Portal talk:Spaceflight/Next launch

Interceptor missile tests

What's the right way to handle missile defense tests like this one (from email dated 27 Sep 2007):

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – The Missile Defense Agency is scheduled to conduct a test of the ground-based interceptor system between 1 and 5 p.m. here Friday. During the evaluation, an interceptor launched from the Ronald W. Reagan Missile Defense Site here will be tested against a target missile, launched from Alaska’s Kodiak Island. The main objective of Friday’s test will be to exercise the operational configuration of the interceptor missile.

Does it involve a spaceflight launch? Or two launches? Or zero? (sdsds - talk) 23:39, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

Interesting. This wasn't supposed to be launching until next February. Assuming it is a typical STARS/THAAD mission, then it will involve two missiles, both reaching space. --GW_Simulations_{User Page | Talk} 23:43, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

I have confirmed that it is STARS/THAAD. 1pm - 5pm PDT will be 21:00 - 01:00 GMT, so we've probably missed it. In future, I would suggest that we list them in the slot that is currently being ued for the Black Brant, with the three launch layout, but that we list both missiles as one entry. What's your opinion? --GW_Simulations_{User Page | Talk} 23:49, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

Sorry, misread your post. Read "Friday" as "today". Add them as soon as we know what's happening with the Black Brant. --GW_Simulations_{User Page | Talk} 00:30, 28 September 2007 (UTC)

Test has been confirmed a success. --GW_Simulations_{User Page | Talk} 22:19, 28 September 2007 (UTC)

Next five launches

How about putting a slightly less detailed listing of the next five launches, after the detailed text regarding the next launch. Something like this:

Date/Time (GMT)	Rocket	Payload	Updates
2008-04-14 20:12-21:12	Atlas V	ICO G1	Text updates	Webcast	Countdown
2008-04-15	Pegasus-XL	C/NOFS
2008-04-18 22:16-23:23	Ariane 5	Star One C2 Vinasat-1	Text updates	Webcast
2008-04-24 05:00	Zenit-3SLB	AMOS-3	Text updates	Webcast
2008-04-26 22:16:02	Soyuz-FG	GIOVE-B		Webcast

--GW_Simulations_{User Page | Talk} 16:10, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

• Here's a wild idea: with enough tricky transclusion, could this kind of table be 'automatically derived from the {{Launching}} templates? (sdsds - talk) 23:17, 16 July 2009 (UTC)
  • To be honest, I'd dropped the idea of this table some time ago (and it isn't really compatible with the HSF portal). In theory it should be possible to generate this from launching tags, but there is a danger that I could hit the limit for parser functions. I'll look into it. --GW… 08:26, 17 July 2009 (UTC)