SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - CASSIOPE - September, 2013 - GENERAL DISCUSSION THREAD

[JBF]

Maybe we should start a viewing section for this launch? That is if a few here are going.

Might be worth it to ask the VAFB PAO if they have any recommended spots.

[Chris Bergin]

Maybe we should start a viewing section for this launch? That is if a few here are going.

Yeah, we'll be starting a viewing thread closer to the time.

[Comga]

Hi !

I have just one question. I will maybe be in California for my holidays in september. Do you know if it is possible to see the launch from vendenberg from a good point of view ?
I'm french, I don't want to be sent in jail if I cross the military fences !

Some stuff on viewing the LDCM launch from outside VAFB was posted here.  Renwick Ave was chosen by many including jimvela, who is really a guy in the know.  You can search his posts for photos. 

This will all belong in the viewing thread when it gets started.

[cro-magnon gramps]

Try this site, it has an interactive google map, only problem that I encountered, it doesn't have the SpaceX launch Pad on it...

http://wiki.dandascalescu.com/blog/where_to_watch_vandenberg_afb_rocket_launches

this is a private persons, list of potential Vandenberg launches (dates TBD), sourced for giving the launch pad designation for SpaceX as SLC-4E...

http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbsked.htm

This is the actual google map page with side bar icons and descriptions of what is on the map...

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

Cheers

Gramps

edit, to eliminate any support of Space Archive as a main source for launch date information

[cro-magnon gramps]

    googled slc-4e vandenberg air force base map

came up with this site

http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/space-launch-complex-4-vandenberg/view/?service=0

I've included to map shots... one the view when clicking on the above link, and second, where it is in respect to other launch sites on interactive map...

Cheers

Gramps

[cro-magnon gramps]

The SpaceArchive website and Brian Webb's mailing list have zero affiliation with VAFB. I noticed someone cited him as a source of a date a few weeks back as well. Not the place for launch status or dates.

That was not the purpose of the citing... he had the designation of the SpaceX launch site. Any reference to date of launch is always TBD, and a place marker. It was not to cite him as a reference for that purpose; 

Gramps

edit error in crediting map source

[jimvela]

Hi !

I have just one question. I will maybe be in California for my holidays in september. Do you know if it is possible to see the launch from vendenberg from a good point of view ?
I'm french, I don't want to be sent in jail if I cross the military fences !

Some stuff on viewing the LDCM launch from outside VAFB was posted here.  Renwick Ave was chosen by many including jimvela, who is really a guy in the know.  You can search his posts for photos. 

This will all belong in the viewing thread when it gets started.

Just some notes- I didn't see any of my posts in the "joined" thread that was linked above.  I see some of them in the LDCM thread here:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=10070.255

That spot isn't as great for SLC4 E/W launches as it is for Atlas, but it's still a pretty darned good spot.

I'm hoping to be able to align my work schedules to be able to take a trip out to see this one go as I'm dying to see an F9 launch up close and personal- and it will be a while before I have hardware riding on one.

I have a contingency spot for days when the marine layer is in.  At that contingency spot I have a fighting chance of seeing the vehicle pop out the top, but that spot isn't great if you want to be close enough to really feel the launch.  (I'm thinking that 9 x M1-Ds singing has to be a pretty good song to be in the front row for!)

Specifically to dedead's questions- First, I hope you have a great visit to the USA!  It is very clear where fences are and are not, and you're not likely to inadvertently drive somewhere that you cannot be.  Don't try to climb any fences, and if you do end up somewhere with a gate and a MP, tell them you're lost and follow their directions to get out.  You can't really get to such a spot without trying to...

If there's a crowd along the roadside, you're generally in OK shape but remember that there won't be any public facilities (food/water/restrooms) at a location like Ocean/Renwick- so prepare like you're going camping in the outdoors.

Also, don't be offended if many of us seem to significantly limit our discussions around a foreign person.  It's not because we don't like you and welcome our French allies to visit our great nation.  It's because we have serious ITAR restrictions that will cause us to clam up in general.

And finally, If you are out in the area on holiday, I hope you are able to spend time exploring Lompoc/Santa Maria and the surrounding wine country.  There's plenty of horrible crappy fast food, but if you look you will be able to find some really good local wine and many family restaurants that, though hidden, are quite good.

[lazaruslong]

As far as I know from the launches I've attended, Surf Beach is only open for launches off of SLC-6, I'm not sure about SLC-8 launches as I haven't been to one for that pad. So Surf Beach is closed for Atlas launches, and I assume that means that a launch from SLC-4 will close it as well.

There's roads up in the hills that you can view launches from. I watched NROL-36 and LDCM from one of those roads, and boy do they give you an amazing view, and the sound, wow is there a big difference when you're ~5mi from the pad instead of 8.

These roads are also up in altitude a bit as well, so the night of NROL-36's scrub and 36's day launch, with the regular sites and pad socked in, we were above the cloud ceiling in clear blue skies to see her about 20 seconds after liftoff and up to 2nd stage ignition.

Local sheriffs and VAFB MP's will have the road blocked when you reach as close as you can get, and they're quite a nice bunch of folks to chat with.

[catdlr]

Here is the collection of pictures taken at Vandenberg dated March 8, 2013.

http://www.spacex.com/gallery/vandenberg

[Lars_J]

Here is the collection of pictures taken at Vandenberg dated March 8, 2013.

http://www.spacex.com/gallery/vandenberg

The bottom arial view photos were taken on June 15.

[Jim]

Doesn't look like the erector has the umbilicals on it.

also to sound like a grouch, don't like how they refer to VAFB as vandy.

[yg1968]

also to sound like a grouch, don't like how they refer to VAFB as vandy.

They don't refer to it as Vandy. That's only in the names of the JPEG.

[spectre9]

Doesn't look like the erector has the umbilicals on it.

also to sound like a grouch, don't like how they refer to VAFB as vandy.

Cue Jason1701 to tell us that's an old picture 

[Jim]

also to sound like a grouch, don't like how they refer to VAFB as vandy.

They don't refer to it as Vandy. That's only in the names of the JPEG.

yes they do in many other places

[JBF]

also to sound like a grouch, don't like how they refer to VAFB as vandy.

They don't refer to it as Vandy. That's only in the names of the JPEG.

yes they do in many other places

Sounds like something they picked up from the Air Force side.  When I was enlisted we had nick names for everything.

[Jim]

also to sound like a grouch, don't like how they refer to VAFB as vandy.

They don't refer to it as Vandy. That's only in the names of the JPEG.

yes they do in many other places

Sounds like something they picked up from the Air Force side.  When I was enlisted we had nick names for everything.

I was in the USAF and we didn't refer to it as such.  But enough on this subject.

[Elvis in Space]

Doesn't look like the erector has the umbilicals on it.

also to sound like a grouch, don't like how they refer to VAFB as vandy.

Agreed. Also it keeps making me think they are referencing Vanderbilt University which is known locally as "Vandy".

(Here kitty...eat your veggies...don't be whiny...aren't you a goodie...Here Cammie...My daughter's name is Cameron da##!t...grow up and talk like an adult!) Sorry. Sore spot with me.

[llanitedave]

Doesn't look like the erector has the umbilicals on it.

also to sound like a grouch, don't like how they refer to VAFB as vandy.

I never liked Fanny May either.

[sdsds]

Doesn't look like the erector has the umbilicals on it.

Is there a chance they're waiting for the first vehicle to arrive before rigging the umbilicals on the erector? Obviously everything is supposed to be measured and modeled, but with Murphy and all....  If the vehicle were actually on the erector as the plumbing was fitted then there couldn't be a need for time-consuming rework after a failed fit-check....

[Jim]

Is there a chance they're waiting for the first vehicle to arrive before rigging the umbilicals on the erector? Obviously everything is supposed to be measured and modeled, but with Murphy and all....  If the vehicle were actually on the erector as the plumbing was fitted then there couldn't be a need for time-consuming rework after a failed fit-check....

What about running lines up the erector to the point before they drape over to the vehicle.