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Update during Tues-Sat launch window: This NASA Twitter feed has clean and frequent countdown updates.

A dawn launch of a Minotaur rocket at Wallops Flight Facility, Accomack, Va., Dec. 16, 2006.

There's to be another Minotaur launch from Virginia's eastern shore this week, between 8 and 11 p.m., if weather permits. The first launch window is Tuesday, although it could come as late as Saturday, and might have to, if the weather forecasters are correct.

Joe Rao at Space.com writes (Glaring Rocket Launch Could Surprise East Coast Residents Tuesday Evening), "...it should be possible that Tuesday's post-sunset launch may be visible as far north as southern Maine; as far south as northeastern Florida and as far west as eastern Kentucky. "

The facts, from the NASA - Tacsat-3 page:

Launch Information
The TacSat-3 mission is scheduled for launch on the evening of May 5, 2009. The window runs through May 9. The launch window on May 5 is from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Viewing the Launch
The launch will be visible in the mid-Atlantic region. Locally, the NASA Visitor Center on Va. Route 175 and the beach at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge/Assateague National Seashore will be open to view the launch.

Launch Status
Prior to the start of the countdown on launch day, updates on the status of the launch will be provided on this web page and on the Wallops launch status line at 757-824-2050.

On the day of the launch updates will be provided on the status line and radio station 760 AM, which has a range of about 5 miles from the NASA Visitor Center. In addition, the launch will be web cast at http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/webcast/.

Countdown status also will be available during the countdown on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops

Launch Vehicle Information
TacSat-3 will be launched on board a Minotaur 1 rocket, integrated by Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC). The Minotaur 1 is a four-stage vehicle, two stages being refurbished Minuteman II stages and the two stages being OSC developed. The Minotaur is about 70 feet tall and 5 feet wide.

Doc Searls points (East Coasters, look up) to Rao's story, which points to his home video. It's an unselfconscious outing with the kid and a camera -- just enough explanation and lots of "Wow"s from Doc, genuine enthusiasm and some "Amazing"s from the kid, a call to mom and a peak experience all around.

A home video of a Minotaur launch out West in 2005, shot by Doc Searls with his son, shows they can be spectacular crowd-pleasers (Amazing Rocket Launch: 'This Is So Cool')

While many Westerners are fairly familiar with such sightings, they are all but unknown in the East and so may end up surprising millions of people should the Minotaur I lift off on schedule.

Check that NASA page to see how the weather looks. A chance of showers and/or thunderstorms are forecast to end Saturday in Va., with threats of rain through Sunday here. We'll see.

If we are to see it, it will be toward the southwest. (From Providence, face toward where you think Coventry might be, or the tip of Long Island.)

That 2006 Minotaur launch into the technicolor dawn became an Astronomy Picture of the Day.

 Tags  Minotaur rocket launch

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