Rocket launch

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who is planning to watch Artemis launch? I would love to be there to watch. Grew up loving the space program build model rockets.
 
I'm still badged to get on the center but with the traffic and number of peeps coming into town - I'm going to take the boat to the northern end of the Banana River Sunday evening and spend the night for the morning launch with a cup of coffee. From that vantage you can see the vehicle on the launch pad. If they scrub which I think a 90 percent chance, we will do it again for a Friday attempt.
WatchLaunch.jpg
 
So cool wish I could be there… Never seen one in person growing up in California
 
I grew up watching the launches in the 60's, Apollos, etc then the shuttles in the 80's before moving to Ga. Back then you could get closer, me and Dad would load up the old aluminum folding chairs and have a great view. The ground shaking was a very powerful feeling. I was awestruck, did my share of rocket modeling as well, fun times.
 
I mentioned this to the wife last week. Monday morning makes it a tough one. If it does get moved to Friday, we may take a shot at it. We could see the SpaceX rocket go by us down here in South PB county so I'm sure we'll be able do the same, but I would love to get closer for this one. Thinking we could drive up around the Melborne : Vero area and not get too snared up in traffic. They're saying something like 200-300 thousand ppl so even that might be a stretch.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=437791508386052&set=a.225258022972736&type=3
 
I think Titusville, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, and Cape Canaveral will be a madhouse.
The best views will be the riverfront in Titusville and the Cape Canaveral Beaches.
Avoiding traffic and the crowds possibly Patrick AFB beaches, Satellite Beach or even Melbourne Beach.
 
I grew up close enough to see the launches from Vandenberg. Dad was into rockets when I was a kid. And he was an engineer and worked on the Tartar, Terrier, Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles. He also worked on the Vertical Launch system. So I got to watch that as well. I have a friend that is currently working at Whollops machining parts for things that go up. I was also a certified Level 2 with NAR and TRA flying "models"
878268125_l.jpg SD531518.JPG
 
JHornsby3 said:
I grew up close enough to see the launches from Vandenberg. Dad was into rockets when I was a kid. And he was an engineer and worked on the Tartar, Terrier, Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles. He also worked on the Vertical Launch system. So I got to watch that as well. I have a friend that is currently working at Whollops machining parts for things that go up. I was also a certified Level 2 with NAR and TRA flying "models"
View attachment 132890 View attachment 132891
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I'd like to see those go up!
 
Nater Potater said:
I'd like to see those go up!
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Which ones? The Tartar and Terrier have been retired. I used to love the Harpoon out of the Vertical launch system. Had was out on TDY out of Pt. Magu (home base of ops) and I got to go out on the DDG with him. They let me pull the trigger on a 50 cal and squeeze the pickle on a Harpoon. I missed the 55gal drum by a mile but the missile hit the target ship. Like I had anything to do with that.

As for the high power model launches, I can let you know when the Idaho group has a launch this fall/winter. Get you hooked up with a guy that launches out south of Kuna.
 
I grew up with the space programs. I remember the failures and the success. I’ve never gotten to see a live launch.

Dad, will you and all the guys we used to hunt with please watch over the rocket. Give her a nice clean launch and let her pass thru your space without incident. Miss you, love you.
 
I get a lot of questions on "why do we spend money on these programs", "what is in it for me" and comments like "it's a waste". All I can do is stare with a look of amazement and disbelief of what I just heard and how myopic this person must be. Is it worth a response that will sink in and alter their position? Probably not.... they must have a different agenda.

As for me most of my professional career was in space launch. Starting as a field engineer building the Space Shuttle launch complex at Vandenberg AFB in the early 80's to developing advanced propellent transfer systems to being on the propellant loading consoles for the Shuttle program and blessed to see over 30 of them fly from the firing room in the launch control center. From there to the development of the X33 program, to the development of the Atlas V program, the Orion crew capsule (which is launching this next week), and the Vulcan launch system. It's been an enlightened adventure.

So, I say to those naysayers and ignorants that don't believe in these missions, there is no cost; no cost at all but the benefits to our society can't be enumerated.

But the media says we spent $100 billion on the program. Here is what they don't say - every dime went in the pockets of those that envisioned, designed, built, tested, operated the system including those that provided the power, raw minerals, gasoline, food, education and a million other services required to develop, build, and operate the system. That investment was returned to the people across the nation not wasted in hardware in space. Even if the vision wasn't finished or it was lost to a failure the investment stands. That hardware floating in space didn't cost a dime.

We need to get this straight and understood that our everyday necessities (cell phones, Sat TV, microwave ovens, lithium battery technology, metallurgy used in fuel efficient vehicles, advanced plastics, and a million other things we take for granted are spinoff from what was done and is being done in this no cost space launch industry. Would you rather supplement society with handouts or invest in the pockets of the inventers, capitalists, the hard working, and the future?
 
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Tt you and my father would have gotten along so well. He ran the NASA simulator here at Langley. My high school buddies and I would go watch the crash gantry drop the Apollo capsule.

If this new rocket doesn’t fly they naysayers will be out in full. They have never seen one of these fail. Engineers learn a great deal from each misfire.
 
ttmott said:
I get a lot of questions on "why do we spend money on these programs", "what is in it for me" and comments like "it's a waste". All I can do is stare with a look of amazement and disbelief of what I just heard and how myopic this person must be. Is it worth a response that will sink in and alter their position? Probably not.... they must have a different agenda.

As for me most of my professional career was in space launch. Starting as a field engineer building the Space Shuttle launch complex at Vandenberg AFB in the early 80's to developing advanced propellent transfer systems to being on the propellant loading consoles for the Shuttle program and blessed to see over 30 of them fly from the firing room in the launch control center. From there to the development of the X33 program, to the development of the Atlas V program, the Orion crew capsule (which is launching this next week), and the Vulcan launch system. It's been an enlightened adventure.

So, I say to those naysayers and ignorants that don't believe in these missions, there is no cost; no cost at all but the benefits to our society can't be enumerated.

But the media says we spent $100 billion on the program. Here is what they don't say - every dime went in the pockets of those that envisioned, designed, built, tested, operated the system including those that provided the power, raw minerals, gasoline, food, education and a million other services required to develop, build, and operate the system. That investment was returned to the people across the nation not wasted in hardware in space. Even if the vision wasn't finished or it was lost to a failure the investment stands. That hardware floating in space didn't cost a dime.

We need to get this straight and understood that our everyday necessities (cell phones, Sat TV, microwave ovens, lithium battery technology, metallurgy used in fuel efficient vehicles, advanced plastics, and a million other things we take for granted are spinoff from what was done and is being done in this no cost space launch industry. Would you rather supplement society with handouts or invest in the pockets of the inventers, capitalists, the hard working, and the future?
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Amen!
 
ttmott said:
I'm still badged to get on the center but with the traffic and number of peeps coming into town - I'm going to take the boat to the northern end of the Banana River Sunday evening and spend the night for the morning launch with a cup of coffee. From that vantage you can see the vehicle on the launch pad. If they scrub which I think a 90 percent chance, we will do it again for a Friday attempt.
View attachment 132844
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please post any photos you can
 
Looks like it will be on Friday now, a hydrogen tank is leaking.
 
Yep, just announced SCRUB.
 
dwna1a said:
Looks like it will be on Friday now, a hydrogen tank is leaking.
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Had it on at the house, was hoping the grands could watch before school. We have 3 grands at our house every morning before school, they were all really interested in seeing it
 
After watching the Challenger, I say make sure it's dead nuts on before go. I understand that the hydrogen prep system was not tested during "wet test" and that is what failed on Eng#3. I'm for giving them all the time they need, but there's alot of pressure from all directions to get her up there quick. Hope it is not at the cost of failure....
Hoping for the best
 
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