Half an hour after sunset tonight (local time) the classified Space Test Program-R1 project's Streak satellite will Lift-off from the Space Launch Complex 8 pad located on Vandenberg Air Force Base's southern edge during a window extending from 0224 to 0240 GMT, September 23rd (7:24 to 7:40 p.m. PDT , 22nd).
The four-stage Minotaur rocket uses decommissioned first and second stages from a Minuteman 2 ICBM missile and solid-propellant motors from commercial Pegasus rocket program for its third and fourth stages.
Information released by the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) indicates the satellite (codenamed Streak) is fitted with two instruments; an ion gauge and an atomic oxygen sensor.
Acceptable weather forecast conditions for tonight, predicts an 80% chance of launch. Thick clouds and fog are the only concern for violating the launch rules.
Minotaur, the Orbital/Suborbital Program Space Launch Vehicle will launch the STP-R1 experimental satellite into space for the Air Force Research Laboratory from the SLC-8, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, US, at 02:25 GMT, September 23rd 2005.
The four-stage rocket uses U.S. government-supplied Minuteman 2 motors and Pegasus rocket stages.