Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2012 14:32:09 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
From: Launch Alert <launch-alert@mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Launch Alert] Launch On Schedule
To: launch-alert@mailman.qth.net
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<13387426.1333315929787.JavaMail.root@mswamui-cedar.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

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LAUNCH ALERT

Brian Webb
Ventura County, California
launch-alert-editor@earthlink.net
www.spacearchive.info

2012 April 1 (Sunday) 13:41 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

LAUNCH ON SCHEDULE

Although the forecast only predicts a 30% probability of acceptable
weather, Monday afternoon's launch of a Delta IV medium rocket from
Vandenberg AFB appears to be on schedule. The Delta is slated to leave
Space Launch Complex 6 at south base at 16:04 PDT and carry a
classified payload into orbit for the U.S. National Reconnaissance
Office.

The launch window has not been announced and is probably For Official
Use Only or classified.

The rocket for this launch consists of a liquid fuel Delta IV core
vehicle with two large strap-on solid rocket motors. The first stage
main engine and solid rocket motors will ignite just before liftoff
and generate about 1.1 million pounds of thrust. The rocket's total
height is nearly 220 feet tall.

If the sky is clear, members of the public who are not specifically
looking for the launch may accidentally notice it up to 50 miles from
the launch site. Launch enthusiasts with an unobstructed horizon who
are looking in the right direction at the right time may see the first
minute or so of the launch from as far away as 110 miles.

Under ideal conditions, people in quiet locations as far as 50 miles
from the launch site may hear the launch. The sound may take up to 5
minutes to arrive in outlying areas and will probably consist of a
distant, low frequency rumble.

For current launch status, go to:

www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d359/status.html

http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages...a_Webcast.shtml

For information on viewing Vandenberg launches, point your browser to:

www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

Detailed information about photographing Vandenberg launches is
available at:

www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------------

UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE MEDIA UPDATE
2012 March 31

The following is an excerpt from a ULA media advisory issued late
Saturday afternoon. ULA is the launch services provider for this
launch.

"The team has completed its assessment of an observation on the upper
stage engine. The Delta IV NROL-25 launch is set for Monday, April 2
at 4:04 p.m. PDT from Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg Air Force
Base in California. The L-3 weather forecast shows a 30 percent chance
of favorable weather conditions for launch."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
As of 2012 April 1

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

APR 2 16:04 Delta IV SLC-6
Vehicle will launch the classified NROL-25 payload for the U.S.
National Reconnaissance Office. The launch window has not been
announced and is probably classified. Delayed from March 29 and 30

Unknown To be announced Minuteman III ---
Test launch. The Defense Department may release some details about the
launch a few days in advance. Delayed from MAR 1 due to technical
problems.

AUG 2 To be announced Atlas V SLC-3E
Vehicle will launch the classified NROL-36 payload for the U.S.
National Reconnaissance Office

DEC 1 To be announced Pegasus XL N/A
Vehicle will be air-dropped from an L-1011 jumbo jet flying offshore.
The aircraft will be staged from Vandenberg AFB.

2012 To be announced Falcon 9 SLC-4E
Vehicle will launch a payload for MDA Corp. (Canada)

2012 To be announced Falcon Heavy SLC-4E
Falcon Heavy demonstration flight

The above schedule is a composite of unclassified information
approved for public release from government, industry, and other
sources. It represents the Editor's best effort to produce a schedule,
but may disagree with other sources. Details on military launches are
withheld until they are approved for public release. For official
information regarding Vandenberg AFB activities, go to
http://www.vandenberg.af.mil.

All launch dates and times are given in Pacific Time using a 24-hour
format similar to military time (midnight = 00:00, 1:00 p.m. = 13:00,
11:00 p.m. = 23:00, etc.).

The dates and times in this schedule may not agree with those on other
online launch schedules, including the official Vandenberg AFB
schedule because different sources were used, the information was
interpreted differently, and the schedules were updated at different
times.

From SFN:

__________________
Craig McGraw

BARCLONE Rocketry -- http://barclone.rocketshoppe.com
BARCLONE Blogsite -- http://barclone.wordpress.com
BARCLONE Forum -- BARCLONE Forum

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SAM 0044
AMA 352635

Thank you,

I will pass that along!

J

From SFN:

__________________
Craig McGraw

BARCLONE Rocketry -- http://barclone.rocketshoppe.com
BARCLONE Blogsite -- http://barclone.wordpress.com
BARCLONE Forum -- BARCLONE Forum

BARs helping BARs

SAM 0044
AMA 352635

T-30 minutes.

There should be a nice vapor trail later this afternoon here in Arizona.

I will be watching the flight from the live feed on Spaceflightnow.com.

Later near dusk, the horizon should have a nice 'glow; of propellant reactants

Jonathan

T-4 min ... live feed is on!

Good luck ULA!!!

Jonathan

Good launch ... sucked that at ignition as the engines were being brought to full power, the launch pad camera went blank and they had to switch to a long view camera

I think the rattling of engine vibrations must of shook something loose?

I also noticed that the maximum number of people viewing never got over 3600 according to the counter on the bottom left hand portion of the screen

Is this a sign of the times? Are people really this uninterested in rocketry at a professional level?

I remember as a kid, when I was an Eagle Scout Explorer, we would caravan from the Los Angeles Air Station (Now Onizuka Air Station) up to Vandenburg AFB to HOPEFULLY see a Delta or Altas clear the pad; Julie White you still out there or anyone know if she is still with us? If so , tell here I said hi and thank you for believing in me!

Now we sit back from the COMFORT of our computer chairs and can join the launch in the final minutes; yet few of us even take that initiative!

Well I am happy for ULA, and for America. We need positive things to happen!

Folks, I say a lot of things and sometimes I have to scratch my head and wonder what I was trying to say or get across after making the posting, but believe me when i say, I have no were else to go at this moment in time. I don't have 6 or 7 figures in my bank account. We have to either make this nation work, or lets commence the war to see who gets what.

I was very pleased to see the launch and its success! I really am very lucky to be alive today.

Jonathan

I'm sure it doesn't count those that went outside to see the launch, or who drove to a good vantage point. And also, keep in mind ULA may have had their own webcast of the launch where folks might have tuned in. SFN's re-broadcast often leaves a little (OK, a LOT) to be desired. There were probably a few more than SFN's server was reporting.

__________________
Craig McGraw

BARCLONE Rocketry -- http://barclone.rocketshoppe.com
BARCLONE Blogsite -- http://barclone.wordpress.com
BARCLONE Forum -- BARCLONE Forum

BARs helping BARs

SAM 0044
AMA 352635