[roc-chat] Fw: [Launch Alert] Minuteman Launch Details
- From: Jeff Gortatowsky <indanapt@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: roc <roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:31:54 -0800 (PST)
\----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Launch Alert <launch-alert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Launch Alert <launch-alert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 7:31 PM
Subject: [Launch Alert] Minuteman Launch Details
LAUNCH ALERT
Brian Webb
Ventura County, California
launch-alert-editor@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.spacearchive.info
2012 November 12 (Monday) 19:06 PST
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WEDNESDAY MINUTEMAN III LAUNCH
by Brian Webb
A Minuteman III ICBM is scheduled for launch from north Vandenberg
AFB on the morning of November 14 between 01:44 and 07:44 PST.
If everything goes according to plan, the missile will send a
simulated reentry vehicle to a predetermined target some 4,800 statute
miles downrange at Kwajalein in the central Pacific.
The launch, known as "GT 206GM", was originally planned for 2012 March
1, but was delayed until November 14 due to problems with a unit
carried onboard the missile for safety and tracking purposes. The
unit is only installed for Minuteman III test launches.
Minuteman III launches from Vandenberg are usually scheduled for the
start of the launch window. However, technical or other problems at
Vandenberg or downrange can delay a launch for minutes or hours. A
launch can therefore happen at any time during the window.
If Wednesday's launch occurs before dawn, the event could be visible
to the naked eye as far away as Petaluma, Sacramento, South Lake
Tahoe, Baker, and San Diego, Calif.
Under very good conditions, experienced observers with dark skies and
an unobstructed horizon may be able to see the launch with the
unaided eye from Oregon, most of Nevada, western Arizona, and
northwestern Mexico.
The Moon will not affect launch viewing because it will be less than
1% illuminated and below the horizon from the start of the launch
window until after sunrise.
If liftoff occurs late enough in the window for the sun to illuminate
the vehicle exhaust plume during powered flight, but before
your sunrise, you may be treated to an interesting display called the
"Twilight Effect."
If the launch happens after sunrise, it will probably only be visible
to the unaided eye as far away as Cambria, Mount Pinos, and Oxnard,
Calif.
Minuteman III exhaust tends to diffuse rather slowly and often drifts
toward the east-southeast. The aftermath may be visible hours after
liftoff under the right lighting conditions.
If the launch occurs in the early morning hours or before dawn, keep a
lookout for the exhaust between 60 and 15 minutes before sunrise.
The aftermath may resemble a pretzel-shaped or ill-defined cloud and
have a milky white, hazy blue, or orange color.
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LAUNCH AND COUNTDOWN STATUS
This launch is a test of a critical U.S. weapon system. Therefore, the
countdown and progress of the flight will probably not be available to
the public.
Web Sites with Countdown Status: None known
Webcasts: None announced
Satellite Feeds: None announced
Twitter Updates:
http://twitter.com/30thSpaceWing ?
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RESOURCES
For additional information related to the Minuteman III launch, go to
the following locations:
Missile
www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=113
Payload
Details regarding the payload for this mission are not available
Launch Viewing
www.vandenberg.af.mil/questions/topic.asp?id=745
www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm
Photographing Launches
www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm
Air Force Global Strike Command
www.afgsc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=16416
Vandenberg Air Force Base
www.vandenberg.af.mil
Kwajalein Atoll
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwajalein_Atoll
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