CA: VANDENBERG DUSK LAUNCH, 9/22

spave view ^ | 9/21/05

[BurbankKarl]

The first Vandenberg AFB dusk launch in nearly three years is slated for Thursday, September 22. The Minotaur booster is scheduled to lift- off from south Vandenberg at 19:24 PDT, the start of a 16-minute launch window.

Several minutes later, the rocket will place the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's Streak satellite into a polar orbit.

As seen from Santa Barbara, lift-off occurs 29 minutes after sunset. The Minotaur is expected to climb into sunlight during the second stage burn at about T+90 seconds. The exhaust plume will be illuminated by the sun and may create a nice display visible across a large part of the Southwest and western Mexico.

The launch may be visible until nearly T+13 minutes.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well....I didn't know what we were shooting....

[Brad’s Gramma]

Gun.

BIG gun.

Booooooom!

:)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

ROFL!

[Yaelle]

Awesome! Would one see the whole thing from the top of Signal Hill?

[Yaelle]

BG, just stay off the 405, K???? :)

[ErnBatavia]

We were up in Solvang last week....too bad our timing was a bit off.

[lainie]

Who, my new best friend who can't take a simple "that's not very nice of you" and responds with taking his ball and going home? naaa

[Brad’s Gramma]

It appeared so, late last night!

WhinerIIner!!! :)

[Brad’s Gramma]

ME???????

It was Ernest shooting the thing off! Indiscriminately! I was scared for my very life!

[Neil E. Wright]

I managed to get these shots with my digital camera from behind my house in Lake Havasu City, AZ.

First view as it rises above the mountains west of my position

Just before 2nd stage separation

We have separation, just before 2nd stage engine kicks in.

There it be, heading out over the Pacific Ocean

Heading further up and away

Heading further up and away

Contrail from the first stage

Contrail from the first stage

Contrail from the first stage

Contrail from the first stage Unfortunately, they really DON'T do it justice. I gotta figure out how to take pics in the dark.

[Neil E. Wright]

I forgot .... Right click on the image, select "View image" and you'll see the full size pic .... :)

[Neil E. Wright]

I forgot .... Right click on the image, select "View image" and you'll see the full size pic .... :)
Lets try that again ... the text was not showing up in my browser .... :(

[lainie]

Did you see it? It was really cool!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I thought this was going into a polar orbit....

Several minutes later, the rocket will place the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's Streak satellite into a polar orbit.

[Brad’s Gramma]

That's so neat! Thanks! I didn't know (or remember) that you can see this all the way to AZ!!

[Black Tooth]

What a great launch. Here's my entry.

[Neil E. Wright]

I managed to get these shots with my digital camera from behind my house in Lake Havasu City, AZ. I did some editing in Photoshop and changed the exposure so that you can see a little more in each pic.

First view as it rises above the mountains west of my position

Just before 2nd stage separation

We have separation, just before 2nd stage engine kicks in.

There it be, heading out over the Pacific Ocean

Heading further up and away

Heading further up and away

Contrail from the first stage

Contrail from the first stage

Contrail from the first stage

Contrail from the first stage Right click on each pic, select "View image" to view it full size. Use your browser back button to return to this page.

[Black Tooth]

Great shots Neil!

Could you describe your camera and settings?

[Black Tooth]

And by the way, mine shot was also processed in photoshop, but only with image size and contrast.

[Black Tooth]

Er, my shot.....