Author Topic: SpaceX CASSIOPE Launch Viewing Thread (Read 48471 times)

AJW · « **on:** 08/05/2013 05:59 pm »

With the SpaceX CASSIOPE NET approaching, I would like recommendations for public viewing of this launch at Vandenberg. Suggestions for best views, avoiding traffic, parking, restaurants, accommodations, experience with cell data coverage, etc. This launch is also an opportunity for NSF contributors and lurkers to meet and that can be organized here.

For starters, here are a few external links I have found.

Viewing Vandenberg Rocket and Missile Launches
http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

GoogleMaps Vandenberg Launch Pads & Viewing Locations
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=110826783807456856142.000490cd3c98fc966846d

Vandenberg’s website on the topic
http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/questions/topic.asp?id=745

Looks like the Vandenberg Golf Course is also a prime viewing location, but you need a NASA invitation.

Please keep this thread focused on items related to traveling to and viewing the launch, and use these following threads as appropriate.

"SpaceX GENERAL Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=45.0 - please use this for general questions NOT specific to SpX-3.

SpaceX MISSIONS Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=55.0 - this section is for everything specific to SpaceX missions.

SpaceX News Articles from 2006 (Including numerous exclusive Elon interviews):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21862.0

SpaceX CASSIOPE Processing, Updates:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31429.0

SpaceX News Articles (Recent):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/spacex/

And for L2 Members, the superb:
L2 SpaceX Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=tags&tags=SpaceX

AJW · « **Reply #1 on:** 08/27/2013 04:33 pm »

Looking for input on the best CASSIOPE viewing site.

SLC-4E is not marked on this map, but it is the complex of 4 dots just west of the red #3 label for SLC-3. Surf Beach appears to be about 3 miles North of the launch site and there is even an Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train that will drop you off there from San Luis Obispo.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=110826783807456856142.000490cd3c98fc966846d

I spotted this article which indicates that Surf Beach is closed until the end of September.

http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/military/vandenberg/surf-beach-closes-as-violations-go-over/article_2cfcf628-cce3-11e2-9098-001a4bcf887a.html

Gary NASA · « **Reply #2 on:** 08/28/2013 11:14 pm »

I hear they are not going to webcast this launch, so this is your only chance to see it.

Lars_J · « **Reply #3 on:** 08/28/2013 11:24 pm »

Source?

QuantumG · « **Reply #4 on:** 08/28/2013 11:26 pm »

You heard wrong.

mr. mark · « **Reply #5 on:** 08/30/2013 02:57 pm »

Some of us here have seen the picture of the 9v1.1 and the Delta IV Heavy launch. Can average joe types actually watch the launch from that location? Where is it?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomcatphotography1/9625736164/

Lars_J · « **Reply #6 on:** 08/30/2013 03:19 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 08/30/2013 02:57 pm

Some of us here have seen the picture of the 9v1.1 and the Delta IV Heavy launch. Can average joe types actually watch the launch from that location? Where is it?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomcatphotography1/9625736164/

The photo location was triangulated pretty well in this post: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31429.msg1090351#msg1090351

It appears to be inside the boundary of the air force base, so it is unlikely to be open to the public. (And since the SpaceX pad is even closer to that point, it may even be a no-go area for anyone during the F9v1.1 launch)

mr. mark · « **Reply #7 on:** 08/30/2013 03:44 pm »

Looking at the picture a close proximity is W. Ocean ave. might be a good location?

AJW · « **Reply #8 on:** 08/30/2013 04:35 pm »

I emailed the photographer and he is credentialed and the photo was taken on base. He also provided some suggestions on viewing locations.

"...As far as public viewing locations for the Falcon 9 launch, it really all depends on the marine layer situation. We got very lucky with this launch, because usually during the spring/summer months, the marine layer parks itself over the coast, and sometimes will make it quite far inland. If it is clear, I would advise either taking Highway 246 as far as possible toward the beach. You won't be able to see the rocket on the pad, but you will see it about two seconds after liftoff when it comes up over the hill there. You could also pull off the side of the road on Highway 1 as you head toward Vandenberg's Main Gate. It's a little bit further away, but there, you have line-of-sight view of the pad. The viewing area the base provides for the public is on Corral Rd. On Vandenberg's Facebook page, they mention that place. Sometimes, they even have speakers set up there to monitor the countdown, and if I recall, I believe that area has a view of the pad as well.

Now, if it is foggy, I would advise Harris Grade Rd. That is about 12 miles away from the pad, but that is usually a good spot to get away from the marine layer. I am lucky enough to have credentials to access Vandenberg, so for viewing this particular launch, I was actually on base."

I also have a message into Vandenberg asking about access to Surf Beach away from the Snowy Plover nests, but no reply yet.

hartspace · « **Reply #9 on:** 08/30/2013 07:39 pm »

If you don't mind not seeing the rocket come directly off the pad, Renwick Ave., off of Hwy 246, is probably the closest you can get off the base. Great for Atlas launches. You would probably see the rocket from SLC-4 a couple of hundred feet in the air when it becomes visible. Harris Grade Road is probably the best place to see if the marine layer is in. I haven't been to Corral Road, so I can't speak to the view from there. Moonglow Road in Vandenberg Village (west side of Hwy 1) should also give a good view, if the residents don't mind some extra visitors.

Surf Beach is closed due to the endangered birds nesting on the beach. Somewhat surprisingly, it sounded like they also closed the Surf Amtrak station for NROL-65, which would be a great view of SLC-4. If they closed it for that one, I'd assume it would be closed for Falcon as well. I used to watch SLC-4 launches from that area back in the 80s (at least before the April 1986 Titan explosion).

Jimmy_C · « **Reply #10 on:** 09/05/2013 11:47 pm »

I've only seen the space shuttle launch once in person, and that was when I was a kid... I just moved to LA less than a year ago, so this seems like a good opportunity. However, I don't know how to proceed to watch the upcoming SpaceX CASSIOPE Launch.

Does one just show up to the beach/side of the road to watch? When is the launch? How early should one get, and how long should one stay around (before it might be postponed)?

Please forgive all of the questions.

gchockry · « **Reply #11 on:** 09/09/2013 06:53 pm »

Check out the astronomer's forecast at Clear Dark Sky http://cleardarksky.com/csk/
Search for Vandenberg Village. This location is 5 miles inland from VAFB.
The Cloud Cover, Transparency, and Seeing forecasts can be useful - even for daytime.

BTW, this is for the weather forecast, not a potential viewing site. Sorry for any confusion.

wbarnes · « **Reply #12 on:** 09/12/2013 02:14 am »

Hi, I live north of VAFB in the San Francisco area. Any chance I might be able to see at least a contrail way off in the distance? If so, what will be Falcon 9's flight path?

Thanks,
Walter

Jim · « **Reply #13 on:** 09/12/2013 02:16 am »

Quote from: wbarnes on 09/12/2013 02:14 am

Hi, I live north of VAFB in the San Francisco area. Any chance I might be able to see at least a contrail way off in the distance? If so, what will be Falcon 9's flight path?

Thanks,
Walter

It will be going south

wbarnes · « **Reply #14 on:** 09/12/2013 02:42 am »

Thanks Jim, that's what I kinda figured... South would keep it over water but North would not.

cordyc · « **Reply #15 on:** 09/12/2013 04:48 pm »

A good place to view is Providence Landing Park in Vandenberg Village, just a block from Moonglow which is also a good spot if Surf Beach is closed. You can't see the pad but will see it shortly after take off. The heading will be about 244 to see it and it will be about 9 miles away according to Photographers Ephemeris.

DaveJes1979 · « **Reply #16 on:** 09/12/2013 09:14 pm »

For the Falcon launch the best place, barring low altitude fog, is the south gate base entrance on Ocean Avenue. It is 3.8 miles from the pad. This is where I have gone consistently for Atlas launches (2.5 miles from the pad). You can just park in the visitors parking lot right next to the guard shack. Although, really, anywhere around this area along Ocean Avenue would be fine as long as there aren't any viewing obstructions.

For launches like these that are from pads on the south base, don't bother with the Corral Rd viewing area or Vandenberg Village or the golf course. Those are OK for Delta II launches, but otherwise only useful as a last resort to get above the fog layer (assuming the fog doesn't extend up too high).

Those handful of miles difference really are the difference between an overwhelming experience (scorching bright light, feeling shaking in your bones) and an "eh, that was interesting" experience.

P.S. I went to the Santa Ynez Peak once for a Delta II launch many years ago. The experience of driving up there is TERRIBLE unless they have extensively repaired the road since then. It is so far away as to be rather underwhelming for launch viewing.

titanmiller · « **Reply #17 on:** 09/15/2013 10:01 pm »

I read in a USA Today article that this launch will not be televised or streamed online in any fashion. Will we really have to wait however many days for SpaceX to release a video to Youtube?

mheney · « **Reply #18 on:** 09/15/2013 10:35 pm »

Quote from: titanmiller on 09/15/2013 10:01 pm

I read in a USA Today article that this launch will not be televised or streamed online in any fashion. Will we really have to wait however many days for SpaceX to release a video to Youtube?

They didn't include the phrase "by NASA" in there, did they? My understanding is that SpaceX will be streaming the launch; but I wouldn't expect NASA to televise of stream it themselves...

titanmiller · « **Reply #19 on:** 09/15/2013 11:48 pm »

Quote from: mheney on 09/15/2013 10:35 pm

Quote from: titanmiller on 09/15/2013 10:01 pm
I read in a USA Today article that this launch will not be televised or streamed online in any fashion. Will we really have to wait however many days for SpaceX to release a video to Youtube?

They didn't include the phrase "by NASA" in there, did they? My understanding is that SpaceX will be streaming the launch; but I wouldn't expect NASA to televise of stream it themselves...

"Even more than the new rocket, the mission, which will not be televised or webcast, may be most eagerly watched for its experiment with technology that SpaceX and supporters believe will revolutionize the industry."

USA TODAY