Re: Minuteman II Launch
Brian Webb (102670.1206@compuserve.com)
Sun, 3 Oct 1999 11:17:55 -0400
Hi Everybody:
Well, it looks like the word about last night's launch did get out and
several people had a heads up and were able to see it. I was working on a
story about the test and was at Vandenberg AFB for the launch.
The aviation weather forecast for the base called for a solid cloud layer
at 200 feet at launch time. Sure enough, the low clouds moved in as we were
at the center of the base. However, as we drove several miles the northwest
to the press site, we got from under the low clouds.
At the observation site the it was clear!!! The deck was stalled about 6
miles offshore. Vandenberg is the foggiest and cloudiest part of the
California coast, so we really lucked out.
The modified Minuteman II was about 3 miles west-northwest of us in a silo
down near the beach. A little red light was flashing to warn people to stay
away.
The public affairs officer told us that the launch window opened at 19:01
PDT (02:01 UTC), but would close for a few minutes in the event of a delay
because the Mir was passing by.
Launch took place at about 10 or 15 minutes after sundown. There was a
brilliant white fire shooting up from the silo and the missile rose through
its own fire and then began heading towards the west. The sound from the
first stage was really neat. The missile climbed at a much steeper angle
than an orbital launch vehicle does.
After several seonds, the smoke trail began to turn orange, a signal that
the bird was beginning the catch sunlight. The smoke trail began to turn
brilliant blue-white and then it started to look misty as the exhaust plume
spead out in the tenous upper atmosphere. We also saw the + exhaust pattern
of the second or third stage when the vehicle reached space. It was cool.
Later I was fortunate enough to be in the press briefing when the Ballistic
Missile Defense Organization spokeswoman walked in and announced the
intercept appeared to have been a success. I then ran out and phoned in my
story.
At about T+ 2 hours I called the public affairs office at Vandenberg and
learned that people had phoned in from Las Vegas and Phoenix saying that
they'd seen the launch. The ABC affiliate in Honolulu also called in and
asked about the launch, but I don't think they could have seen it from
there.
It was an interesting day.
Regards,
Brian Webb