Not sure if this'll be visible, but you never know. Clear Skies Rick Tejera Editor SACnews, Public Outreach Coordinator Saguaro Astronomy Club Phoenix, Arizona www.saguaroastro.org saguaroastro@xxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: launch-alert-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:launch-alert-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Brian Webb Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 15:00 To: Launch Alert Subject: [Launch Alert] White Sands Launch LAUNCH ALERT Brian Webb Ventura County, California kd6nrp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.spacearchive.info 2009 March 24 (Tuesday) 15:00 PDT ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FORT WINGATE ROADBLOCK White Sands Missile Range News Release Preparations are being completed at Fort Wingate near Gallup, N.M., for a Hera target missile firing from the old depot to White Sands Missile Range. The launch is tentatively scheduled for March 25 between 7 and 8 a.m. and may be viewed from Red Rock State Park. The Hera missile will drop a booster into an evacuated safety zone during its flight to the missile range. In addition to this safety drop zone near Datil, N.M., there will be short safety roadblocks and evacuations around the immediate Fort Wingate area - mostly to the south and east. The roadblocks include the following: New Mexico Route 400 between the Fort Wingate historic monument and McGaffey Lake; Forest Route 191 between New Mexico Route 400 and six miles to the west; Forest Route 547 between Sixmile Spring and McGaffey Lake. In addition, gates along New Mexico Route 400 will be closed to passage. The roadblocks should last between two and four hours. However, traffic traveling straight through on New Mexico Route 400 will be screened through up to 30 minutes before launch time. In addition to the roadblocks, Quaking Aspens campground will be evacuated for the launch. Since the firing will be in the early morning, camping at the site will not be allowed the night before so that National Forest Service officials can be assured the area is evacuated. The evacuation area for the booster drop zone is comprised of private and national forest lands north of Datil and includes the northern portion of the Datil Mountains. The area is north of U.S. Highway 60, west of State Highway 52 and east of Forest Road 6A. Roadblocks on the perimeter of the area will be set at 4 a.m. The airspace over Fort Wingate and the booster drop zone will be restricted for several hours for the launch. The avoidance area will be posted by the Federal Aviation Agency in the form of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). The airspace at the end of the flight is over White Sands Missile Range and is already restricted. Area residents may watch the launch from Red Rock State Park. The time of the launch is currently scheduled for between 7 and 8 a.m. There have been 12 target missions from Fort Wingate to White Sands Missile Range. The first mission was conducted in November 1997 and the most recent Hera mission was in November 2004. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2009 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. ______________________________________________________________ Launch-Alert mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/launch-alert Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Launch-Alert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.