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![]() U.S. Air Force weather satellite to launch Sunday BY JUSTIN RAY SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: Dec. 11, 1999
Officials said Friday that an unexpected switch in the power supply to an electronics box seen during tests on the satellite was now understood, clearing the way for launch on Sunday. Additional tests conducted over the past few days convinced the U.S. Air Force and satellite builder Lockheed Martin that the problem would not harm the $250 million craft once in space. The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F15 spacecraft will be carried into a polar orbit atop a Titan 2 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Sunday's launch window will extend from 1738 to 1748 GMT (12:38-12:48 p.m. EST). Forecasters predict favorable weather conditions for launch. The new satellite will enter service about a month after launch, replacing two older DMSP spacecraft.
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Flight data file Vehicle: Titan 2 Payload: DMSP 5D-3-F15 Launch date: Dec. 12, 1999 Launch window: 1738-1748 GMT (1238-1248 EST) Launch site: SLC-4W, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. ![]() NewsAlert Sign up for Astronomy Now's NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed directly to your desktop (free of charge). ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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