Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX/Falcon 1 - 23rd March: launch coverage thread (Read 118879 times)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #40 on:** 03/24/2006 05:18 pm »

Current weather loop:

http://www.rts-wx.com/satellite/loops/MTSAT-IR.shtml

Jonesy STS · « **Reply #41 on:** 03/24/2006 05:27 pm »

Sky News just gave it a mention (in the UK). So they may carry the launch on interactive. If they do, maybe we could slap a webcam in front of the TV and bounce it back into here?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #42 on:** 03/24/2006 05:40 pm »

2hrs 30mins before the opening of the launch window:

Current Conditions
Temp: 80.1°F (26.7°C)
Humidity: 76%
Dew Point: 72.0°F (22.2°C)
Wind: NE at 15 MPH
Sky: mostly cloudy
Weather: Towering cumulus clouds observed

Avron · « **Reply #43 on:** 03/24/2006 05:42 pm »

maybe www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org can help with a reflector...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #44 on:** 03/24/2006 05:44 pm »

We have a video webcast link. It's classed as media. I'm making the request to populate the link via here.

There is a teleconference for media, and we'll be on that...so updates will be live regardless as on previous attempts. Standby on the video webcast.

astropl · « **Reply #45 on:** 03/24/2006 05:47 pm »

Quote

Chris Bergin - 24/3/2006 7:44 PM

We have a video webcast link. It's classed as media. I'm making the request to populate the link via here.

There is a teleconference for media, and we'll be on that...so updates will be live regardless as on previous attempts. Standby on the video webcast.

HISTORIC SPACEX LAUNCH SET FOR TODAY MARCH 24: THE WORLD'S LOWEST COST ROCKET TO ORBIT

El Segundo, CA – On Friday, March 24 at 1 p.m. California time (9 p.m. GMT), the Falcon 1 rocket will begin its journey to orbit, accelerating to 17,000 mph (25 times the speed of sound) in less than ten minutes. Designed from the ground up by SpaceX, Falcon 1 is a two stage rocket powered by liquid oxygen and purified, rocket grade kerosene. On launch day, Falcon 1 will launch into the history books for several notable reasons:

* It will be the first privately developed, liquid fueled rocket to reach orbit and the world's first all new orbital rocket in over a decade.
* The main engine of Falcon 1 (Merlin) will be the first all new American hydrocarbon engine for an orbital booster to be flown in forty years and only the second new American booster engine of any kind in twenty-five years.
* The Falcon 1 is the only rocket flying 21st century avionics, which require a small fraction of the power and mass of other systems.
* It will be the world's only semi-reusable orbital rocket apart from the Shuttle.
* Most importantly, Falcon 1, priced at $6.7 million, will provide the lowest cost per flight to orbit of any launch vehicle in the world, despite receiving a design reliability rating equivalent to that of the best launch vehicles currently flying in the United States.

The maiden flight will take place from the Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands. The customer for this mission is DARPA and the Air Force. The payload will be FalconSat-2, part of the Air Force Academy’s satellite program that will measure space plasma phenomena, which can adversely affect space-based communications, including GPS and other civil and military communications. The target orbit is 400 km X 500 km (just above the International Space Station) at an inclination of 39 degrees.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #46 on:** 03/24/2006 05:47 pm »

Live view from the webcast:

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #47 on:** 03/24/2006 05:48 pm »

It's being made public! They will publish it to SpaceX soon...here's the URL for you all in the meantime

http://www.spacex.com/?content=webcast

We will continue our coverage, with screenshots added.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #48 on:** 03/24/2006 05:51 pm »

DaveS · « **Reply #49 on:** 03/24/2006 05:52 pm »

Yay:) ! Many thanks to SpaceX and you Chris! I don't like those clouds hanging over the launch pad

. They make me nervous!

Avron · « **Reply #50 on:** 03/24/2006 05:54 pm »

Quote

DaveS - 24/3/2006 1:52 PM

Yay:) ! Many thanks to SpaceX and you Chris! I don't like those clouds hanging over the launch pad . They make me nervous!

BIG yay.. thanks

Jamie Young · « **Reply #51 on:** 03/24/2006 05:55 pm »

Brilliant!! This is going to be fun!

mong' · « **Reply #52 on:** 03/24/2006 05:58 pm »

cheers to spaceX for the webcast !

The best of luck to Elon Musk and his team

Here's to the opening of a new era

braddock · « **Reply #53 on:** 03/24/2006 05:59 pm »

MORNING FORECAST FOR

Saturday, March 25, 2006

KWAJALEIN FORECAST DISCUSSION

Radar at 0430L showed a few light showers passing across the region. Weak convergence embedded within the trade winds combined with nocturnal instability has been generating the shower activity early this morning. Expect the showers to dissipate by late morning leaving the Atoll under pleasant conditions for the afternoon hours. High clouds will likely spread back over the Marshalls tonight as they move northward away from convection situated along 5°N. Weak embedded trade wind convergence will keep a slight chance for showers in the forecast tonight. Sea state forecast: combined open ocean 7-8ft composed of a Northerly swell 7ft and wind waves 2-3ft. Chances for precipitation: 10% this morning, 20% tonight. KAM