Delta II/Iridium launch

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Hi All
I was able to observe to observe the launch of the Delta II / Iridium from
Fred Hesse park on the PV peninsula after two postponed launches.   It was
fortunate that the bank of clouds that came over a few hours earlier had
cleared away just in time.    From my vantage point, which is about 150
miles from Vandenberg, I look northwards across Santa Monica Bay towards
Malibu where I see a line of mercury vapor steet lights, and it wasn't until
one of them seemed to be rising into the sky that I realised that the launch
had taken place.   When it is dark I usually see the pre-liftoff burn as a
bright flash,  but not this time.   All I saw was the dull amber light
lifting skywards.    The six second stage solid boosters burned out when
approximately abreast of my position.    It remained a dull amber color, in
contrast to it's usual bright white, until the first stage main engine
burnout,  which must have taken place well south of the Mexican border.   I
was able to record most of the first stage main engine burn on video

Ron Rennie

Lomita, CA
118d 20" W,  32d 40"N,   

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