[Launch Alert] Dawn Launch

[Launch Alert]

                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
			      Brian Webb
		  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
	                www.spacearchive.info
		       
                            2018 February 14 (Wednesday) 18:28 PST
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                             DAWN LAUNCH
                            by Brian Webb

The February 17 launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg AFB could
provide an interesting light show visible over a wide area. 

The rocket is scheduled to lift off at 06:17 PST, the presumed start
of an unspecified launch window, and carry Spain’s Paz earth-imaging
satellite into a nearly-polar orbit. The window may be relatively
short because Paz needs to be precisely positioned in orbit with
respect to other spacecraft to form an earth-observation satellite
constellation. 

The current launch time occurs 29 minutes before Vandenberg sunrise.
Weather permitting, the Falcon 9’s bright orange flame should be
visible in western California at least as far away as San Luis Obispo
and Santa Monica.

A computer simulation by Launch Alert contributor Rick Baldridge shows
the rocket will exit the Earth’s shadow and climb into sunlight at
T+2 minutes 10 seconds.

That would make the launch especially interesting as the Falcon 9’s
exhaust plume is illuminated by the Sun while suspended in a semi-dark
sky. Such a display could be visible from San Francisco to Baja
California. 

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                     LAUNCH AND COUNTDOWN STATUS

For Falcon 9 / Paz launch and countdown status, consult the following
sources:

   Web Sites with Countdown Status and Webcasts:

      www.spaceflightnow.com

      www.spacex.com

   Twitter Updates:

      twitter.com/spaceflightnow/

      twitter.com/30thSpaceWing

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                              RESOURCES

For additional information related to the Falcon 9 / Paz launch, go to
the following locations:

   Launch Vehicle

      www.spacex.com

   Launch Viewing

      www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

   Photographing Launches

      www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm

   Weather Forecasts

      www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/main.php?suite=public

      cleardarksky.com/csk

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                             QUESTIONS?

Because of time limitations and other priorities, the editor cannot
answer reader questions about the upcoming launch.

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sources or is approved for public release.

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