Author Topic: Mystery Launch?  (Read 44456 times)

Offline rdale

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Mystery Launch?
« on: 11/09/2010 12:49 pm »
Any idea who did this? Pentagon isn't just saying "no comment" - they are saying it wasn't one of theirs...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/09/national/main7036716.shtml

Offline JohnFornaro

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #1 on: 11/09/2010 01:18 pm »
I can't say anything publicly about that launch on this forum.  [Nods head knowingly and exeunts stage left.]
Sometimes I just flat out don't get it.

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #2 on: 11/09/2010 01:33 pm »
So did the ABL hit or miss this time?
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Offline Jester

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #3 on: 11/09/2010 01:34 pm »
a Sub launching something ? what else is there about 35 miles west of L.A. ?


Offline dninness

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #4 on: 11/09/2010 02:29 pm »
Just a cursory look puts the launch location on the western edge of the W-289 area, or maybe the corner of the W-290 area.  I did a quick check but couldn't come up with any NOTAMs on the area.

(admittedly, my knowledge of getting a NOTAM out of the system is low..)

You'd think that if it was a US launch of any sort, they'd NOTAM it to avoid any traffic interference issues. Would hate to have some airliner inbound from Hawaii to LAX stumble thru that area at just the wrong time.

If there is no NOTAM, then maybe it wasn't one of ours.


Offline Jester

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #5 on: 11/09/2010 02:50 pm »
NOTAMs are active for W289 W289N and W290

also
http://sua.faa.gov/sua/special.do?selected=2&sua=conus

checking notam's......

apparently, also active for today?
11/082 (A2836/10) - AIRSPACE W290 ACT SFC-UNL. 09 NOV 15:30 2010 UNTIL 10 NOV 03:00 2010. CREATED:
09 NOV 09:33 2010

11/081 (A2835/10) - AIRSPACE W289N ACT SFC-UNL. 09 NOV 15:30 2010 UNTIL 10 NOV 03:00 2010. CREATED:
09 NOV 09:33 2010

11/080 (A2834/10) - AIRSPACE W289 ACT SFC-UNL. 09 NOV 15:30 2010 UNTIL 10 NOV 03:00 2010. CREATED:
09 NOV 09:33 2010
« Last Edit: 11/09/2010 03:00 pm by Jester »

Offline lcs

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #6 on: 11/09/2010 03:09 pm »
That was not a missile launch.  It is clearly a contrail from an airliner.  Many similar photos have been taken over the years that look almost identical. 

http://contrailscience.com/a-problem-of-perspective-in-the-oc-new-years-eve-contrail/
« Last Edit: 11/09/2010 03:11 pm by lcs »

Offline rdale

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #7 on: 11/09/2010 03:14 pm »
That was not a missile launch.  It is clearly a contrail from an airliner.  Many similar photos have been taken over the years

Hmmm... Did you watch the video before coming to that conclusion?

Offline jcm

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #8 on: 11/09/2010 03:31 pm »
As I think Kevin is alluding to, the most likely ID if it is a missile launch is a target missile
launched by the Missile Defense Agency from San Nicolas Island, which is exactly in the direction mentioned by the news reports. These happen on a regular basis using small sounding rockets and occasionally larger missiles. Maybe the news helicopter just happened to be over that part of the ocean when the launch occurred, and combined with the illumination of the contrail provided by the low sun angle you get something that seemed newsworthy...
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Offline elmarko

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #9 on: 11/09/2010 03:35 pm »
That was not a missile launch.  It is clearly a contrail from an airliner.  Many similar photos have been taken over the years

Hmmm... Did you watch the video before coming to that conclusion?


I can't see how you could say that was an airliner.

Perspective? Sure. But it was really shifting quite fast out there.
« Last Edit: 11/09/2010 03:35 pm by elmarko »

Offline rdale

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #10 on: 11/09/2010 03:36 pm »
BreakingNews.com. “More on mystery missile launch off Calif. coast: FAA tells NBC it 'had not approved any commercial space launches in that area' at that time”

Offline rdale

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #11 on: 11/09/2010 04:09 pm »
“@BreakingNews: Pentagon spokesman on mystery missile: 'We've come up empty with any explanation,' but 'are not alarmed about this until we know more'”

Offline JohnFornaro

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #12 on: 11/09/2010 04:11 pm »
I don't think it's a contrail. It flies between the two bands of clouds, which I think are separated by a large horizontal distance and approximately at the same altitude.
Sometimes I just flat out don't get it.

Offline Lee Jay

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #13 on: 11/09/2010 04:12 pm »
That was not a missile launch.  It is clearly a contrail from an airliner.  Many similar photos have been taken over the years

Hmmm... Did you watch the video before coming to that conclusion?


I can't see how you could say that was an airliner.

Perspective? Sure. But it was really shifting quite fast out there.

I watched the video 6 or 8 times, and I often shoot pictures of high-altitude airplanes through a telescope at sunset.  Nothing in the video convinced me this was a rocket and not an airliner.  Nothing convinced me the other way either.  On the clip, they didn't keep the video going long enough to get much confirmation either way.

Without more evidence, I wouldn't be certain that it was a rocket.

Offline lcs

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #14 on: 11/09/2010 04:36 pm »
I don't think it's a contrail. It flies between the two bands of clouds, which I think are separated by a large horizontal distance and approximately at the same altitude.

I don't think so.  Both cloud bands are at lower altitude and in front of the contrail, which is at a much higher altitude and still illuminated by the sun, probably at least a hundred miles away.  The trajectory is also clearly inbound.  A missile would be arcing over the horizon by this time.

Offline Immersive

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #15 on: 11/09/2010 05:27 pm »
aircraft.

twin.

Guessing from PHNL or GIAA?


Lets Get Off This Rock And Do Something!

Offline Namechange User

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #16 on: 11/09/2010 05:33 pm »
“@BreakingNews: Pentagon spokesman on mystery missile: 'We've come up empty with any explanation,' but 'are not alarmed about this until we know more'”

LOL, that's actually a funny statement.  The next tweet may say, "If and when we do find out more, panic may be the appropriate option"
Enjoying viewing the forum a little better now by filtering certain users.

Offline Antares

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #17 on: 11/09/2010 05:52 pm »
Are there archives for yesterday's NOTAMs?  These are all today.
If I like something on NSF, it's probably because I know it to be accurate.  Every once in a while, it's just something I agree with.  Facts generally receive the former.

Offline Ben the Space Brit

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #18 on: 11/09/2010 05:54 pm »
I'm guessing it is a US Navy surface to air missile launch, or a target missile.  Something small.

Does any one else remember the Standard SAM variant used to shoot down that disabled satellite over the Pacific a couple of years ago? The Standard is a multi-stage solid.  Could this have been a test shot of the same variant? It would explain the rather implausible expressions of ignorance as ABM/ASAT systems are diplomatically awkward and the President is attempting to build bridges at the moment.
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Offline kevin-rf

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Re: Mystery Launch?
« Reply #19 on: 11/09/2010 06:00 pm »
Read what the FAA said:  'had not approved any commercial space launches in that area' at that time”

commercial space launches. That does not rule out any DOD or research non (or even orbital) missiles.

Saw a interesting suggestion on it being a Talos target missile, based on the size of the plume.
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