[Launch Alert] Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule

[Launch Alert]

                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
			      Brian Webb
		  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
	                www.spacearchive.info
		       
                                   2018 June 17 (Sunday) 09:42 PDT
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		   VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE

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

JUL 20          05:12                    Falcon 9            SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch Iridium NEXT satellites 56-65. The first stage's
bright flame could make the early portion of this launch visible for
more than 120 miles. Liftoff occurs 54 minutes before Vandenberg AFB
sunrise and may create an interesting visual display if the rocket's
exhaust is illuminated at high altitude by the sun

AUG             TBD                      Falcon 9            SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch Iridium NEXT satellites 66-75

SEP             TBD                      Falcon 9            SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch several SSO-A satellites

SEP 12          05:46-08:20              Delta II            SLC-2W
Vehicle will launch the ICESat-2 spacecraft

SEP 26          To be announced          Delta IV Heavy      SLC-6
Vehicle will launch the NROL-71 payload for the U.S. National
Reconnaissance Office

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

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                          MARTIAN DUST STORM
                             by Brian Webb

Earth-based observers may be able to see a dust storm on Mars without
a telescope. If the current storm grows and intensifies, naked-eye
observers may see the normally orange-red planet take on a dusky
yellow hue. To find Mars, go outside just before dawn and look towards
the south. The planet should be shining brightly at magnitude -1.7
approximately 35 degrees above the horizon.

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sensitive, or inside information. All information comes from open
sources or is approved for public release.

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