Some info on a confirmed Vandenberg launch tomorrow morning:


NPP SATELLITE READY FOR LAUNCH
NASA Media Advisory
2011 October 25

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The launch of the NPOESS
Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite aboard a United Launch Alliance
Delta II rocket is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 28. Liftoff from NASA's
Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Calif., is
targeted during a nine-minute ten second launch window that opens at
2:48:01 a.m. PDT. The spacecraft's final circular
polar orbit will be 512 miles (824 kilometers) at an inclination of 98
degrees.

NPP, a NASA Earth-observing satellite, represents a critical first
step in building the next-generation of U.S. polar-orbiting climate
and weather monitoring spacecraft. NPP is the bridge between NASA's
Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites and the forthcoming series of
Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellites. The mission will test
key technologies and instruments for the JPSS missions.

 

Nice...hopefully it'll be clear enough to see it.

 

My grandparents live in Lompoc. Next door to VAFB. Bet they will enjoy that.

 

I headed up a hill in my truck, coffee in hand and watched the launch. Right at 2:48.

 

Must have been quite a sight from Ventura, Trey!

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team Vandenberg launched a Delta II
rocket carrying NASA's NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite from
Space Launch Complex-2W here at 2:48 a.m. PDT today.

Col. Richard Boltz, 30th Space Wing commander, was the launch decision
authority.

"Public safety is always our first priority, and Team Vandenberg did a
phenomenal job ensuring a safe launch for this critical NASA mission,"
said Colonel Boltz.

NPP, an Earth-observing satellite, represents a critical first step in
building the next-generation of U.S. polar-orbiting climate and weather
monitoring spacecraft. NPP is the bridge between NASA's Earth Observing
System (EOS) satellites and the forthcoming series of Joint Polar
Satellite System (JPSS) satellites. The mission will test key
technologies and instruments for the JPSS missions.

See NASA - NPP for updates on post-launch NPP mission status.

Today's launch is the last scheduled for 2011 from Vandenberg as well as
the last for Colonel Boltz serving as 30th Space Wing commander. "It's
been a tremendous honor serving alongside the men and women who make
Team Vandenberg the best launch team in the world," said Colonel Boltz,
whose change of command ceremony is scheduled for January 2012.

Col. Nina Armagno, currently serving as Director of Staff, Headquarters,
Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo., has been named as the
incoming 30th Space Wing commander.

 

Its not great. It was with my phone, and I was tired. It was after all almost 3am haha

Some of you may remember my grandfather (Rest in peace) who served in the Air Force in the SR-71 program. Before he was involved with that he was at Vandenberg Missile Command.
Delta II Missile Launch from Vandenberg AFB (10/28/11) - YouTube