I hope you all can enjoy this huge rocket launch, scheduled today for 1:08pm. I hope to capture some video from the ground in Santa Barbara. If I do, I'll probably put it on ATV next Tuesday night at 8:30pm, streamed at www.batc.tv, ATV Repeaters, WB9KMO-ATN. - Rod, WB9KMO
-----Original Message----- From: Launch Alert [mailto:launch-alert@mailman.qth.net] Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 5:05 AM To: Launch Alert Subject: [Launch Alert] Launch on Schedule
LAUNCH ALERT Brian Webb Ventura County, California launch-alert-editor@earthlink.net www.spacearchive.info 2011 January 20 (Thursday) 05:01 PST ----------------------------------------------------------------------
LAUNCH ON SCHEDULE
Today's first-ever launch of a Delta IV Heavy booster from Vandenberg Air Force Base appears to be on schedule. The Delta is slated to lift-off from Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) at south Vandenberg at 1:08 p.m.
Following liftoff, the rocket will rise vertically for several seconds. It will then slowly pitch over and probably head southward over the ocean.
Plans call for the rocket to deliver a classified payload into orbit for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.
Late yesterday afternoon the United Launch Alliance, the launch services provider, issued the following launch update:
" ... it was a quiet day of launch processing at SLC-6 today so we are a "GO" for tomorrow. The weather forecast is still 90 percent acceptable for launch.
... High pressure dominates California bringing fair weather and warmer temperatures. Winds for MST roll will be out of the east 12-18 gusting to 25 kts. Winds at SLC-6 at T-0 will be out of the northwest at 10-15 kts. Upper-level winds will max out at 60 kts at 40,000 ft from the north. There are no predicted space weather events for T-0."
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RESOURCES
For additional information related to today's Delta IV Heavy launch, go to the following locations:
Delta IV Heavy
www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/delta/delta4/delta4.htm
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB5_j1RYMYg
Payload
The payload is classified, but here's a link to the government agency responsible for the payload:
www.nro.mil
Launch Pad
www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d352/history/
Launch Viewing
www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm
Photographing Launches
www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm
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Copyright 2011, Brian Webb. All rights reserved. This newsletter may be distributed in its entirety without restriction. Excerpts may not be reprinted or posted elsewhere without prior permission.