VAFB Delta 2/Iridium MS-8 Launch Seen

JRBURCA (JRBURCA@aol.com)
Mon, 30 Mar 1998 01:35:53 EST

I watched from near my home about 130 miles away.  It launched on
time.  I had to wait a few seconds before it cleared some trees two
blocks away.  Watched with 7x50 binoculars; an orange elongated
flame with some of the exhaust/contrail behind it having some blue in
it.  After a while, saw orange sparks behind it which I assume were
the ejected boosters dropping off.  Then it looked like a moving orange
star and passed just above Sirius.  At a certain stage - sorry I don't
have all the stages of flight memorized - it started to take on a comet-
like appearance - diffused orange color and I could see the widening
exhaust/plume characteristic of this type of launch and the white 
exhaust in the middle of the comet-like image.  Then after a while,
there was a puff of smoke and it disappeared from my view.  I watched
the satellite TV feed up until T-3 min.  When, I returned the commentator
was indicating that all was well up to that point.

-- Jake Rees
   Burbank, Calif., USA