Chris,Do you need to hike to the end of the beach (looks to be about 3 miles) or can you see the launch from the parking area?Thanks
Virginia District - Beach Parking UpdateDue to Hurricane Sandy and the March 6 storm, there is limited parking in the Virginia District. As of 4/4/13 parking lot 1 and part of parking lot 2 are open. All parking lots are expected to be open by Memorial Day weekend.Assateague Island National Seashore Sequestration UpdateAs of 3/1/13 both the MD & VA Districts are open. The Assateague Island Visitor Center is open daily 9am-5pm. The Toms Cove Visitor Center is open daily 9am-4pm.
Unfortunately, I saw a Range Safety presentation that implied that the entire Toms Cove Hook was in the stay-out zone for launch...
Not sure if this is correct thread to ask about down range viewing. Has anybody seen a plot of areas where it may be visible from the islands. I am in the Turks and Caicos (south end of the Bahamas) and am wondering if it may be seen from here as it ascends. Thanks for any clues where I might find an answer to this question.
On the other hand, THE place to be would be Bermuda... 60 degrees elevation, less than 100 miles lateral distance... you would be able to see from stage 1 MECO all the way through Stage 2 burnout...
Bermuda Tracking Site Provides Big Boost for Wallops Expendable Launch Vehicle Operations10.23.12 Following an agreement signed between NASA and Bermuda in early March 2012, range officials at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility have recently completed the successful deployment and check-out of a temporary mobile tracking station on Cooper’s Island, Bermuda.The successful deployment, completed in August, means NASA’s only launch range now offers the full compliment of range assets for expendable launch vehicle operations.Along with cost savings, perhaps the biggest impact lies in range scheduling. “Owning, deploying, and controlling our own assets means control over scheduling,” said Steven Kremer, NASA Wallops deputy range manager. “It gives us higher confidence in promising range availability to our customers when they come to Wallops for services. In addition, our services offered from Bermuda will benefit other customers who launch from other ranges such as the United States Air Force’s Eastern Range in Florida.”NASA’s mobile tracking station in Bermuda provides telemetry, radar, and command and control services. It will support the launch of rockets carrying supplies to the International Space Station or satellites to low-Earth orbit. During a typical ELV launch operation, about 10 range personnel will deploy to Bermuda to configure the mobile tracking station, conduct the operation, and then pack the systems for shipment back to Wallops.Bermuda has been a long-time partner of NASA in supporting space exploration. The British territory hosted a radar tracking station from the Mercury Project in the early 1960s through most of the Space Shuttle Program.The Wallops Range provides the operational environment required to ensure safe and successful flight operations for rockets, missiles, aircraft, unmanned aerial systems and a variety of other mission types essential to the scientific, military and commercial use of space.For more information on the Wallops Range, see:http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code840/
April 11, 2013Notice to Mariners: Wallops Rocket LaunchWhat: ANTARES 1 for NASA/ORBITAL RESUPPLY TO STATION EFFORTSWhen: April 17 1630 -2030 (Scheduled Operation Day)April 18 1630 -2030 (Back Up Day)April 19 1630 -2030 (Back Up Day)April 20 1630 -2030 (Back Up Day)April 21 1630 -2030 (Back Up Day)Communications: “Wallops Plot” on marine channel 12.Marine channel 22 is back up.Contact Wallops Plot when traveling in the area.Mission updates and completion will be noted on the Wallops launch status line at 757-824-2050. The Army Corp Engineers Danger Zone will be in effect for all launch attempts per 33CFR(Code of Federal Regulations) Part 334. Fines and arrest authority are permissible by U.S. Coast Guard and Virginia Marine Police.Thank you for your assistance and support.
Quote from: antonioe on 04/11/2013 06:16 pmOn the other hand, THE place to be would be Bermuda... 60 degrees elevation, less than 100 miles lateral distance... you would be able to see from stage 1 MECO all the way through Stage 2 burnout...Which explains: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/Bermuda.htmlQuoteBermuda Tracking Site Provides Big Boost for Wallops Expendable Launch Vehicle Operations10.23.12 Following an agreement signed between NASA and Bermuda in early March 2012, range officials at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility have recently completed the successful deployment and check-out of a temporary mobile tracking station on Cooper’s Island, Bermuda.The successful deployment, completed in August, means NASA’s only launch range now offers the full compliment of range assets for expendable launch vehicle operations.Along with cost savings, perhaps the biggest impact lies in range scheduling. “Owning, deploying, and controlling our own assets means control over scheduling,” said Steven Kremer, NASA Wallops deputy range manager. “It gives us higher confidence in promising range availability to our customers when they come to Wallops for services. In addition, our services offered from Bermuda will benefit other customers who launch from other ranges such as the United States Air Force’s Eastern Range in Florida.”NASA’s mobile tracking station in Bermuda provides telemetry, radar, and command and control services. It will support the launch of rockets carrying supplies to the International Space Station or satellites to low-Earth orbit. During a typical ELV launch operation, about 10 range personnel will deploy to Bermuda to configure the mobile tracking station, conduct the operation, and then pack the systems for shipment back to Wallops.Bermuda has been a long-time partner of NASA in supporting space exploration. The British territory hosted a radar tracking station from the Mercury Project in the early 1960s through most of the Space Shuttle Program.The Wallops Range provides the operational environment required to ensure safe and successful flight operations for rockets, missiles, aircraft, unmanned aerial systems and a variety of other mission types essential to the scientific, military and commercial use of space.For more information on the Wallops Range, see:http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code840/
I wonder if you can extrapolate that from THIS figure. Hmmm... now that I look at it, the circles become straight lines... no, I think you're out of luck...
The Notice to Mariners has been disseminated for the Antares One launch.QuoteApril 11, 2013Notice to Mariners: Wallops Rocket LaunchWhat: ANTARES 1 for NASA/ORBITAL RESUPPLY TO STATION EFFORTSWhen: April 17 1630 -2030 (Scheduled Operation Day)April 18 1630 -2030 (Back Up Day)April 19 1630 -2030 (Back Up Day)April 20 1630 -2030 (Back Up Day)April 21 1630 -2030 (Back Up Day)Communications: “Wallops Plot” on marine channel 12.Marine channel 22 is back up.Contact Wallops Plot when traveling in the area.Mission updates and completion will be noted on the Wallops launch status line at 757-824-2050. The Army Corp Engineers Danger Zone will be in effect for all launch attempts per 33CFR(Code of Federal Regulations) Part 334. Fines and arrest authority are permissible by U.S. Coast Guard and Virginia Marine Police.Thank you for your assistance and support. The NOTMAR identifies three "PSSA" areas by coordinate and map, which extend hundreds of miles down range, none of which precisely coincide with the Corps of Engineers permanent danger zone under 33 CFR 334.130. See attachment. I've updated my Google map for the near-shore PSSA1, which, by the way, completely covers Toms Cove Hook, Toms Cove Visitors Center, and the associated parking lots.
Quote from: antonioe on 04/11/2013 06:06 pmI wonder if you can extrapolate that from THIS figure. Hmmm... now that I look at it, the circles become straight lines... no, I think you're out of luck...Sorry if this is obvious, I'm mostly a lurker here... Does that drawing mean that if you have a low enough view to the horizon in the locations listed you might be able to see the launch? Southern tip of Maine seems pretty far away to see anything.
Quote from: neoforce on 04/12/2013 04:16 pmQuote from: antonioe on 04/11/2013 06:06 pmI wonder if you can extrapolate that from THIS figure. Hmmm... now that I look at it, the circles become straight lines... no, I think you're out of luck...Sorry if this is obvious, I'm mostly a lurker here... Does that drawing mean that if you have a low enough view to the horizon in the locations listed you might be able to see the launch? Southern tip of Maine seems pretty far away to see anything.Yes, theoretically, with binoculars or telescope, and if you could find a hilltop with an unobstructed view. If it were a night launch the bright trail would be a lot easier to see from a distance, but since this will be a daytime launch it's unlikely that anyone in southern Maine is actually going to see it.
How about the Jersey shore? What are the odds of viewing something from there? Turns out I might be close to there on Wed.
@jsmjr 09 AprDear @ChincoteagueNWR: What's status for viewing of @OrbitalSciences #Antares launch from @NASA_Wallops 4/17? Parking? Facilities? Access?@ChincoteagueNWR 12 Apr@jsmjr All systems are go for viewing #Antares launch from recreational beach. Parking is limited so come early. :O)