[Launch Alert] Vandenberg SFB Launch Schedule

Sun Apr 2 20:56:20 EDT 2023

                                                  LAUNCH ALERT

                                                     Brian Webb
                                     launch-alert-editor at earthlink.net
                                            www.spacearchive.info

                                                                         2023 April 2 (Sunday) 17:15 PDT
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                            VANDENBERG SFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE

All launch dates and times are subject to change and are listed in 24-hour
format.

Note: The multiple Falcon 9 launches on APR 29 will likely be spread over
several days.

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

APR 8                        To be announced                  Falcon 9                  SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch several small satellites into orbit. Transporter 7 mission

APR                           To be announced                   Falcon 9                 SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch several Starlink Internet satellites into orbit. Starlink 2-9
mission

APR 29                      To be announced                  Falcon 9                  SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch the WorldView 1 and 2 Earth-imaging satellites into orbit

APR 29                      To be announced                  Falcon 9                  SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch the German SARah 2 and 3 radar Earth imaging satellites
into orbit

APR 29                      To be announced                  Alpha                      SLC-2W
Third flight of Firefly's Alpha rocket

APR 29                      To be announced                  Falcon 9                 SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch several Starlink Internet satellites into orbit

Early MAY                  To be announced                  Falcon 9                 SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch several OneWeb and Iridium Next communications
satellites into orbit.

MAY 30                      To be announced                   Alpha                     SLC-2W
Fourth flight of Firefly's Alpha rocket

JUN                            To be announced                  Falcon 9                 SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch SDA Tranche 0 satellites into orbit for the U.S. Space
Development Agency

Late 2023                   To be announced                  Falcon 9                 SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission into orbit

This schedule lists rocket and missile launches from Vandenberg SFB for the
next several months. It is a composite of unclassified information from open
sources. This schedule is believed to be generally accurate at the time of
publication.

Details on U.S. military launches are withheld until they are approved for public
release or reported in the news media. For official information regarding
Vandenberg SFB activities, go to https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.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.).

This schedule may disagree with other launch schedules 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

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                                          LAUNCH OBSERVATION

Bob B. sent the following observation of this morning' launch:

"Right on time at 7:29AM this morning, the Falcon 9 rocket ascended over the
skyline as viewed from my street in eastern Goleta. As with the previous launch
I commented on (Jan. 31st), the crisp, clear air allowed a good binocular view
of the rocket body and the bright orange flame trail that followed it. I was able to
see the stage separation clearly and watched the first stage fall away.

At that point, I took my eyes away for an instant, and then I was unable to find
either the first or second stage again. Not to worry though, after what seemed
like a couple of minutes, the bright orange flame from first stage engines (3 of
the 9) became visible for a minute or so as they braked the descent of the stage
on its way back to the pad at Vandenberg SFB. Simultaneously, the ongoing
rumble from the original launch (60 miles away) pulsed through the air. After the
trio cut off, visibility was lost as it descended on one engine to finesse it onto the
pad. I came back in the house to watch the replay of the landing on Spaceflight
Now&rsquo;s website. Then, with the time delay from traveling to my location, a strong
sonic boom was heard from the re-entry. Perfect way to start a Sunday!"

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