Anyone see a launch yesterday?

[paulruby]

I was driving West in Sacramento, CA yesterday morning and saw a rocket leaving the atmosphere at ~5:10AM, 9 May 2006. Anyone know what it was? I can't find any news of a launch online.

 

[CalliArcale]

Could it have been a sounding rocket? Those aren't always published like satellite launches are. They're small, suborbital rockets used for various research projects, including ones run by universities. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[paulruby]

That seems plausible. I've seen launches from Vandenberg (also by accident from Sacramento) but this one was west, toward the bay area or maybe a bit south of the bay. And, the burn seemed to end prior to the rocket fully leaving the atmosphere. The plume became cone shaped but not for very long

 

[webtaz99]

You can see a rocket at 62 miles? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[rocketwatcher2001]

If the weather is clear you can see a launch from a few hundred miles away. My grandfather can see them from Key West once the rocket gets above a few miles high. People in Tampa go outside to watch the Shuttle launches, my sister says it's bright enough to read a newspaper in the middle of the night. I know where I live it sure is. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[edkyle98]

I wonder if it could have been an SLBM (Sea Launched Ballistic Missile) test from a submarine, or perhaps a missile weapons systems test from a surface ship. The SLBM tests usually take place off of the coast off Florida, but Pacific Test Range SLBM testing was reportedly supposed to resume last year. I don't think that the SLBM tests are usually annouced to the media.<br /><br />According to this site<br /><br />http://www.thebulletin.org/article_nn.php?art_ofn=mj04norris<br /><br />"The navy plans to resume SLBM flight-testing in the Pacific in 2005, when the Pacific Missile Range is scheduled to resume operations. The last SLBM test-launch in the Pacific was in July 1993."<br /><br />Here is a site describing the Point Mugo Sea Range, which runs from "Big Sur to the US/Mexico Border".<br /><br />http://www.nawcwpns.navy.mil/~pacrange/r1/Sea.htm<br /><br /> - Ed Kyle

 

[webtaz99]

I asked if he could see the rocket. Sure, you can see the fires and the plume, but what about the rocket? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[john_316]

Just some info for you here.<br /><br />The USAF, USN, and the USA will have many upcoming launches from the Reagan complex and others at Vandenburg AFB in the upcoming years in support of the BMD mission.<br /><br />The Navy has resumed the flight testing of Trident D-5 Missiles as to train the crews and upgrade systems. The Navy is also looking at a Trident upgrade with non-nuclear warheads and a new Trident D-6/D-7 future upgrade with new and remanufactured warheads from the MMIII and MX (Peacekeeper) lines.<br /><br />The USA does most of its THAAD testing at White Sands but don't be surprised if you see a coastal test soon. The USN also may be testing some of its SM-3 and SM-6 missiles both land and sea launch.<br /><br />So don't be surprised some day when your driving and a Tactical Tomahawk flies over you head on its way to the range either. I see A-10's flying NOE all the time where I live. <br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />

 

[lampblack]

<font color="yellow">So don't be surprised some day when your driving and a Tactical Tomahawk flies over you head on its way to the range either. I see A-10's flying NOE all the time where I live.</font><br /><br />I have to say -- if there were any serious possibility of this happening in <i>my</i> neck of the woods, I'd feel compelled to start carrying a spare pair of underwear. Just in case. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>