Author Topic: Antares : Cygnus NG-12 : November, 2019 (Read 150931 times)

Rondaz · « **Reply #40 on:** 10/29/2019 12:51 pm »

We're launching a @NorthropGrumman Antares rocket to the International Space Station on Saturday. 🚀 Whether you're attending in-person or tuning in online, check out this guide for details on how to watch. https://go.nasa.gov/2pYTTTg .

https://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops/status/1188864099658190849

Rondaz · « **Reply #41 on:** 10/29/2019 12:51 pm »

A new CubeSat will soon launch from @NASA_Wallops to the @ISS_research! This tiny satellite will see rainbows 🌈, measuring clouds ☁️ and particles in the atmosphere to help us better understand air quality, weather and climate change.

https://twitter.com/NASAEarth/status/1189169280618782720

SMS · « **Reply #42 on:** 10/29/2019 01:09 pm »

S.S. Alan Bean Fact Sheet from Northrop Grumman:

BlueSpace · « **Reply #43 on:** 10/29/2019 01:21 pm »

I was thinking of heading up and watching this launch with some friends at the Old NASA ferry dock. How early should I get there to get a good view? How does parking work? Thanks!

SkipMorrow · « **Reply #44 on:** 10/29/2019 01:24 pm »

The last launch had really bad traffic. Much worse than any others over the last ten years or so that I can remember. I'd get there early. Like maybe 6:00 or so. Bring food and warm clothes and be ready for anything.

Have fun!

BlueSpace · « **Reply #45 on:** 10/29/2019 01:26 pm »

Oh wow! I was planning on getting there at 8! Might have to try to move that to the left. I'm heading up from Norfolk so it's a ~2hr drive, might be tough to get my friends to get up earlier though! Thanks for the heads up!

SkipMorrow · « **Reply #46 on:** 10/29/2019 01:29 pm »

I'm also going up from Norfolk, but I am going up on Friday night and staying at a hotel. Still planning on getting on site around 0600.

joseph.a.navin · « **Reply #47 on:** 10/29/2019 02:03 pm »

Quote from: SkipMorrow on 10/29/2019 01:24 pm

The last launch had really bad traffic. Much worse than any others over the last ten years or so that I can remember. I'd get there early. Like maybe 6:00 or so. Bring food and warm clothes and be ready for anything.

Have fun!

I would believe though that people with a press pass will not have to deal with the traffic risking missing the launch due to the designated media viewing location.

joseph.a.navin · « **Reply #48 on:** 10/29/2019 02:07 pm »

Quote from: BlueSpace on 10/29/2019 01:26 pm

Oh wow! I was planning on getting there at 8! Might have to try to move that to the left. I'm heading up from Norfolk so it's a ~2hr drive, might be tough to get my friends to get up earlier though! Thanks for the heads up!

Lucky you, I'm heading to Wallops from 45 mins west of Washington DC, so that's a four hour drive for me, luckily I have a hotel reservation in Salisbury, MD Thursday night prior to press tours, plus an Air B&B near Wallops prior to L-0. Good Luck guys and safe travels!

SkipMorrow · « **Reply #49 on:** 10/29/2019 02:17 pm »

I don't have a press pass for this launch, but I have gone to a launch before with the social media press pass. It's a lot of fun and I'd encourage anyone to do it if they can. When I last did the social media press pass (ORB-2, I think), they operated out of the NASA visitor center. That was several years ago and I don't know if they still operate the same way. The reason I mention this is because the last launch (NG-11) had traffic way backed up before the Royal Farms even. It took us over an hour to get through the traffic and we almost missed our bus to the launch site. If they are still operating out of the visitor center, even if you have a press pass, you may have trouble getting there on time.

This launch I will be with the official NASA party and we will be operating from the NASA base, so I think we should be able to avoid all traffic because the exit for NASA is much earlier down the road.

donnstewart · « **Reply #50 on:** 10/29/2019 02:33 pm »

What are the weather parameters for launch? There is a system in the center of the US that may be near Wallops Saturday. Will they launch if it is cold? Overcast? Raining? (4 hour drive for me to launch site)

joncz · « **Reply #51 on:** 10/29/2019 02:36 pm »

I'll be coming from Cape Charles where I grabbed a room, and will be there extremely early. I'll be in my Atlanta United cap and ASU Dad shirt (but that will be under my jacket) if anyone's looking for me. ;-)

joseph.a.navin · « **Reply #52 on:** 10/29/2019 02:44 pm »

Quote from: donnstewart on 10/29/2019 02:33 pm

What are the weather parameters for launch? There is a system in the center of the US that may be near Wallops Saturday. Will they launch if it is cold? Overcast? Raining? (4 hour drive for me to launch site)

I have been keeping a close look at the forecasts the weather channel app now shows no/ very little rain chance as same for the NWS which says clear weather. The main issue in my opinion as of now could be the winds, the cold does not matter as far as I am aware.

SkipMorrow · « **Reply #53 on:** 10/29/2019 02:59 pm »

I have been up there for some very cold launches. I don't recall ever hearing specific launch limit criteria for Antares, but I am sure it is out there. I think we should be ok for launch this Saturday. I believe we will start getting weather predictions from NOAA with probability for favorable conditions at launch time by the end of the week.

SMS · « **Reply #54 on:** 10/29/2019 03:24 pm »

https://twitter.com/nasahqphoto/status/1189197703261118466

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #55 on:** 10/29/2019 03:33 pm »

Selection of roll out photos posted by NASA on flickr

Rondaz · « **Reply #56 on:** 10/29/2019 04:31 pm »

Our NG-12 #Antares has rolled out to Launch Pad 0A at @NASA_Wallops in preparation for Saturday’s launch! Stay tuned for more mission updates this week.

https://twitter.com/northropgrumman/status/1189226629849112576

Svenry · « **Reply #57 on:** 10/29/2019 07:53 pm »

Quote from: SkipMorrow on 10/29/2019 02:17 pm

I don't have a press pass for this launch, but I have gone to a launch before with the social media press pass. It's a lot of fun and I'd encourage anyone to do it if they can. When I last did the social media press pass (ORB-2, I think), they operated out of the NASA visitor center. That was several years ago and I don't know if they still operate the same way. The reason I mention this is because the last launch (NG-11) had traffic way backed up before the Royal Farms even. It took us over an hour to get through the traffic and we almost missed our bus to the launch site. If they are still operating out of the visitor center, even if you have a press pass, you may have trouble getting there on time.

This launch I will be with the official NASA party and we will be operating from the NASA base, so I think we should be able to avoid all traffic because the exit for NASA is much earlier down the road.

I'll be going as part of the NASA Social group, so this worries me. As of this post I/we haven't yet received a follow up email with details/information about the event logistics, so I don't know where or when we'll be meeting to board the bus and whatnot. I usually view launches from the ferry dock location, so I've never encountered the launch rush traffic. Sounds like things might get a little stressful.

Edit: Coincidentally, right after posting this I received the followup email! We will not be departing from the visitor center, so that's a relief. Best of luck to everyone, of course!

theonlyspace · « **Reply #58 on:** 10/29/2019 08:25 pm »

Any press kit released yet?

rayleighscatter · « **Reply #59 on:** 10/29/2019 10:40 pm »

Follow-up targeted launch times if they are needed are (in EST):
November 3 - 08:36
November 4 - 08:14
November 5 - 07:48
November 6 - 07:25
November 7 - 07:03

From US Fish & Wildlife Service of all places