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picture below.)
Minotaur Launch, April 11, 2005 |
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picture below.)
The Air Force Research Laboratory launched its Experimental Satellite System-11 (XSS-11) satellite from Space Launch Complex 8 at Vendenberg Air Foce Base at 6.35 A.M. PDT this morning. The launch vehicle was a Minotaur, a rocket that is part Minuteman and part Orbital Sciences' Pegasus. The micro-satellite is intended to demonstrate autonomous inspection; rendezvous and docking; repositioning; and techniques for maneuvering around other satellites.
The Minotaur launch vehicle reached the desired orbit about 12 minutes after launch. The XSS-11 micro-satellite separated successfully from the booster and is functioning properly.
As seen from Goleta: the Minotaur launched right at sunrise.
The ignition of the second stage is marked by an increase in the density of the exhaust trail.
The sunlight striking the lower part of its exhaust trail was reddened by atmospheric scattering of the wavelengths at the blue end of the spectrum.
Winds aloft quickly pulled the exhaust trail in various directions.
Link to the Minuteman ICBM History website's page about the Minotaur.
Link to the U. S. Air Force Fact Sheet about the Minotaur.
Link to Orbital Sciences' page about the Minotaur.
Link to the GlobalSecurity.org's page about the Minotaur.
Link to the GlobalSecurity.org's page about the Experimental Satellite System.
Link to the GlobalSecurity.org's article about XSS-11.
Link to the Spaceflight Now's status page for the XSS-11.
More of my Vandenberg AFB
launch photography.
You can buy a 2011 calendar featuring my photographs of rocket launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Photos of thirteen rocket launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base:
Pegasus-XL/Wide-Field Infra-red Explorer (WIRE) March 4, 1999
Atlas-IIAS/Terra December 18, 1999
Delta II/Gravity Probe B, April 20, 2004
Minotaur/Streak September 22, 2005
Titan IV/National Reconnaissance Office satellite, October 19, 2005
Minuteman III, February 16, 2006
Minuteman III, April 2, 2008
Target Launch Vehicle, September 24, 2008
Delta-II/GeoEye 1, September 6, 2008
Delta II/Jason 2, June 20, 2008
Delta II/COSMO-Skymed, October 24, 2008
Taurus/Orbiting Carbon Observatory, February 24, 2009
Delta-II/Worldview 2, October 28, 2009
Put a copy of the Rocket Launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base: 2011 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $16.95.
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