Vandenberg Launch

October 14, 2002. AFSPC launch. Modified Minuteman II. Payload was an unarmed reentry vehicle (warhead) and decoys. Vehicle launched in support of the IFT-9 missile defense test. 19:01 to 23:01 PDT launch window. UTC launch date/time: OCT 15 02:01:00.

Launch occurred 31 minutes after Vandenberg''s sunset and created an impressive display seen across California and also in Nevada, Oregon, and Utah.

My first image was taken at 19:01 hrs. PST (02:01 UTC) and the second, lower, image was taken at 19:04 hrs. PST (02:04 UTC). The digital camera that I employed recorded time only to the minute and not to the second. Hence my time accuracy is only to the minute.

-Fred