[Launch Alert] Launch on Schedule

[Launch Alert]

                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
                              Brian Webb
                     Ventura County, California
                  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
                        www.spacearchive.info
		       
                              2017 February 28 (Tuesday) 12:34 PST
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                           WEDNESDAY LAUNCH

Tomorrow morning's planned launch of an Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg
AFB appears to be on schedule. The vehicle is slated to lift off from
Space Launch Complex 3-East on south base at 9:50 a.m., the start of
an unannounced launch window.

The latest weather forecast calls for a 90% probability of acceptable
weather at launch time.

Following liftoff, the rocket will rise vertically for several seconds
before gradually pitching over to nearly horizontal flight. The 
direction of flight has not been announced, but based on past Atlas V
launches, it will probably be towards the southeast to southwest.

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

If the launch goes as planned, the Atlas will place a classified
payload into orbit for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

If the sky is clear, the first stage flame could be visible as far
away as Carpinteria and San Luis Obispo. The contrail may be visible
as far away as Thousand Oaks and King City.

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 four and 12 minutes after liftoff.

For launch and countdown status, go to:

      spaceflightnow.com

      www.ulalaunch.com

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

      www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

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                             QUESTIONS?

Because of my schedule and other factors, I will not be able to answer
questions about tomorrow'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.