karn (11/01/82)
All launches from Vandenburg take place in an arc between south and west. This is because the coast at this point runs northwest - southeast, and range safety considerations require that the vehicle fly over water as soon as possible after liftoff. This is why polar launches do not take place from Cape Canaveral. For the sun-synchronous polar orbit, which is the most common type of launch from Vandenburg, the launch azimuth is roughly 190 degrees, which is slightly west of south. Phil Karn