Hi Don,

Yep, S3 is supposed to die in Jan 2003. Nobody knows where yet, and won't until we get closer the date. The atmosphere is in constant flux, so the closer you get to the event, the better you can predict it. S1 and S2 decayed over oceans so nobody saw them. We don't even have the day pinned down yet, so your guess is as good as mine.

The Kodiak Launch Complex was located where it is to facilitate polar orbits. They can launch directly south over the pacific. In fact, The radio on S3 was first picked up right after launch in Antartica, to give you some idea how far south the orbit goes. Vandenburg is located where it is for the same reason. The shuttle complex there (mothballed) was supposed to allow polar launched for the shuttle. Florida can only launch towards the east, hence cannot launch polar flights.

I've always been interested in eqs, being born and raised for the most part, in the Bay Area. I really got interested in quakes about 4:31AM one morning when I was living about a mile or so from the epicenter of a very rude quake.

Michael