Yay, Kwaj! --- On Mon, 8/11/08, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> wrote: From: Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] USA 193 shootdown update (& Perseids podcast) To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Monday, August 11, 2008, 10:32 PM On 11 Aug 2008, at 12:39, Canopus56 wrote:
There's a Vandenberg Minuteman III launch scheduled for Aug. 13 with no specific launch time.
http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/launch-alert/2008-August/000462.html http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbsked.htm
Patrick, if it is a nighttime launch, please let us know if the time firms up. - Kurt
Here's the info I received today about the launch. patrick ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MINUTEMAN III LAUNCH SCHEDULED Vandenberg AFB News Release VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) configured with three joint test assemblies, is scheduled to launch from North Vandenberg Wednesday, August 13 as an operational test to determine the weapon system’s reliability and accuracy. The six-hour launch window is from 1:01 a.m. to 7:01 a.m. The missile will launch under the direction of the 576th Flight Test Squadron. Operational tasks were conducted by maintenance and operations task force personnel from the 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, MT. Members of the 576th FLTS installed tracking, telemetry and command destruct systems on the missile to collect data and meet safety requirements. “An objective of testing is to ensure we test in as operationally realistic environment as possible” said Lt Col Toler. “Having maintenance and operations personnel from Malmstrom, Minot or F.E. Warren perform operational tasks takes us one step closer to that goal”, she said. The missile's three unarmed re-entry vehicles are expected to travel approximately 4,190 miles, hitting pre-determined targets near the Kwajalein Atoll. Col. David J. Buck, 30th Space Wing commander, is the spacelift commander for this mission. Lt. Col. Lesa K. Toler, 576th FLTS commander, is the mission director. The entire ICBM community, including the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, will use the data collected from this mission for continuing force development evaluation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- LAUNCH NOTES Following first stage ignition, the Minuteman III will quickly exit its underground silo near the beach, climb vertically for a few seconds, and abruptly turn west toward the central Pacific. The vehicle will then follow an arc-shaped trajectory. Weather permitting, Wednesday morning's launch should be visible to the naked eye for a least 200 miles. For detailed information on viewing Vandenberg AFB rocket and missile launches, go to: http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm Because this launch involves a strategic weapon system, countdown status and audio will probably not be available to the general public. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2008 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. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ And, just for fun, here's a podcast I helped put together for Utah Public Radio about tonight's Perseids: http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/upr/local-upr-742497.mp3 _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com