Posted on 09/19/2010 6:55:57 PM PDT by Names Ash Housewares
MONDAY VANDENBERG LAUNCH
An Atlas V booster carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg AFB Monday evening. The Atlas is set to lift-off from south base at 20:29 PDT.
Following lift-off, the Atlas will probably will head southward. Several minutes later, the vehicle will place the NROL-41 payload into orbit.
Weather permitting, tomorrow's launch should be visible to the unaided eye for more than 150 miles.
Atlas V Launch Scheduled (SEP 17) VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team Vandenberg is scheduled to launch an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-3 Sept. 20 at 8:29 p.m.
This launch marks the 604th overall Atlas mission in U.S. history.
The launch is a team effort between the 4th Space Launch Squadron and the United Launch Alliance.
"I'm incredibly proud of all the hard work of the men and women of the 4th Space Launch Squadron team in preparing for this Atlas V mission," said Lt. Col. Brady Hauboldt, 4th Space Launch Squadron commander. "We've worked side-by-side with United Launch Alliance and the entire 30th Space Wing to pull this campaign together over the last few months and we are now 'GO' for launch. We're all excited to have the opportunity to launch our newest Atlas V and demonstrate Team Vandenberg's continued contributions to space power."
The rocket will carry a national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Cool stuff. Wish I could have seen it.
The Country’s falling apart but we still love out fireworks display...
The launch is not until tomorrow night, so you still have time to jump on a plane for the West coast :)
Wow, NRO payload! Hey, when does FR get OUR payload?
Heh, how did I mistake Monday for Sunday? I guess I should have had my glasses...
Was just be a bit facetious... The Country is going down the drain financially but we still enjoy our Rocket display..not that I would not also, just trying to not a quick absurdity.
It has nothing to do with the worthiness, just the conflicting statement that it shows..
Long ago and far away, when I was a nugget systems guy at VAFB if I had uttered the letters NRO together outside of the scif, I’d have lost my clearance and job. Now they announce the launches. And they have a NRO exhibit on the first floor of the Air and Space Museum in DC. Wonder what else we got going now? Heh.
Actually, the best launch I ever witnessed when I was stationed at VAFB was just after sunset. A Delta III (not nearly as big as the one scheduled here) took off in the late dusk and climbed. It broke into the sunlight and then my wife and watched as the cone widened and widened until the rocket broke through the atmosphere and left a multi-colored cone behind.
It was seen and reported on all the way to Las Vegas. If you have a chance to watch it, don't dismiss the opportunity.
Wish it was a NRSC payload.
NRO satellites keep you safe.
Anybody know if the launch is still on?
“Anybody know if the launch is still on?”
Yep, still on. I am overcast here so no show for me.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av025/status.html
It is back!
“Unmanned US spacecraft returns after 7-month trip”
“X-37B unmanned spaceplane returned to Earth early Friday after more than seven months in orbit on a classified mission, officials said.”
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20101203/D9JSDCF00.html
Sorry, right launch site, but wrong bird. Still both launches are interesting.
The X-37B must be huge.
I just read that VAFB is scheduling a launch for this Thursday, January 20, 2011.
Do you have any tips on where to go to see/hear the launch?
I liked to watch them from the flower fields of Lompoc when I lived out there. Looking west from Lompoc, the Atlases usually launched from the left.
Sorry, just saw the announcement. It’s a Delta going up from south VAFB. My recommendation is still good...
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