Re: Pegasus/SWAS Launch
JRBURCA@aol.com
Sat, 5 Dec 1998 21:00:50 EST
I also watched the Pegasus/SWAS launch from Burbank just on the
northern edge of Los Angeles. Quite impressive, first a bright contrail
in the NW, as it climbed the plume being generated was wedge shaped
from the bright point of origin. Having never seen a Pegasus launch from
the west coast, I wondered how high in the sky it would get. Since it
was dropped from 39,000 ft. from 70 miles SW of Monterey, and the
launch azimuth reportedly was 158 degrees, I expected it would be high
and it was, about 3 handwidths-at-arms-length above the western horizon
at the highest. 35-40 degrees sounds about right. This is a lot higher
than the Delta II launches as seen from here. At its highest point, roughly,
the plume stopped being generated and I could no longer see it with the
binoculars. Thanks Brian Webb for the launch alerts. We had bright
twilight conditions and crystal clear skies.
-- Jake Rees
Burbank, California