I watched Jason 3 (as I recall) launch from Providence Landing Park. It was a great spot and filled with fanatical SpaceX employees. Here's the address:699 Mercury Avenue, Lompoc, CA 93436and a link to google maps:
Quote from: SeriousCallersOnly on 01/11/2017 08:45 pmI watched Jason 3 (as I recall) launch from Providence Landing Park. It was a great spot and filled with fanatical SpaceX employees. Here's the address:699 Mercury Avenue, Lompoc, CA 93436and a link to google maps:Please shorten the Google link, as below: Google can find it without the rest of the link, and the long link messes up the forum formatting.https://www.google.com/maps/place/699+Mercury+Ave,+Lompoc,+CA+93436/
As has been stated before, a dream viewing location would be the Amtrak parking lot at the end of Ocean Ave. <sigh>Can someone recall the exact spot where Ocean is closed on launch days... is it the Arguello intersection?
Pretty sure that is on-base on the road down to Surf Beach (35th Street).
That's west across the mouth of the Santa Ynez River river on the hills side near 35th and Taco.
I decided to try this spot:https://goo.gl/maps/qceYVPTUbHU2Will post a report later on how I like it.
So the Surf Beach station is always closed for SpaceX launches? That would be such a great place. I tried to watch the Jan 2016 launch from there but got kicked out in the middle of the night. I did see the early morning Delta 4 launch the next month from there, with a bunch of Rocketdyne employees. Are there any good spots further south near the eastern edge of the base?
My first night launch.
If the Paz launches on time, it will go up at 6:14AM local. What is the weather/visibility situation typically like at Vandeberg in the mornings? Is it likely I'll get a good view, or is it more likely that I'll hear it more than I see it?
Quote from: david1971 on 02/12/2018 08:03 pmIf the Paz launches on time, it will go up at 6:14AM local. What is the weather/visibility situation typically like at Vandeberg in the mornings? Is it likely I'll get a good view, or is it more likely that I'll hear it more than I see it?During the summer, morning launches are usually a hear not see. This time of year you might be ok.
Newbie here! Want to drive up from LA to watch the 5 May 2018 launch. Fingers crossed its not scrubbed! At that time of morning, 04:05, Im sure the coastal fog will be heavy. From what Ive found, it seems the most recommended viewing site for SLC-3E would then be Harris Road. Is that accurate? Or do any of the seasoned vets here have any other recommendations? Thanks guys!
I thought it would be fun to go Fishing in the Chanel Islands to watch downrange from there for Thursday (3/29/18) Morning. But now it has been postponed to Friday. Are there any thoughts if that would be a good viewing area?
I'll be in LA next weekend and I'm going to head up to Lompoc for the SAOCOM 1a launch on Saturday 10/6. Anyone else going up for that? Reading this launch viewing thread I was thinking about maybe trying to get to Renwick Ave if possible. Any advice on where to watch from is appreciated.
Ocean Ave is your best bet which is connected to Renwick. Get there an hour or two early as there will be big crowds.
In compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, the normal public viewing area on Azalea Lane off of Hwy 1 just a half mile south of Vandenberg Air Force Base's main gate will not be open to the public.
Re: Ocean Ave viewing - roadblocks will be out at Floradale Ave. per 30th Space Wing's Facebook.https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/posts/10159599044494897QuoteWe are scheduled to launch the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from VAFB tomorrow at 9:17 a.m.For public safety, roadblocks will be set up at the corner of 13th Street and New Mexico, Floradale Ave. and W. Central Ave. and Floradale Ave. and W. Ocean Ave.
We are scheduled to launch the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from VAFB tomorrow at 9:17 a.m.For public safety, roadblocks will be set up at the corner of 13th Street and New Mexico, Floradale Ave. and W. Central Ave. and Floradale Ave. and W. Ocean Ave.
Because of the exquisite weather, viewing the launch from Ocean Ave at the Floradale cross-street was actually an excellent experience. While it was certainly noticeable that we were further away (about 6.7 miles from the pad), it was much better than I expected. I haven't seen a daytime RTLS before, and I was surprised at how well I could see the falling booster after the reentry burn and before the landing burn.Nonetheless, in the future I hope they will consider putting the roadblock back to the Union Sugar cross-street. I wonder if someone actually did a 3-sigma safety study to justify this move, or if it was just some overly-cautious bureaucrat deciding this.
Report on the viewing from Ocean and Floradale, of the Sentinel-6A launch / landing. Note that this particular launch was a rarity with nearly perfect viewing (no marine layer fog).Quote from: DaveJes1979 on 11/23/2020 05:57 pmBecause of the exquisite weather, viewing the launch from Ocean Ave at the Floradale cross-street was actually an excellent experience. While it was certainly noticeable that we were further away (about 6.7 miles from the pad), it was much better than I expected. I haven't seen a daytime RTLS before, and I was surprised at how well I could see the falling booster after the reentry burn and before the landing burn.Nonetheless, in the future I hope they will consider putting the roadblock back to the Union Sugar cross-street. I wonder if someone actually did a 3-sigma safety study to justify this move, or if it was just some overly-cautious bureaucrat deciding this.
We've been wondering for Firefly launches if Delta II's Corral Road/Saddle Club viewing site with the concrete bleachers was still available. Don't know why but we're surprised to hear Surf Beach is open. Never was able to watch a Delta II from there as they'd say it was an "overflight" issue. Seeing a vehicle go from SLC-2W while at Surf Beach will be a real treat!