Posted on 05/01/2003 3:45:53 PM PDT by WSGilcrest
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VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE As of 2003 April 9
This schedule is a composite of unclassified information from government, industry, and other reliable sources. The dates and times may not agree with those posted on the official Vandenberg AFB launch schedule (mocc.vandenberg.af.mil/launchsched.asp).
Launch Time/Window Date (PST/PDT) Vehicle Pad/Silo -------- ----------- ---------- -------- JUN 1 ~12:00 Pegasus XL Offshore Payload is OrbView 3 commercial reconnaissance satellite. Pegasus will be air-launched from an L-1011 staged from Vandenberg AFB
JUN Unannounced Minuteman III LF-04 ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is at least one unarmed warhead. Impact area is near Kwajalein in the central Pacific. GT-182GM
JUL Unannounced Pegasus XL Offshore Payload is SciSat 1 ozone monitoring satellite. Pegasus will be air-launched from an L-1011 staged from Vandenberg AFB
Late JUN ~09:00 Titan II SLC-4W Payload is a DMSP military weather satellite. The launch window for this long-delayed launch has not been announced, but previous launch attempts have been scheduled for 06:00 to 09:00 PDT, depending on the time of year.
AUG Unannounced Minuteman III LF-26 ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is at least one unarmed warhead. Impact area is near Kwajalein in the central Pacific. GT-183GB
SEP Unannounced Minuteman III LF-10 ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is at least one unarmed warhead. Impact area is near Kwajalein in the central Pacific. GT-181GM
SEP 18 09:44 Delta II SLC-2W Payload is NASA's Gravity Probe-B scientific satellite
Mid-OCT Unannounced Atlas IIas SLC-3E Payload is a classified National Reconnaissance Office satellite(s).
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Southern California Astronomical Events May 2003
Note the total lunar eclipse on the evening of May 15th.
Time Date (PST/PDT) Event ------- ----------- ----------------------------------
MAY 1 05:15 New Moon http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.html
MAY 3-4 --- Dark Sky Weekend None
MAY 7 00:00 Mercury Inferior Conjunction RASC Observer's Handbook 2003, pg. 85
MAY 9 04:53 First Quarter Moon http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.html
MAY 9 20:54-22:05 Lunar Occultation The Moon occults the star Eta Leonis. Star disappears at 20:54 and reappears at 22:05. http://www.planetkc.com/bobgraze/2003d.zip
MAY 14 21:10-21:20 Jovian Moon Occultation Jupiter's moon Callisto partially occults Io. http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/2002-3_Occults.txt
MAY 15 19:03-22:18 Total Lunar Eclipse Eclipse begins before sunset at 19:03. Totality occurs after sunset at 20:14 and last until 21:07. Eclipse ends at 22:18. http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/extra/TLE2003May15.html
MAY 15 20:36 Full Moon http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.html
MAY 19 23:29-23:35 Jovian Moon Occultation Jupiter's moon Io occults Europa. http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/2002-3_Occults.txt
MAY 20 01:30 Lunar Occultation The Moon occults the star 60 Sagittarii. Star reappears at 01:30. The disappearance is not visible. http://www.planetkc.com/bobgraze/2003d.zip
MAY 22 17:31 Last Quarter Moon http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.html
MAY 30 21:20 New Moon http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.html
MAY 31-JUN 1 --- Dark Sky Weekend
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