Perfect, it's been awhile since we were last treated to a twilight sky show. Let's hope everything proceeds smoothly for a well timed launch. I wonder if there is a reason for the occasional sunset launches or if they just schedule them now and then to give the taxpayers a little extra bang for their buck.
Pings to Tuesday night!
Interesting timing, with the whole NK thing going on. And a SPY satellite, nonetheless! (ok, I'll take off my tin cap now).
LOL.
Very interesting. Hope I don't miss it. (It won't be dark yet if it launches before 8pm.)
1960s: SLC-6 was originally built for USAF/NRO Manned Orbiting Laboratory, program cancelled before first launch.
1980s: The pad was refurbished for West Coast Shuttle launches, abandoned before first launch.
1995: First Athena launch, failed
1997: Athena launched Lewis satellite; satellite failed after orbit insertion
1999: Third Athena launch from SLC-6, failed again.
Local legend has it that the local Native American Indian tribe held a special ceremony to curse the pad when it was first built.
Thanks for the alert - we'll be sure to watch for this tomorrow evening and will try to get some good photos.
I see that concentric circles found our photo from last fall. :) We're located on the western AZ border and have previously had some great views of the launches from Vandenburg. It's just amazing that we can see something at such a distance!
Right now the weather to the west of us is quite cloudy, hope it clears up by tomorrow evening.
Mission Status Center - Spaceflightnow.com
3:56 p.m. PDT - The launch team has been given a "go" to begin fueling the Delta 4 rocket with supercold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen!
3:10 p.m. PDT - Mission managers are continuing to monitor the situation. No decision has been made to begin fueling the Delta 4 rocket for tonight's launch.
2:09 p.m. PDT - Countdown clocks are running for today's Delta 4 launch. But strong winds at Space Launch Complex 6 are violating the allowable limit during the time crews load propellants into the rocket. So the fueling operations are on hold pending improvements with the weather.
Weather data at 3:40 p.m. PDT
64 °F
Scattered Clouds
Wind: 9 mph from the West
Ceiling: 23000 ft, scattered clouds 13000 ft
Bookmark...
I didn't click-through on your link but am curious: is there a website that announces the "announced" (hehe) launches? I'd love to see one if I ever have the opportunity. Any suggestions for a good location to watch (I'm not a member at the country club where I saw my last one)?