[Launch Alert] Saturday Vandenberg Launch

[Launch Alert]

                             LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
			      Brian Webb
		  launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
	                www.spacearchive.info
		       
			          2018 May 2 (Wednesday) 13:07 PDT
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                     SATURDAY VANDENBERG LAUNCH
                            by Brian Webb

An Atlas V rocket carrying three Mars-bound spacecraft is scheduled
for launch from south Vandenberg AFB this Saturday morning at 04:05
PDT, the start of a two-hour launch window. The event will be the
first-ever planetary mission to launch from the West Coast.

Following lift-off, the rocket will climb vertically for several
seconds before it begins a gradual turn and heads south-southeast over
the ocean. If the launch is successful, the Atlas will send NASA's
Mars InSight lander and two experimental communications satellites on
a seven month trip to Mars.

If liftoff occurs during darkness, and they sky is clear, the event
could be visible as far away as San Francisco, Mammoth, and San Diego,
Calif.

If liftoff happens after sunrise, and the weather cooperates, the
event should be visible for about 50 miles from the launch pad and the
rocket's flight path. Observers more than 100 miles away may be able
to see a short white contrail produced by the rocket as it passes
through altitudes of about 33,000 to 38,000 feet.

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.

Official public launch viewing events are scheduled for the following
locations:

  - Lompoc City Airport, 1801 N H St., Lompoc

  - St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 2800 Harris Grade Rd., Lompoc

However, since the above locations are near the coast, there is a very
real possibility that low clouds or fog will obscure the launch.

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.

Also, if you plan to obtain countdown status via an Internet feed, be
advised that the feed may lag far behind the actual countdown.
During a launch last 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).

To learn more about the Atlas V and launch, go to:

      www.ulalaunch.com/docs/default-source/launch-booklets
      /mob_insightfinal.pdf

For launch status, countdown information, and webcasts of the launch,
point your browser to:

      spaceflightnow.com

      www.ula.com

      www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#public

To learn about viewing Vandenberg rocket and missile launches, go to:

      www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

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The following is a Vandenberg AFB news items about the launch and
launch viewing:

                 ATLAS V INSIGHT SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH
                         Published April 20

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Vandenberg is scheduled to
launch the NASA InSight on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket
from Space Launch Complex-3E here, Saturday, May 5, with a two-hour
launch window starting at 4:05 a.m. PDT.

Come watch the first interplanetary mission to take off from the West
Coast from one of the following public viewing locations:

- The Lompoc City Airport at 1801 N H St., Lompoc, CA 93436. Parking
  is off O Street.

- St. Mary's Episcopal Church parking lot at 2800 Harris Grade Rd.,
  Lompoc, CA 93436.

Guests can view the launch and see NASA TV commentary from either
location along with NASA/InSight mission team members on-site to
answer questions. Guests should arrive no earlier than 2:30 a.m. PDT
and NASA TV coverage begins at 3:30 a.m. PDT.

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                             QUESTIONS?

Because of scheduling considerations, the editor will be unable to
answer reader questions about this launch.

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

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Copyright 2018, 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.