[Launch Alert] Thursday Launch

[Launch Alert]

                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
			      Brian Webb
		     Ventura County, California
		  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
	                www.spacearchive.info
		       
                                2017 August 22 (Tuesday) 19:27 PDT
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                           THURSDAY LAUNCH

Thursday morning's planned launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
AFB appears to be on schedule. The vehicle is slated to lift off from
Space Launch Complex 4-East on south base at 11:50, the start of a
launch window that closes at 12:34.

Following liftoff, the rocket will rise vertically for several seconds
before gradually pitching over and heading south.

If the launch goes as planned, the Falcon 9 will place Taiwan's
Formosat 5 scientific satellite into orbit.

The rocket will exhibit a bright orange flame during the first few
minutes of flight and briefly produce a white contrail as it passes
through altitudes of approximately 33,000 to 38,000 feet.

If the sky is clear, the early portion of the launch should be visible
to the unaided eye from Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo
counties. The liftoff may be also be briefly visible as far away as
Palo Alto and Mission Viejo.

People in very quiet locations in coastal Santa Barbara and Ventura
Counties and the western Santa Monica mountains may hear a distant,
muffled rumble or perhaps a sonic boom from the launch some time
between T+4 and T+12 minutes.

Members of the general public desiring a close-up view of the launch
will probably congregate west of Lompoc in the vicinity of highway 246
(west Ocean Avenue) and Union Sugar Road. According to the Vandenberg
AFB web site, the public can also view the launch from the Hawk's Nest
on highway 1 (near north base). However, since both areas are near the
coast, there is a real possibility that the liftoff will be hidden by
low clouds or fog.

Regardless of where you plan to go to view the launch, allow yourself
enough time to get there well before liftoff. After you arrive, be
aware of your surroundings and possible hazards such as traffic.

For launch status and countdown information, go to:

      spaceflightnow.com

      www.spacex.com

For information on viewing Vandenberg rocket and missile launches, go
to:

      www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

During a launch earlier this year, Pete Heins, N6ZE, discovered the
countdown feed was delayed by approximately 75 seconds. Rather than
relying on a feed for launch cueing, use a GPS receiver or another
source to obtain the exact time. You can also set your watch to the
exact time from the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(www.nist.gov).

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                             QUESTIONS?

Because of my schedule and other factors, I will not be able to answer
questions about Thursday's launch or launch viewing.

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Copyright 2017, 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.