Author Topic: What launched from Vandenberg  (Read 28455 times)

Offline DeanG1967

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What launched from Vandenberg
« on: 11/08/2015 01:47 am »
Does anyone know of any USAF ICBM test launches today?  About 1800L PST in Vegas (~ 0200Z on 8 Nov 15), I could see what looked like a launch to include staging.  It was about 1 hour after sunset here...was quite a site but can't find anything about any launches from the west coast.

Offline ethan829

Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #1 on: 11/08/2015 01:50 am »
« Last Edit: 11/08/2015 01:52 am by ethan829 »

Offline benson125

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Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #2 on: 11/08/2015 01:57 am »
Had an incredible view of this from Thousand oaks. It didnt appear to come from Vandenberg.  It almost looked like it came from the south and headed north. Maybe sea based?

Offline wxmeddler

Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #3 on: 11/08/2015 02:03 am »
Definitely seems like a staging or 2nd stage failure...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xLmB81v-BI&feature=youtu.be

Offline ethan829

Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #4 on: 11/08/2015 02:09 am »
Seeing more speculation that this was a sea launch and not from Vandenberg. Still no official word.

Offline DeanG1967

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Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #5 on: 11/08/2015 02:12 am »
I could see the staging (as in you saw what appeared to be MECO...possible Retros then staging).  2nd stage continued to burn until the light was dimmed out / no longer visible.  I don't think it was a failure.  It was pretty awesome though.

Offline DeanG1967

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Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #6 on: 11/08/2015 02:14 am »
Seeing more speculation that this was a sea launch and not from Vandenberg. Still no official word.

Standard missile is a possibility (part of the missile defense).  It does have a SRB booster and explains the staging.

Offline sdsds

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Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #7 on: 11/08/2015 02:15 am »
There are no unscheduled/unannounced launches out of Vandenberg. Whatever it was, someone should have filed a NOTAM. Unless ... ?
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Offline DeanG1967

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Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #8 on: 11/08/2015 02:17 am »
There are no unscheduled/unannounced launches out of Vandenberg. Whatever it was, someone should have filed a NOTAM. Unless ... ?

The Warning areas were NOTAM'd surface to 80,000 but that happens a lot out there

Offline sdsds

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Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #9 on: 11/08/2015 02:19 am »
 Twitter:
 
OC Sheriff, CA
‏@OCSD
#OCSDPIO: Light seen in OC sky was confirmed through JWA tower to be a Naval test fire off the coast. No further details.
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Offline wxmeddler

Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #10 on: 11/08/2015 02:22 am »
Twitter:
 
OC Sheriff, CA
‏@OCSD
#OCSDPIO: Light seen in OC sky was confirmed through JWA tower to be a Naval test fire off the coast. No further details.

What kind of naval weapon flies that high with staging? Unless it's a USA-193 type killer or an ICBM.
« Last Edit: 11/08/2015 02:24 am by wxmeddler »

Offline hop

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Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #11 on: 11/08/2015 02:29 am »
What kind of naval weapon flies that high with staging? Unless it's a USA-193 type killer or an ICBM.
SLBM http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/nov/07/mystery-light-sky-military-navy-drill/

Offline DeanG1967

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Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #12 on: 11/08/2015 02:33 am »
What kind of naval weapon flies that high with staging? Unless it's a USA-193 type killer or an ICBM.
SLBM http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/nov/07/mystery-light-sky-military-navy-drill/

Or Standard Missile-3

Offline hop

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Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #13 on: 11/08/2015 02:41 am »
What kind of naval weapon flies that high with staging? Unless it's a USA-193 type killer or an ICBM.
SLBM http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/nov/07/mystery-light-sky-military-navy-drill/

Or Standard Missile-3
A navy spokesperson confirmed that it was a Trident test
Quote
Navy Strategic Systems Programs conducted the scheduled Trident II (D5) missile test flight at sea from the Kentucky, an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, in the Pacific Test Range off the coast of Southern California, a Navy spokesman said.  

The test was part of a scheduled, on-going system evaluation test, said Cmdr. Ryan Perry with the Navy’s Third Fleet.

edit
A few other news outlets have given different stories (claiming it was launched from Edwards for example), but this is the only one I've seen that quoted a named military source, and it seems by far the most credible and consistent with the locations of reported sightings.
« Last Edit: 11/08/2015 02:47 am by hop »

Offline Terry Rocket

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Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #14 on: 11/08/2015 02:48 am »
Oh, Trident as in the ones we're buying off you for a cut price £45 billion? :)

Thanks for testing the goods before shipping! ;)

Offline sdsds

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Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #15 on: 11/08/2015 02:51 am »
Oh, Trident as in the ones we're buying off you for a cut price £45 billion? :)

Thanks for testing the goods before shipping! ;)

Money back guarantee, in case they don't help you survive Global Thermonuclear War....
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Offline ethan829

Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #16 on: 11/08/2015 02:57 am »

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/663202603224973312


Quote
US Navy say "light in the West Coast sky" was a Trident II (D5) missile test at sea from the submarine "Kentucky"

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #17 on: 11/08/2015 03:01 am »
Good work guys. Lots of "UFO" and "Is it the North Koreans?" comments on Twitter ;D

Oh, Trident as in the ones we're buying off you for a cut price £45 billion? :)

Thanks for testing the goods before shipping! ;)

Oh yeah!

For the four Royal Navy Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines.
« Last Edit: 11/08/2015 03:06 am by Chris Bergin »
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Offline DeanG1967

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Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #18 on: 11/08/2015 03:08 am »
Good work guys. Lots of "UFO" and "Is it the North Koreans?" comments on Twitter ;D

Oh, Trident as in the ones we're buying off you for a cut price £45 billion? :)

Thanks for testing the goods before shipping! ;)

Oh yeah!

For the four Royal Navy Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines.

They are really Trident I...we just painted an extra "I" on them

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: What launched from Vandenberg
« Reply #19 on: 11/08/2015 03:11 am »

They are really Trident I...we just painted an extra "I" on them

Clever marketing by Lockheed Martin! :)

UK: New shiny missiles, all improved?
USA: Yes.....something like that.


https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/663202603224973312


Quote
US Navy say "light in the West Coast sky" was a Trident II (D5) missile test at sea from the submarine "Kentucky"

Yeah, that's me, passing on what was said in this thread - as I do! ;D Linked the thread in a follow up as people have questions about the plume and such.
« Last Edit: 11/08/2015 03:12 am by Chris Bergin »
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