If you're in viewing range of launches from Vandenberg AFB in California and know how to use the Rocket Trajectory feature of Rob Matson's excellent SKYMAP program, below is a predicted trajectory that can be saved as a .TRJ file for this Sunday morning's launch (3/12). The launch window is from 1:22am PST to 1:52am. (9:22 to 9:52 U.T. March 12th). The trajectory file will not be PERFECT, but should be more than close enough for setting up cameras to point in the right direction, etc. The trajectory was based on many "assumed" parameters of the launch that I had no confirmed facts for. Since I did not know the launch facility to be used, I chose South Vandenberg and picked a point near (but not on) SLC-6 which is probably not correct but should be close enough. The MTI payload was listed as "sun-synchronous" which implies an inclination close to 97 degrees, so I chose a launch azimuth of 188 degrees. From TAURUS launch info I gathered on the Web, IF launched from South Vandenberg, there would not be a need for a dog-leg maneuver, so a straight-line trajectory was plotted. Lastly, the TAURUS vehicle has at least two distinct ascent profiles available, with a "Direct Ascent" profile being the most likely used for this mission which was used for the trajectory file below. 0 34.577 -120.639 0.00 52 34.399 -120.6695 20.0 81 34.082 -120.723 38.915 155 32.151 -121.043 113.038 167 31.688 -121.118 127.863 247 27.890 -121.700 216.812 635 7.160 -124.35 461.420 Anyone within viewing distance of the launch who does not have or know how to use SKYMAP, I offer to produce a CUSTOM PLOT of the trajectory as viewed from your location. I need simply your LAT, LONG (and Elevation if > 1km) to generate a plot which will be E-mailed back as a .JPG attachment. Please make requests TODAY if possible (3/10) before 3pm PST. RICK BALDRIDGE rbaldridge@filss.com N37.262 W121.977 Campbell, CA ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Mar 10 2000 - 09:34:14 PST