From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Sun Sep 10 13:38:36 2017
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2017 10:38:36 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Vandenberg Launch Delayed
Message-ID: <11629855.4747.1505065116497@elwamui-milano.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

The Atlas V launch scheduled for September 14 from Vandenberg AFB has been delayed due to Hurricane Irma. The following is a media update from the United Launch Alliance (ULA). All questions or comments regarding this update should be directed to the ULA, not the Launch Alert editor.

Media Update: ULA Atlas V NROL-42 Launch

(Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 8, 2017) - The ULA Atlas V carrying the NROL-42 mission scheduled for Sept. 14 from Vandenberg Air Force Base has been postponed. The launch vehicle and spacecraft are healthy and secure at Space Launch Complex-3.
 
The decision to delay launch is based on the current forecasting for Hurricane Irma. Some critical members of the ULA launch team that support launch on both coasts are returning to Florida due to the threat from Hurricane Irma which is currently forecast to impact the Cape Canaveral area early Monday morning.   The safety of our employees and their families are at the forefront of this decision. Hurricane preparations and hardware securing are underway at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. A new launch date for the NROL-42 mission will be determined once the impacts of the storm are understood.

From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Sat Sep 16 08:43:48 2017
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2017 05:43:48 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule
Message-ID: <29217220.1311.1505565829179@elwamui-royal.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

     
                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
			      Brian Webb
		  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
	                www.spacearchive.info
		       
                            2017 September 16 (Saturday) 05:19 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

		   VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE

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

SEP 21          To be announced          Atlas V             SLC-3E
Vehicle will launch the classified NROL-42 payload for the U.S.
National Reconnaissance Office. The Atlas V will use four solid rocket
motors. The early portion of the launch could be visible over a wide
area due to the brilliant flame and thick smoke produced by the four
motors. Launch delayed from SEP 14 due to Hurricane Irma's arrival in
Florida. 

OCT 4            06:06                   Falcon 9            SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch Iridium Next commercial communications satellites
21-30. This launch occurs well before sunrise and could be visible over
a wide area due to the brilliant flame produced by the rocket's first
stage.

OCT 17           14:37                   Minotaur C          SLC-576E
Vehicle will launch six SkySat earth observation satellites 

NOV 10           01:48                   Delta II            SLC-2W
Vehicle will launch the JPSS-1 weather satellite. The Delta II will use
nine solid rocket motors. This early morning launch could be visually
impressive in Santa Barbara County and visible for hundreds of miles. 

Late NOV         To be announced         Falcon 9            SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch Iridium Next commercial communications satellites
31-40 

DEC 13           To be announced         Delta IV            SLC-6
Vehicle will launch the NROL-47 payload for the U.S. National
Reconnaissance Office. The Delta IV will use two solid rocket motors.

JAN              To be announced         Falcon 9            SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch Iridium Next commercial communications satellites
41-50 

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.

TBD: To be determined

PDT: Pacific Daylight Time

PST: Pacific Standard Time

SLC: Space Launch Complex

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

                           SECURITY POLICY

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

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

                       LAUNCH ALERT WEB PAGE

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   - Handle a forgotten or lost password

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

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

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.

From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Sun Sep 17 17:03:12 2017
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2017 14:03:12 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Launch Time Announced
Message-ID: <16953263.11335.1505682192742@elwamui-darkeyed.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

The following is a media update from the United Launch Alliance (ULA). Please direct all questions or comments regarding this update to the ULA.


"Good afternoon - everything is progressing toward the ULA Atlas V NROL-42 launch in support of national security. The mission, for the National Reconnaissance Office, is set to lift off on an Atlas V rocket on Thursday, Sept. 21 from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The launch time is 10:38 p.m. PDT."

"ALL TIMES PACIFIC
TRANSMIT TEST ? SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
12:00 ? 12:30 P.M.
 
LAUNCH ? SEPTEMBER 21, 2017                                     
BARS AND TONE ? 9:47 P.M.
PROGRAM START ? 10:18 P.M.
TRANSMISSION FOR DIGITAL HIGH DEFINITON
SATELLITE: SES 3
TRANSPONDER: 24
BAND: C-Band Digital
ORBITAL POSITION: 103 degrees west
HD BANDWIDTH: 18 MHz (Half Transponder ?CD?)
UPLINK FREQ: 6,414.000 MHz (Horizontal)
DOWNLINK FREQ: 4,189.000 MHz (Vertical)
SYMBOL RATE: 13
FEC: ?
DATA RATE: 17.9705
DVBS-QPSK
MPEG-2
AUDIO EMBEDDED"

From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Tue Sep 19 22:59:19 2017
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:59:19 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Thursday Evening Launch
Message-ID: <17383512.41318.1505876360169@wamui-berry.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

                                    
                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
			      Brian Webb
		  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
	                www.spacearchive.info
		       
			     2017 September 19 (Tuesday) 19:46 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                     THURSDAY VANDENBERG LAUNCH

An Atlas V rocket carrying a classified payload is scheduled for
launch from south Vandenberg AFB this Thursday evening at 22:38 PDT.

Following lift-off, the rocket will climb vertically for several
seconds before it begins a gradual turn and heads over the ocean. If
the launch is successful, the Atlas will place the NROL-42 payload
into orbit for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

Weather permitting, the launch could be visible as far away as San
Francisco, Mammoth, and San Diego, Calif.

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 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. However, since this area is
near the coast, there is a 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.ula.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).

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

                           SECURITY POLICY

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

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

			     TIME FORMAT

All times in this newsletter are given in Pacific Time using a 24-hour
format based on military time. Under this system, regular time is
expressed as follows:
                                            24-hour
		        Regular Time        Format
                    ---------------------   -------
		    12:00 a.m. (midnight)    00:00
		    6:00  a.m.		     06:00
		    12:00 p.m. (noon)        12:00
                    6:00  p.m.               18:00

No distinction is made between Pacific Standard Time and Pacific
Daylight Time.

For assistance in converting military time to regular time, go to:

    www.spacearchive.info/military.htm

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

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.

From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Thu Sep 21 00:10:11 2017
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2017 21:10:11 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Thursday Evening Launch (CORRECTION)
Message-ID: <18152624.74999.1505967011833@wamui-cheeto.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

A previous Launch Alert gave an incorrect address for obtaining launch/countdown status from the ULA web site. The correct URL is:

   www.ulalaunch.com

Launch/countdown status will also be available from:

   spaceflightnow.com

Here's the latest news on the launch courtesy of the ULA:

"Subject: Media Update: ULA Atlas V NROL-42 Launch Set for September 21
Date: Sep 20, 2017 3:56 PM
Good afternoon ? the ULA launch readiness review was completed today everything is progressing toward the ULA Atlas V NROL-42 launch in support of national security. The mission, for the National Reconnaissance Office, is set to lift off on a ULA Atlas V rocket on Thursday, Sept. 21 from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Today?s L-1 weather forecast continues to show 60% favorable conditions for launch. The launch time is 10:38 p.m. PDT.
 
Atlas V NROL-42 mission profile located here: https://youtu.be/4UjeoySzxPo
 
Launch Day Forecast
Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 40%
Areas of concern: Launch Visibility, Ground Winds
 
Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24 Hour Delay: 10%
Areas of concern: Ground Winds
 
Launch Broadcast Satellite Coordinates + Webcast
ALL TIMES PACIFIC
TRANSMIT TEST ? SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
12:00 ? 12:30 P.M.
 
LAUNCH ? SEPTEMBER 21, 2017                                     
BARS AND TONE ? 9:47 P.M.
PROGRAM START ? 10:18 P.M.
 
TRANSMISSION FOR DIGITAL HIGH DEFINITON
SATELLITE: SES 3
TRANSPONDER: 24
BAND: C-Band Digital
ORBITAL POSITION: 103 degrees west
HD BANDWIDTH: 18 MHz (Half Transponder ?CD?)
UPLINK FREQ: 6,414.000 MHz (Horizontal)
DOWNLINK FREQ: 4,189.000 MHz (Vertical)
SYMBOL RATE: 13
FEC: ?
DATA RATE: 17.9705
DVBS-QPSK
MPEG-2
AUDIO EMBEDDED"

From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Thu Sep 21 21:45:20 2017
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2017 18:45:20 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Launch Delayed
Message-ID: <33081931.33440.1506044720336@elwamui-hybrid.atl.sa.earthlink.net>


(Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 21, 2017) The ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the NROL-42 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office has been delayed. The delay allows the team time to replace a faulty battery on the Atlas V booster. The vehicle and spacecraft remain stable. Launch of the NROL-42 mission is scheduled for no earlier than Saturday , Sept. 23, 2017.



From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Fri Sep 22 21:38:36 2017
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2017 18:38:36 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Launch Time Announced
Message-ID: <29071926.2341.1506130718618@elwamui-karabash.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

The following is a media update from the United Launch Alliance (ULA). Please direct all questions and comments regarding this update to the ULA.


Subject: Media Update: ULA Atlas V NROL-42 Launch Set for September 23
Date: Sep 22, 2017 4:27 PM

Good afternoon ? the ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the NROL-42 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office is confirmed on the Western Range for Saturday, Sept. 23. The launch time is 10:30 p.m. Pacific. The battery replacement is on schedule and the ULA and customer teams are ready to support this new launch date. Today?s L-1 weather forecast continues to show 80% favorable conditions for launch.
 
Launch Day Forecast
Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 20%
Areas of concern: Launch Visibility
 
Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24 Hour Delay: 10%
Areas of concern: Launch Visibility
 
Launch Broadcast Satellite Coordinates + Webcast
 
LAUNCH ? SEPTEMBER 23, 2017                                     
BARS AND TONE ? 9:39 P.M.
PROGRAM START ? 10:10 P.M.
 
TRANSMISSION FOR DIGITAL HIGH DEFINITON
SATELLITE: SES 3
TRANSPONDER: 24
BAND: C-Band Digital
ORBITAL POSITION: 103 degrees west
HD BANDWIDTH: 18 MHz (Half Transponder ?CD?)
UPLINK FREQ: 6,414.000 MHz (Horizontal)
DOWNLINK FREQ: 4,189.000 MHz (Vertical)
SYMBOL RATE: 13
FEC: ?
DATA RATE: 17.9705
DVBS-QPSK
MPEG-2
AUDIO EMBEDDED
 
WEB CAST AVAILABLE AT: http://www.ulalaunch.com   and www.youtube.com/unitedlaunchalliance

From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Sun Sep 24 09:27:28 2017
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2017 06:27:28 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-42
 Mission for the National Reconnaissance Office
Message-ID: <9944569.127241.1506259648602@wamui-esmeralda.atl.sa.earthlink.net>


The following is a United Launch Alliance media update:


United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-42 Mission for the National Reconnaissance Office

Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., (Sept. 24, 2017) ? A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office lifted off  from Space Launch Complex-3 on Sept. 23, at 10:49:47 p.m. PDT. Designated NROL-42, the mission is in support of national security.

?Congratulations to the entire team for overcoming multiple challenges throughout this launch campaign. From Hurricane Irma schedule impacts to replacing to a first stage battery this week ? the team maintained a clear focus on mission success,? said Laura Maginnis, ULA vice president of Government Satellite Launch. ?NROL-42 marks the 25th ULA-launched NRO mission, building upon our legacy of partnership with the NRO in providing reliable access to space for our nation?s most critical missions.?

This mission was launched aboard an Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) 541 configuration vehicle, which includes a 5-meter payload fairing (PLF) and four solid rocket boosters. The Atlas booster for this mission was powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine, and the Centaur upper stage was powered by the Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C engine.

This is ULA?s sixth launch in 2017 and the 121st successful launch since the company was formed in December 2006.

ULA's next launch is the NROL-52 for the National Reconnaissance Office. The launch is scheduled for Oct. 5 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

The EELV program was established by the U.S. Air Force to provide assured access to space for Department of Defense and other government payloads. The commercially developed EELV program supports the full range of government mission requirements, while delivering on schedule and providing significant cost savings over the legacy launch systems.

With more than a century of combined heritage, United Launch Alliance is the nation?s most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 120 satellites to orbit that aid meteorologists in tracking severe weather, unlock the mysteries of our solar system, provide critical capabilities for troops in the field and enable personal device-based GPS navigation.

For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch.

From launch-alert at mailman.qth.net  Sat Sep 30 17:42:07 2017
From: launch-alert at mailman.qth.net (Launch Alert)
Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2017 14:42:07 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: [Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule
Message-ID: <9926068.5481.1506807727490@elwamui-darkeyed.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

                                    
                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
			      Brian Webb
		  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
	                www.spacearchive.info
		       
			    2017 September 30 (Saturday) 14:31 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

		   VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE

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

OCT 9           05:37                    Falcon 9            SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch Iridium Next commercial communications satellites
21-30. This launch occurs well before sunrise and could be visible
over a wide area due to the brilliant flame produced by the rocket's
first stage. 

OCT 17          14:37                    Minotaur C          SLC-576E
Vehicle will launch six SkySat earth observation satellites 

NOV 10          01:48:05                 Delta II            SLC-2W
Vehicle will launch the JPSS-1 weather satellite. The Delta II will
use nine solid rocket motors. This early morning launch could be
visually impressive in Santa Barbara County and visible for hundreds
of miles 

Late NOV        To be announced          Falcon 9            SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch Iridium Next commercial communications satellites
31-40 

DEC 13          To be announced          Delta IV            SLC-6
Vehicle will launch the NROL-47 payload for the U.S. National
Reconnaissance Office. The Delta IV will use two solid rocket motors 

JAN             To be announced          Falcon 9            SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch Iridium Next commercial communications satellites
41-50 

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.

PDT: Pacific Daylight Time

PST: Pacific Standard Time

SLC: Space Launch Complex

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

                           SECURITY POLICY

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

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.

