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[OT] Peacekeeper Launch from Vandenberg



 
 
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  #11  
Old July 22nd 04, 08:06 AM
Mike Simmons
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Default [OT] Peacekeeper Launch from Vandenberg

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 01:05:39 GMT, Chris S
wrote:
I saw one from 1 mile down range back in 1992. I worked on the Minuteman
III and just so happened to be present for a Peacekeeper launch. Very
impressive stuff and I remember it just as you described. The one cool
thing I did get to see was the missile exit the launch tube and light the
first stage because we had a downhill vantage point to the launch
facility.

Maybe I'll get to see another some day. :-)


There's a Minuteman III scheduled to launch Friday morning with a six-hour
launch window opening at 1:01 AM.

Mike Simmons
  #12  
Old July 22nd 04, 08:08 AM
Mike Simmons
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Default [OT] Peacekeeper Launch from Vandenberg

I saw just what you describe with a spent stage. I could see it tumbling
(I assume that's the cause of the on-off behavior) for quite a long time
as the next stage continued to take the warhead downrange.

Mike Simmons

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 03:23:52 GMT, Skywise
wrote:
I observed the launch from Stanton down in Orange County,
118.0w 33.8n, through my telescope at both 19x and then
at 30x. I misjudged the location on the horizon where
it would rise and didn't see it until it was almost due
west and rising over a building. I caught it in time
to observe (19x) one of the stages fall away. I then
switched to 30x after the next stage lit and continued
following it until burnout. It was an orange diffuse
dot at all times.

After burnout was the interesting part. It would fade
completely but every 5-7 seconds it would flare up
again to about 1/3 it's brightness before burnout. It
almost looked as though I was watching a slow tumbling
satellite. I fianlly lost it when I accidently bumped
the scope.

I would guess I was either seeing course correction
firings or was following a spent booster as it tumbled
down range, occasionally looking down the still
smoldering 'barrel'.

Brian

  #13  
Old July 22nd 04, 08:08 AM
Mike Simmons
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Posts: n/a
Default [OT] Peacekeeper Launch from Vandenberg

I saw just what you describe with a spent stage. I could see it tumbling
(I assume that's the cause of the on-off behavior) for quite a long time
as the next stage continued to take the warhead downrange.

Mike Simmons

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 03:23:52 GMT, Skywise
wrote:
I observed the launch from Stanton down in Orange County,
118.0w 33.8n, through my telescope at both 19x and then
at 30x. I misjudged the location on the horizon where
it would rise and didn't see it until it was almost due
west and rising over a building. I caught it in time
to observe (19x) one of the stages fall away. I then
switched to 30x after the next stage lit and continued
following it until burnout. It was an orange diffuse
dot at all times.

After burnout was the interesting part. It would fade
completely but every 5-7 seconds it would flare up
again to about 1/3 it's brightness before burnout. It
almost looked as though I was watching a slow tumbling
satellite. I fianlly lost it when I accidently bumped
the scope.

I would guess I was either seeing course correction
firings or was following a spent booster as it tumbled
down range, occasionally looking down the still
smoldering 'barrel'.

Brian

  #14  
Old July 22nd 04, 08:23 AM
Phil Wheeler
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Posts: n/a
Default [OT] Peacekeeper Launch from Vandenberg



Mike Simmons wrote:

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 01:05:39 GMT, Chris S
wrote:

I saw one from 1 mile down range back in 1992. I worked on the Minuteman
III and just so happened to be present for a Peacekeeper launch. Very
impressive stuff and I remember it just as you described. The one cool
thing I did get to see was the missile exit the launch tube and light the
first stage because we had a downhill vantage point to the launch
facility.

Maybe I'll get to see another some day. :-)



There's a Minuteman III scheduled to launch Friday morning with a
six-hour launch window opening at 1:01 AM.


PDT?

  #15  
Old July 22nd 04, 08:23 AM
Phil Wheeler
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Posts: n/a
Default [OT] Peacekeeper Launch from Vandenberg



Mike Simmons wrote:

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 01:05:39 GMT, Chris S
wrote:

I saw one from 1 mile down range back in 1992. I worked on the Minuteman
III and just so happened to be present for a Peacekeeper launch. Very
impressive stuff and I remember it just as you described. The one cool
thing I did get to see was the missile exit the launch tube and light the
first stage because we had a downhill vantage point to the launch
facility.

Maybe I'll get to see another some day. :-)



There's a Minuteman III scheduled to launch Friday morning with a
six-hour launch window opening at 1:01 AM.


PDT?

  #16  
Old July 22nd 04, 03:01 PM
scurry
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Posts: n/a
Default [OT] Peacekeeper Launch from Vandenberg

Chris S wrote:

"Alexander Avtanski" wrote in message
...

I just saw the Peacekeeper launch from Vandenberg AFB (California).
Excellent view from San Jose - I've seen several launches from here,
and this one was in the "very good" category. Bright yellow-orange
exhaust, separation of the first stage clearly visible; after
separation could trace the first stage boosters falling down for
about 30 sec.

The sight of couple of dozen million dollars evaporating is
always impressive, :-)

- Alex



I saw one from 1 mile down range back in 1992. I worked on the Minuteman
III and just so happened to be present for a Peacekeeper launch. Very
impressive stuff and I remember it just as you described. The one cool
thing I did get to see was the missile exit the launch tube and light the
first stage because we had a downhill vantage point to the launch facility.

Maybe I'll get to see another some day. :-)


Lets hope not in anger.

shawn
  #17  
Old July 22nd 04, 03:01 PM
scurry
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Posts: n/a
Default [OT] Peacekeeper Launch from Vandenberg

Chris S wrote:

"Alexander Avtanski" wrote in message
...

I just saw the Peacekeeper launch from Vandenberg AFB (California).
Excellent view from San Jose - I've seen several launches from here,
and this one was in the "very good" category. Bright yellow-orange
exhaust, separation of the first stage clearly visible; after
separation could trace the first stage boosters falling down for
about 30 sec.

The sight of couple of dozen million dollars evaporating is
always impressive, :-)

- Alex



I saw one from 1 mile down range back in 1992. I worked on the Minuteman
III and just so happened to be present for a Peacekeeper launch. Very
impressive stuff and I remember it just as you described. The one cool
thing I did get to see was the missile exit the launch tube and light the
first stage because we had a downhill vantage point to the launch facility.

Maybe I'll get to see another some day. :-)


Lets hope not in anger.

shawn
  #18  
Old July 22nd 04, 05:17 PM
Alexander Avtanski
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Posts: n/a
Default [OT] Peacekeeper Launch from Vandenberg



Mike Simmons wrote:

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 03:23:52 GMT, Skywise
wrote:

I observed the launch from Stanton down in Orange County,
118.0w 33.8n, through my telescope at both 19x and then
at 30x. I misjudged the location on the horizon where
it would rise and didn't see it until it was almost due
west and rising over a building. I caught it in time
to observe (19x) one of the stages fall away. I then
switched to 30x after the next stage lit and continued
following it until burnout. It was an orange diffuse
dot at all times.

After burnout was the interesting part. It would fade
completely but every 5-7 seconds it would flare up
again to about 1/3 it's brightness before burnout. It
almost looked as though I was watching a slow tumbling
satellite. I fianlly lost it when I accidently bumped
the scope.

I would guess I was either seeing course correction
firings or was following a spent booster as it tumbled
down range, occasionally looking down the still
smoldering 'barrel'.

Brian


I saw just what you describe with a spent stage. I could see it
tumbling (I assume that's the cause of the on-off behavior) for quite a
long time as the next stage continued to take the warhead downrange.

Mike Simmons


Yes, I also think that should've been the spent stage - I was
able to see it tumbling for about 30 sec in the same FOV as the
missile (I was using 8x35 binoculars) and it was flashing
exactly as Brian describes. The missile itself continued steady
for about 30 seconds after I lost the spent stage and then seemed
to turn off quite abruptly. I guess this was the "coast" phase
of the flight, right?

- Alex


  #19  
Old July 22nd 04, 05:17 PM
Alexander Avtanski
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default [OT] Peacekeeper Launch from Vandenberg



Mike Simmons wrote:

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 03:23:52 GMT, Skywise
wrote:

I observed the launch from Stanton down in Orange County,
118.0w 33.8n, through my telescope at both 19x and then
at 30x. I misjudged the location on the horizon where
it would rise and didn't see it until it was almost due
west and rising over a building. I caught it in time
to observe (19x) one of the stages fall away. I then
switched to 30x after the next stage lit and continued
following it until burnout. It was an orange diffuse
dot at all times.

After burnout was the interesting part. It would fade
completely but every 5-7 seconds it would flare up
again to about 1/3 it's brightness before burnout. It
almost looked as though I was watching a slow tumbling
satellite. I fianlly lost it when I accidently bumped
the scope.

I would guess I was either seeing course correction
firings or was following a spent booster as it tumbled
down range, occasionally looking down the still
smoldering 'barrel'.

Brian


I saw just what you describe with a spent stage. I could see it
tumbling (I assume that's the cause of the on-off behavior) for quite a
long time as the next stage continued to take the warhead downrange.

Mike Simmons


Yes, I also think that should've been the spent stage - I was
able to see it tumbling for about 30 sec in the same FOV as the
missile (I was using 8x35 binoculars) and it was flashing
exactly as Brian describes. The missile itself continued steady
for about 30 seconds after I lost the spent stage and then seemed
to turn off quite abruptly. I guess this was the "coast" phase
of the flight, right?

- Alex


  #20  
Old July 23rd 04, 02:13 AM
Chris S
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Posts: n/a
Default [OT] Peacekeeper Launch from Vandenberg

"scurry" wrote in message
...
Chris S wrote:
Maybe I'll get to see another some day. :-)


Lets hope not in anger.

shawn


Amen to that...


 




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