WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => In The news => Topic started by: YardBird on Jul 14, 18, 07:16:34 AM
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Got this from a friend, mark your calendar and set your alarm! This should be a real beauty.
AEROCOMM PLUS & CIV-MIL: [Launch Alert, Friday July 20 Dawn Launch - Vandenberg AFB
"The next announced Vandenberg AFB rocket launch is a Falcon 9 on the morning of July 20. The vehicle is slated to lift off from Space Launch Complex-4E at 05:12 PDT and place Iridium NEXT satellites 56-65 into orbit. The first stage's bright flame could make the early portion of this launch visible for more than 120 miles. Liftoff occurs 54 minutes before Vandenberg AFB sunrise. A computer simulation by Rick Baldridge shows the rocket will climb into sunlight at T+ 3 minutes 30 seconds. If so, this would create an impressive display as the rocket's exhaust is illuminated at high altitude by the sun and suspended in a deep twilight sky."
YB
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Just got this in E-Mail -- there may be a date change:
Date (PST/PDT) Vehicle Pad/Silo
-------- ----------------- ------------- --------
JUL 25 04:39:26 Falcon 9 SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch Iridium NEXT satellites 56-65. The first stage's
bright flame could make the early portion of this launch visible for
more than 120 miles.
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DELAY CONFIRMED!!!
The dawn July 20 Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg AFB has been DELAYED until July 25. Unfortunately, the new launch time occurs too long before sunrise (at 04:39:26 PDT) for the exhaust plume to be illuminated by sunlight at high altitude. However, the early portion of the launch should be visible to the unaided eye for more a very long distance.
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Just happened to see the launch this morning at around 4:30am in the western sky. A bit obscured by clouds and possibly smoke as there was an orange haze that was noticeable as the rocket lit the surrounding sky. Still cool though!