Author Topic: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch  (Read 64634 times)

Offline antonioe

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #80 on: 04/19/2013 12:39 am »
... picked a good hotel. a bunch of orbital people in rich suits having a meeting in the breakfast area.

"Orbital" and "rich suits" don't go together... except for J.R. Thompson who, I swear, wears his dark blue suit to the shower...
ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS...

Offline antonioe

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #81 on: 04/19/2013 01:02 am »

I listened and put out a couple of calls.

I "imagined" that I faintly heard a "Lima Mike Mike" once...

My call is VP5DB

Perhaps some other time...

73


Got home to spend the night between Thursday and Friday in my own bed.  Picked up a PL-259 to BNC adaptor (the REAL reason I came home...) Will try again Friday night, at 14.285 MHz or, if the greek net is there, a bit above it.  I will be looking out for VP5DB.

de KA1LLM
ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS...

Offline wolfpack

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #82 on: 04/19/2013 05:26 pm »
With the new attempt on Saturday, will be interesting to see how crowded our favorite street gets, and whether they have to shut it down.

How far down the road can you get? All the way to the end? I will be coming for tomorrow's attempt, probably arriving 4:30pm.

Offline effectivebits

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #83 on: 04/19/2013 05:49 pm »
With the new attempt on Saturday, will be interesting to see how crowded our favorite street gets, and whether they have to shut it down.

How far down the road can you get? All the way to the end? I will be coming for tomorrow's attempt, probably arriving 4:30pm.

You can drive all the way to the end of Arbuckle Neck, but on Wednesday there was a police officer on site to make sure nobody was blocking the road.  Hence, if you get there late you might need to park pretty far away from the end and walk.  Try to get there by 3 if the launch is at 5.  Once you get to the end, there is a marshy/grassy area with plenty of space to spread out.  Just stay off the property of the homeowners nearby.  The photo below is a minimally zoomed view of the launchpad from the end of Arbuckle Neck.

« Last Edit: 04/19/2013 05:50 pm by effectivebits »

Offline CardBoardBoxProcessor

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #84 on: 04/19/2013 07:51 pm »
I was at Arbuckle but I am curious as to this road closing thing. do they sometimes close it?

also has the arbuckle farm people ever had a vehicle towed? I noticed the police were there when we left.
« Last Edit: 04/19/2013 07:55 pm by CardBoardBoxProcessor »

Offline effectivebits

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #85 on: 04/19/2013 07:56 pm »
I spoke to the police officer.  He was there to make sure people didn't park on the fields, and also to make sure nobody blocked the road.  You can imagine that if a few people start blocking the road, others will drive over the field to get out.  Before you know it, that private property could be destroyed.  Also, it could be hard to evacuate if there was an emergency.  From what I saw, people were respectful, stayed off the fields, and nobody blocked the road.

I thought he was going to stop letting people park after a certain number of cars, but as far as I can tell, there were at least 100 cars lined up, maybe more.

During some launches (Minotaur and I believe the test first of Antares) they will block the road for safety since it is so close.

You can also see the pad from Tom's Cove point if the day is clear enough, but you are about 7 miles away instead of 2 like you are at Arbuckle neck Road.

My kids loved the marshy area - my daughter found a turtle and my son was parading it around showing it to everyone.

Offline CardBoardBoxProcessor

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #86 on: 04/19/2013 07:59 pm »
ah so that was you with the tiny turtle eh?

I was the guy with the deathly pale skin, bald head and monkey shirt.  lol.

Offline wolfpack

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #87 on: 04/19/2013 08:19 pm »
Does it make sense to bring a scanner along? Could I tune into the loop? If so, what frequency?

Offline CardBoardBoxProcessor

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #88 on: 04/19/2013 09:03 pm »
a pad ops guy had a radio/scanner but who knows if a scanner would pick it up. I cannot imagine it not being encoded. the twitter feed is good enough for major updates. But if anyone has a channel for a scanner that would be neat.

But it was cool to here people calling out of the launch zone and see their car crossing the bridge at the same time.
« Last Edit: 04/19/2013 09:12 pm by CardBoardBoxProcessor »

Offline Kabloona

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #89 on: 04/19/2013 10:20 pm »
Orbital has set up an Antares album on Flickr for photo sharing:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/antares_pix/

Offline effectivebits

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #90 on: 04/19/2013 10:32 pm »
ah so that was you with the tiny turtle eh?

I was the guy with the deathly pale skin, bald head and monkey shirt.  lol.

Green shirt and blue jeans?

Offline CardBoardBoxProcessor

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #91 on: 04/20/2013 02:11 am »
jesus. I really am pale as the dead and my head really does shine like a pool ball like people say. :o

I will post my pictures later after my days possible to view the launch in person are up.

Offline block51

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #92 on: 04/20/2013 11:30 am »
Does it make sense to bring a scanner along? Could I tune into the loop? If so, what frequency?

Wallops plot on marine band channel 12 is the best I know of.

Offline CardBoardBoxProcessor

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #93 on: 04/20/2013 12:58 pm »
it is still awful cloudy. is it worth making the trip?

edit: here in Annapolis it just became clear as a bell. hopefully this clearness reaches wallops by 5.
« Last Edit: 04/20/2013 01:21 pm by CardBoardBoxProcessor »

Offline Kabloona

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #94 on: 04/20/2013 01:23 pm »
it is still awful cloudy. is it worth making the trip?

edit: here in Annapolis it just became clear as a bell. hopefully this clearness reaches wallops by 5.

Yes, forecast is for clearing today as the front passes through.

Offline jsmjr

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #95 on: 04/20/2013 07:11 pm »
From the launch thread:

Range is trying to relocate some 40 or so people from the extreme south end of Assateague to clear additional people-free space because of the strong southwesterly winds... if they are successful, AND the FAA approves the new debris limit lines, we MIGHT be able to launch today...

If they do it, it would be the most awesome real-time reprogramming I've ever seen a range do...

I guess they will tell them that either they move back or the will NOT see a launch...

Good reminder NOT to cross the barriers at Chincoteague NWR or you most definitely will not get a good view!

Also, went up onto the roof of my house on Capitol Hill and put some directional markings on my a/c unit for reference.  (Attached.)  Hope those low clouds dissipate and the launch goes off!

(FYI - 110 miles, 131 degrees azimuth)
« Last Edit: 04/20/2013 07:16 pm by jsmjr »

Offline wolfpack

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #96 on: 04/21/2013 01:12 am »
Made it out just in time for the scrub. :(

Man, Arbuckle Neck is DANGER close!  :o

Offline BillyJoeBob

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #97 on: 04/21/2013 02:37 am »
Made it out just in time for the scrub. :(

Man, Arbuckle Neck is DANGER close!  :o

Very true...it is DANGER close but it sure will be awesome to watch when it finally takes off.

Here's a very poor quality video I took of the launch area.
I was standing in the marshy area, no tripod, gnats were flying into every exposed part of my body...I can't wait to see the first flight!!!

The birds sure did put on a show though....flying around and then diving into the water to pick up dinner!!

 ;)




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6-xwtmqgqY&feature=youtu.be

« Last Edit: 04/21/2013 02:41 am by BillyJoeBob »

Offline CardBoardBoxProcessor

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #98 on: 04/21/2013 02:57 am »
Gosh you got there pretty early for hardly anyone to be in your video.

on a tangent. How do Antares stages get there? Trucked in or flown in? I notice it is larger than the spaceX rocket in diameter.

Online catdlr

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Re: Antares A-One Going to View the Launch
« Reply #99 on: 04/21/2013 03:02 am »
Gosh you got there pretty early for hardly anyone to be in your video.

on a tangent. How do Antares stages get there? Trucked in or flown in? I notice it is larger than the spaceX rocket in diameter.

Trucked in:

Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

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