It was so much fun! The kids loved it,
and even my wife was happy to have seen it. We saw it between clouds.


Danchar
San Diego

I saw it in San Diego, passing between clouds. 


Daniel T.
San Diego

I witnessed the launch from San Diego at approximately 32.46.xx North
and 117.06.xx West. Clouds interfered with my observations but I saw
several seconds of burn and was able to note the change of direction
from near vertical to almost horizontal as the rocket passed from
northwest into west and disappeared behind more clouds as it headed
toward the south. I am not sure of the exact time but I went outside
shortly after seven fourteen pm and saw that I could see a few stars
through the clouds to the west and northwest, and then waited for the
chance to see the rocket going up, which it a few moments later on.


Note: The seconds of latitude and longitude were intentionally witheld
by the editor.

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

                       MERCURY VISIBLE AT DUSK

Sky watchers have an unusually good opportunity to see the elusive
planet Mercury at dusk this month. Since Mercury's orbit is so close
to the Sun, the planet never strays far from the Sun's glare as seen
from Earth, making Mercury difficult to find and identify.

However, this month, Mercury climbs out of the Sun's glare and is easy
to spot and identify thanks to a bright celestial landmark. From
January 2 to 16, Mercury lies within 5 degrees of the much brighter
planet Venus.

To find Mercury, look low in the west 30 to 40 minutes after sunset.
Locate silvery-white Venus. Then look below and to the right of Venus
for Mercury, which resembles a much fainter, star-like object.

The pairing of the two planets is most impressive on the evening of
January 10 when Venus and Mercury are separated by slightly more than
1/2 of a degree.

Although Mercury and Venus appear to be close to one another this
month, their apparent proximity is an illusion. The two planets are
lined up in such a way that they happen occupy the same part of the
sky as seen from Earth. In reality, the planets are separated by many
millions of miles.

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

Copyright 2015, 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  Thu Jan 15 22:29:16 2015
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 19:29:16 -0800
Subject: [Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule
Message-ID: <mailman.1577.1421378982.16640.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>

                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
                              Brian Webb
                     Ventura County, California
                 launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
                       www.spacearchive.info
		       
                              2015 January 15 (Thursday) 19:15 PST
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                   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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Launch Alert does not intentionally publish sensitive, potentially
sensitive, or inside information. All information comes from open
sources or is approved for public release.

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

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

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

Copyright 2015, 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  Thu Jan 22 22:53:43 2015
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 19:53:43 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Delta II Launch Scheduled
Message-ID: <mailman.2873.1421985232.16640.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>

 
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 Thursday, Jan. 29, at 6:20 a.m. PDT.

The Delta II rocket will carry NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive; the
first Earth-observing satellite.

Col. Shane Clark, 30th Space Wing vice commander, will be the Launch
Decision Authority.

"We are excited to take on our first launch of 2015," said Clark. "Every
launch takes dedication and teamwork.  I am extremely proud of the team and
our strong partnership with NASA. Everyone involved has been working
tirelessly to ensure this is a safe and successful launch." 

SMAP is designed to collect global observations of surface soil moisture and
its freeze/thaw state. High resolution space-based measurements of soil
moisture and whether the soil is frozen or thawed will give scientists a new
capability to observe and predict natural hazards of extreme weather,
climate change, floods and droughts, and will help reduce uncertainties in
the understanding of Earth's water and carbon cycles.

From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Mon Jan 26 22:59:42 2015
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 19:59:42 -0800
Subject: [Launch Alert] Delta Launch Visibility
Message-ID: <mailman.3712.1422331236.16640.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>

   
                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
                              Brian Webb
                     Ventura County, California
                  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
                        www.spacearchive.info
		       
                                2015 January 26 (Monday) 19:50 PST
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                       DELTA LAUNCH VISIBILITY
                            by Brian Webb

A Delta II rocket carrying a NASA scientific satellite and three small
secondary payloads is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg AFB on
Thursday morning, January 29. The Delta is set to lift-off from Space
Launch Complex-2 West at 06:20:42 PST, the start of a three-minute
launch window.

Following lift-off, the Delta will climb vertically for several
seconds, gradually nose over, and head south over the ocean.

The Delta II uses liquid propellant first and second stages. For this
launch, three solid rocket motors are strapped to the first stage for
added thrust.

The first stage main engine and strap-on motors will ignite on the
launch pad. The solid rocket motors will burn out at +1:05* and be
jettisoned at +1:39. The first stage liquid propellant main engine
will continue to burn until main engine cutoff (MECO) at +4:22.

Stage 1/2 separation occurs at +4:28 followed by second stage ignition
at +04:36. Several minutes later, the second stage containing NASA's
SMAP satellite and three small payloads will reach orbit.

Weather permitting, the first few minutes of the launch should be
visible to the unaided from King City, Fresno, western Ventura County,
and coastal Los Angeles County. Under good conditions, the event could
be visible over a much wider area.

For the first minute of flight, the rocket will have a bright orange
flame due to the solid rocket motors. When the solid motors burn out,
the delta will decrease in brightness and resemble a moving white
star.
 
Liftoff occurs 42 minutes before sunrise as seen from Vandenberg AFB.
According to independent space analyst Rick Baldridge, the rocket will
climb into sunlight during the first stage burn at +2:50 for a 06:20
PST liftoff and +2:40 for a 06:23 PST liftoff. Observers along the
coast from King City to Long Beach should see the sunlit first stage
exhaust plume suspended against the dawn sky during the last minute of
the first stage burn.

Under good conditions, the launch could be visible to the unaided eye
until first stage main engine cutoff. Second stage ignition and the
second stage burn will probably not be visible without optical
assistance.

*All flight events are expressed in minutes and seconds after liftoff.

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                     LAUNCH AND COUNTDOWN STATUS

For launch and countdown status for Thursday's Delta II launch,
consult the following sources:

   http://spaceflightnow.com/

   http://www.nasa.gov/smap

   http://smap.jpl.nasa.gov/

   http://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/

   http://twitter.com/30thSpaceWing

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                       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 2015, 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  Wed Jan 28 21:52:52 2015
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2015 18:52:52 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Launch On Schedule
Message-ID: <mailman.4168.1422499981.16640.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>

Thursday morning's planned launch of a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg AFB remains on schedule. The rocket is slated to liftoff from Vandenberg at 06:20:42 Pacific Time, the start of a 3-minute launch window. The Delta will carry NASA's SMAP satellite and three smaller spacecraft into orbit.

If the weather is clear, the dawn launch could be visible over a wide area.

Here are some sources of launch status and audio and video of the event:

spaceflightnow.com/2015/01/28/d370-mission-status-center/

www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#

www.ulalaunch.com

From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Thu Jan 29 11:05:08 2015
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2015 08:05:08 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Launch Scrubbed
Message-ID: <mailman.12.1422547534.6812.launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>

This morning's Delta II rocket launch from Vandenberg AFB was cancelled due to upper level winds. Liftoff is tentatively set for Friday, January 30 during a three-minute launch window that starts at 06:20 PST. Since this is a dawn launch, it could be visible over a wide area.

Please note that I am unable to provide individual responses to questions regarding launches. I often get e-mails that ask questions such as:

   Where should I go to see the launch?

   Will the launch be visible from <location>?

   Is there a video feed of the launch?

   How can I listen to the countdown?

   I've been looking for several minutes. Where's the rocket?

For the answers to these and other questions, please carefully review the information and links provided in Launch Alert. For information about viewing and photographing Vandenberg rocket launches, go to:

   http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

   http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm

Brian Webb

