LAUNCH ALERT

Brian Webb
Ventura County, California
E-mail: kd6nrp@earthlink.net
Web Site: http://www.spacearchive.info

2007 January 2 (Tuesday) 18:27 PST
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VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
As of 2007 January 2

Launch
Time/Window
Date (PST/PDT) Vehicle Pad/Silo
------------ --------------- ------------- --------

FEB 7 To be announced Minuteman III LF-10
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one or more unarmed
warheads. Impact area is probably the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein in
the central Pacific. The Air Force will announce the launch window a
few days in advance. GT-193GM

Late Winter To be announced Target ---
A target missile will be launched for the Missile Defense Agency to
test a new sea-based X-band radar. The DoD will announce the exact
launch time several hours in advance

Early Spring To be announced Interceptor ---
An anti-missile interceptor launched from Vandenberg AFB will attempt
to intercept a mock warhead launched from Kodiak, Alaska. This test is
very similar to the test conducted on 2006 SEP 1. Test delayed from
December-January to allow for software changes and upgrades to the
interceptor. The DoD will announce the exact launch time several hours
in advance

APR 3 To be announced Atlas V SLC-3E
Classified National Reconnaissance Office payload. The DoD will
announce the exact launch time several hours in advance. NROL-28

NET APR 25 16:25:16? Pegasus XL Offshore
Vehicle will be air-dropped from an L-1011 jumbo jet staged from
Vandenberg AFB. Payload is the AIM scientific satellite.

NET MAY 31 To be announced Delta II SLC-2W
Payload is the Missile Defense Agency's Block 2010 satellite

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ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS
2007 January
Computed for Los Angeles, California

Time
Date (PST/PDT) Event
-------- ----------- -----------------------------

JAN 3 05:57 Full Moon
Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night

JAN 3-4 00:00-05:30 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
The shower is predicted to peak on JAN 3 at 17:00 PST (JAN 4 01:00
UTC). This shower will be hampered by the full Moon.

JAN 6 21:00 Conjunction
The Moon passes 1.2° north of Regulus. Time of closest approach and
separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly
depending on your location

JAN 6 22:06 Mercury Superior Conjunction
Mercury passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.

JAN 11 04:45 Last Quarter Moon
Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon

JAN 15 05:00 Conjunction
The Moon passes 0.5° south of Antares. Time of closest approach and
separation computed for the Earth's center and may vary significantly
depending on your location

JAN 18 20:01 New Moon
Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises
at sunrise and sets at sunset

JAN 20-21 --- Dark Sky Weekend
Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may
hold observing sessions at dark sites

JAN 25 15:01 First Quarter Moon
Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight

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TIME FORMAT

All times in this newsletter are given in Pacific Time using a 24-hour
format based on military time. Under this system, regular time is
expressed as follows:
24-hour
Regular Time Format
--------------------- -------
12:00 a.m. (midnight) 00:00
6:00 a.m. 06:00
12:00 p.m. (noon) 12:00
6:00 p.m. 18:00

No distinction is made between Pacific Standard Time and Pacific
Daylight Time.

For assistance in converting military time to regular time, go to:

http://www.spacearchive.info/military.htm

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Copyright © 2007 Brian Webb. All rights reserved. This newsletter may
be distributed in its entirety without restriction. Excerpts may be
not be reprinted or posted elsewhere without prior permission.

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