SpaceX Falcon 9 - Vandenberg - Launch Viewing

[Jansen]

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.

= The Hawk's Nest

https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2420144/spacex-to-launch-sentinel-6-satellite-from-vandenberg-afb/

[Jansen]

Re: Ocean Ave viewing - roadblocks will be out at Floradale Ave. per 30th Space Wing's Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/posts/10159599044494897

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.

[ArbitraryConstant]

It looks like the next best option is on Rancho Lompoc Farm Road? I'm assuming they won't be evacuating the prison...

[ChrisC]

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).

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.

[jig]

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).

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.

when i talked with the local PD (not CHP), they said that local farmers had complained after the last RTLS that people had stolen a significant number of cabbages from their farms - apparently the wait that time was ~5 hours, whereas ours was more like 2, from the general arrival time of "morning."  so, they said they were asked to push the crowds back to the city limits, even past Bailey, and the CHP tried to do that starting at about 7:30-8am. 

at some point, they gave up.  we moved to a mid point along Bailey before the cops gave up, and it was great viewing, but more congested for the farmers, and further away than i'd have liked.

i told them that they needed to coordinate communication better if they really wanted Ocean clear back to the city limit, because even the base had been communicating just the FL blockade (and was still while they were pushing people back).

i'm not sure i buy the cabbage theft statement.  if anything, i'd be more worried about people urinating or whatever in the fields, and really, none of that is really a problem along Ocean.

sadly, it felt a lot like a know-nothing overly-cautious and newly elected bureaucrat that was throwing his weight around and getting the various PDs involved.  i hope next time they open Ocean back up to ~ the south base entrance gate.

[Huskymaniac]

So, if you want to see the pad, what is the best spot?  I can sacrifice distance for visibility.

[gamesyns]

Went to the NROL-87 launch, which was an RTLS launch. Based on this thread, it might have been the first time an RTLS had Ocean Ave opened all the way to 13th St? Either way, parked on the corner of Ocean and Renwick Ave, resulted in a perfect view of launch and landing.

[dglow]

That’s great to hear. I hope to try Ocean Ave next time.

Some had also reported the Hawk’s Nest being closed for recent launches. Well, for NROL-87 it wasn’t quite open but nonetheless hosted a small crowd. At about 11:45 around twenty or so vehicles had pulled over on the shoulder of Hwy 1, where we found the gate locked. Apparently some local police had stopped by earlier but did not possess the proper key.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

After waiting a few minutes more the group finally ducked under the gate and walked the 1/4 mile or so back to the viewing area. A beautiful vantage point for an equally beautiful day. Great viewing, though we had to be careful with binoculars since MECO’s position in the sky came quite close to the sun.

The Falcon’s sound is certainly muted from that far back. What you gain is the ability to see the rocket and TE poking up above the hills, which was perfect for a RTLS flight. And of course, having to crane one’s neck nearly straight up adds such a visceral, body-awareness sense of perspective to the scale of things, something which might otherwise be lost on such a perfectly clear, blue-sky day.

Hawk’s Nest viewing site: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Shane421]

I thought that Ocean and Renwick prevented site of the pad but Ocean and Floradale a little to the East did not.  Is that not true? I was considering heading to the F9 launch in the morning.

[catdlr]

....bump for a reopening of a closer site to view SpaceX launches.  This has recently been reopened (accessed) for SpaceX non-RTLS launches.  This was my and lots of other space fans' favorite location to set up and view the launch including those from the FireFly launches originating close to the VBSFN airport. Enjoy, and bring a blank and dress warmly, it's breezy and cold at night.

Crosslink:

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=60039.msg2558390#msg2558390

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=60039.msg2558438#msg2558438

Map:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.6827192,-120.6047712,183m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

Pictures:
ULA and SpaceX
Firefly
Surf Train Station Parking Lot

Google Geo Tag link 

[jaredhead]

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!

[catdlr]

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!

I was there for several Sunset Polar launches and the Iris launch with other JPL staff on that site.  Yes, overflight is something to behold and the sound.  I think Firefly will mostly fly retro so that spot may be open for that.  Probably if ULA launches, that will be closed, as it has been in the past. VSFB has the ultimate decision to do what they want or is advised by the launch provider to leave the gate open on Ocean Drive to allow access to the rail station.  The station is active and has commuter and Amtrak to serve the Lompoc area. To have an unobstructed view is glorious.

[k_feickert]

Hello NSF Community, I have created a viewshed analysis for SLC-4E at Vandenberg (green should be good given the elevation, though it does not account for trees/buildings that could block the view). I am very interested in feedback from the rocket viewing community for potential viewing sites that would be agreeable to those who chase rockets:

https://gis.ci.lompoc.ca.us/portal/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=c3a0eebc018e411faac813e0de48b2e4

I am also interested in hearing what you prefer in viewing locations:
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Food Access
- As Close As Possible
- Can see the Launchpad
- Launch can still be seen if fogged in
- Etc.

I have also attached a fog map created by using the dataset provided by: “Decadal Summertime Fog & Coastal Low Cloud Dataset for North and Central Coastal California for 1999-2009” http://climate.calcommons.org/datasets/summertime-fog
The full research paper can be read here: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2015EA000119

I know Hawk's Nest was a fan-favorite for many years, but was closed to the public in 2022. Would you guys like to see it return or is there potential for a better place for all to enjoy these SpaceX launches that are now happening almost weekly at Vandenberg?

Thank you for your time.

[Newton_V]

Drive out to the end of San Miguelito road.  Can't see the pad, but probably closest for a part of the early ascent.

34.59474  -120.53224

[mfoster]

I can see most of the launch thru staging from my home in bakerfield.
early evening launchs are the best to view

[k_feickert]

I tried the spot at Santa Lucia/Victory Rd yesterday for the Maxar WorldView Legion 1&2 launch (which was a return to site). The location is approximately 7 miles away from SLC-4E. There were about 10 vehicles there, but the viewers in attendance said that last time they were there it was double the amount of people. Some adventurous observers ran across the road down onto the hillside by FCC Lompoc. The regulars warned me not to do that as they have seen prison guards escort them back to the road. I guess it pays to not invite scrutiny.

Other than that, you'll find people amassing for views between the trees at the site, you can see the faring and second stage on the pad from this location. The sonic boom is EXCELLENT from this location as the shock wave (I assume) compresses going up the hill and it does not disappoint. It was far better than my usual backyard experience as a local. It was a rather hazy day, so I imagine other days might have better viewing. I have attached some pictures from the launch and what can be seen from this location. Equipment used: refurbished Canon EOS M200 camera with a T-Adapter connected to a Sarblue Mak60 telescope (all handheld). Processing done in open source Darktable.

I have also included a picture of SLC-3E for future reference for anyone wanting to see a launch from this location.

[k_feickert]

Hi NSF Community!
I am happy to report from Surf Beach for the Thursday May 9th Starlink launch. This launch was delayed multiple days, so my experience was a little more exhausting than previous viewing locations for SLC-4E. Some things of importance to note for viewers: the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs have closed road-side parking along Highway 246!

Ocean Park also closes promptly at SUNSET - so this launch window was within two minutes of park closure for those trying to watch from Ocean Park and the Surf Beach parking area was filled nearly two HOURS before the launch window started. Many viewers were turned away and several parked out and around the farm fields from what I was told.

For the lucky 20-30 people who were able to see the launch from Surf Beach they were treated to being 3.4 miles (5.5 km) away from the rocket. We were also treated to incredible sunsets; I was surprised you could see sunspots even without a filter! The end of the road was the best viewing location as you could see the rocket out on the pad. Though be warned that THOUSANDS of mosquitos were present up at the road and down at the parking lot was foul smelling air coming from the pit-latrines at the train station. With not a lot of places to sit most viewers waited in their cars or tried to make the best of it.

This launch got bumped to 9:30 pm (21:30) and my f/12 camera was really struggling with getting enough light. Those who would like to photograph here I'd definitely recommend bringing a faster lens for night shots! The rocket is also poorly lit, so make sure to bring a tripod if you want to get some good static shots of it on the pad if a night launch. Daytime launches should be a real treat, though be advised that this is the absolute worst location for fog in the area so please make sure to check not only the weather forecasts but even the NOAA GOES-West satellite imagery just in case:
https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/goes/sector_band.php?sat=G18&sector=psw&band=GEOCOLOR&length=24

Liquid Oxygen fueling begins approximately 35 minutes before flight, so if you want to see "venting" make sure you have a good spot by then. Also bring a chair if you plan on sitting anywhere other than your car!

Amenities:
Pit-latrine toilets are available (mind the smell)
No food is available, make sure to bring snacks if the launch is delayed/scrubbed
Cell service is pretty terrible, plan ahead for entertainment or a way to help pass the time!
Do your best to be social if you have no signal so you can find out updates about launch status.
Parking is first come first served; the Sheriffs WILL close the road to the beach once its near capacity! Please make sure you have a backup plan! My suggestions are Santa Lucia Rd/Victory Rd (7 miles/11km distance from launch site) or better yet River Bend Park in Lompoc (9 miles/15km from launch site) which has ample parking, portable toilets, and a HUGE grass field to play around on/picnic in case the launch is scrubbed.

Please let me know where'd you'd like me to scout out next!
Clear skies!

[catdlr]

Hi NSF Community!

Please let me know where'd you'd like me to scout out next!
Clear skies!

That's my favorite spot.  Back long ago, there weren't any restrictions, and I was able to camp there next to the old railroad/mail station.  I think NSF has set up cameras there previously for selected SpaceX launches when they were not RTLS.  Thanks for the warning on the station's closer hours.

Tony

[k_feickert]

Hi NSF Community,
Today I went to the Community Center in Lompoc to scout that out... it went as well as you'd imagine. The rocket launched today right up through the trees in the parking lot, visibility wasn't very good for liftoff at all. Behind those trees were more trees and an apartment complex. The only upside to the Community Center is the numerous flushing toilets. The facility is actually quite nice, but to see anything you need to be on the North side of the building out in the parking lot. For photography's sake, you need to contend with the trees in the parking lot that can block visibility as it travels South overhead and the electrical lines that are to the East, which conveniently blocks your view around stage separation. Overall, I am not a fan of this spot personally, but if you're someone who doesn't like crowds, enjoys flushable toilets, and ADA access this is the spot for you! No one else was at this location for viewing, so it's pretty quiet here.

I apologize for the attached photos, I forgot to check my shutter speed at launch and didn't realize I was at 1/125 with a 750mm lens until it was too late! Out of all of the pictures taken 99% were very blurry and blown out. 

Next launch I was thinking St. Mary's parking lot, or maybe Allan Hancock Lompoc Campus? I'm still open for suggestions   

[catdlr]

Next launch I was thinking St. Mary's parking lot, or maybe Allan Hancock Lompoc Campus? I'm still open for suggestions   

Perhaps Jalama Regional Park:  MAP

Specifically this spot before crossing the tracks:  MAP