Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule
A Taurus rocket carrying Taiwan's ROCSAT-2 satellite lifts-off from Space Launch Complex 576E at Vandenberg AFB. To access launch photos, videos, and audio reports, visit the Vandenberg Rocket and Missile Launch Multimedia library. Image courtesy U.S. Air Force.This schedule lists rocket and missile launches from Vandenberg AFB for the next six months. It is a composite of unclassified information approved for public release from government, industry, and other sources. This schedule is essentially accurate at the time of publication, but may disagree with other sources. Details on military launches are withheld until they are approved for public release. For detailed information about this schedule, refer to the Notes section below.
| Date | Launch Time/Window PST/PDT | Vehicle | Pad/Silo | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAN 20 | 13:08 | Delta IV Heavy | SLC-6 | Vehicle will launch the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-49 payload |
| FEB 5 | To be announced | Minotaur I | SLC-8 | Vehicle will launch the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-66 payload |
| FEB 23 | 02:09:43 | Taurus XL | 576E | Payload is the Glory scientific satellite. Vehicle will carry three small satellites as secondary payloads: Explorer 1 Prime (Montana State University), Hermes (University of Colorado), and KySat-1 (Kentucky space consortium). |
| MAR 31 | To be announced | Atlas V | SLC-3E | Vehicle will launch the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-34 payload |
| JUN 9 | Unknown | Delta II | SLC-2W | Vehicle will launch Argentina's SAC-D scientific satellite carrying NASA's Aquarius instrument |
- 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.
- The webmaster does not post the dates, launch windows, and times for military launches until they have been officially released by the Defense Department.
- 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 above schedule makes no distinction between Pacific Standard Time (PST) and Pacific Daylight Saving Time (PDT). PST is in effect from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March. PDT is in effect from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
- The Pacific Time zone lags UTC by 7 or 8 hours, depending on the time of year. The time difference is as follows:
2010 NOV 7 - 2011 MAR 13: Pacific Time = UTC -8 hours 2011 MAR 13 - 2011 NOV 6: Pacific Time = UTC -7 hours - With the exception of Minuteman III launches, launch dates are fluid and tend to change over time.
- Launches for all vehicles except the Pegasus XL are scheduled for the start of the launch window. Pegasus XL launch times are scheduled for the middle of the launch window.
- Prior to the launch of a classified payload, the exact launch time is kept secret until about T-18 to T-4 hours. The launch window is also secret and not made public. Instead of providing the launch window, the Air Force announces a launch period - a large block of time within which the launch window falls.
- For additional information on Vandenberg AFB launches, refer to Viewing Vandenberg AFB Launches.
23-story rocket launches U.S. spy satellite
Washington (CNN) -- The largest rocket ever launched from the West Coast went into space Thursday afternoon carrying a secret "national security" satellite, Vandenberg Air Force Base in California announced.
The 23-story tall Delta IV rocket blasted off on schedule at 1:10 p.m. PT (4:10 p.m. ET). With 2 million pounds of thrust -- 33 times the output of the Hoover Dam -- it delivered into orbit a satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, the U.S. government agency that oversees the nation's satellites.
The NRO is staying mum about the satellite but noted this is the third in a series of six satellite launches happening over a seven- to eight-month period. The next launch is scheduled for February 5.
"We would like to keep our adversaries guessing on what our capabilities are," said Rick Oborn, a spokesman for the intelligence agency.
But some analysts say they believe the orbiter will be an imagery satellite capable of seeing images as small as a human fist from hundreds of miles away.
"It will be used to produce high-resolution imagery of military and terrorist facilities around the world," said Jeffrey Richelson, an expert on space reconnaissance with the National Security Archive.
According to experts, the satellite, known as a KH-11, is not capable of reading a license plate number or a newspaper headline, as seen in Hollywood movies. But due to its large size and bigger optics, the satellite has advanced resolution that can see much finer detail on the ground than anything similar.
"Being able to see things four inches across has tremendous value. If you're trying to assess what's the capability of a new missile on a launch pad in North Korea -- could it reach the U.S. for example -- if you could see that rocket with enough precision, enough detail to get accurate dimensions, you can then determine what its capabilities are," said Ted Molczan, an amateur astronomer who specializes in tracking satellites in secret orbits.
Molczan said there are currently 3 KH-11s in orbit and he believes the purpose of this launch is to replace one that has been in orbit since 2001.
While this is the first Delta IV rocket to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, about 150 miles up the coast from Los Angeles, it is the fifth launch in the program's history. The others have previously launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
The launch follows three years of preparations at Vandenberg and a $100 million infrastructure upgrade at the base to handle the massive rocket launch.
"The excitement and buzz on base today is reminiscent of the 1950s space excitement. Children are excited to see 'the big rocket.' It is a fun day to be in space operations," Lt. Ann K. Blodzinski, an Air Force spokeswoman, said before the launch.
Blodzinski expected crowds to fill viewing sites on and off base to watch the launch.
News From: edition.cnn.com
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