Author Topic: Falcon Heavy - NASASpaceflight member meetup (Read 73664 times)

Jeramiah Johnson · « **Reply #160 on:** 02/01/2018 05:25 pm »

I live in a northern suburb of Chicago and I would like to see this launch and a meet up can be on the table.

alhenry1231 · « **Reply #161 on:** 02/01/2018 05:54 pm »

I'm down for meet up.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #162 on:** 02/01/2018 05:56 pm »

Quote from: sghill on 02/01/2018 05:32 pm

Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 02/01/2018 04:55 pm
Hey everyone! So I am super busy and won’t have time to actually plan this myself, but fear not, because another member of our forum has volunteered to take the reins on this. And for ease of remembering names, it’s another Chris! This time, Chris C. He should be in touch with all of you who have expressed interest in the thread of attending the Falcon Heavy meetup at some point soon so we can decide on a restaurant and all that. Looking forward to meeting all of you

Chris,

Will you or ChrisC please keep an ear to ground about Playalinda being open?

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

GenXApollo · « **Reply #163 on:** 02/01/2018 11:38 pm »

What time is recommended to head out to Playalinda beach? Right at the opening at 6 am? What about beach gear (Chairs, Umbrella, etc..)? How close can I park the car?

sghill · « **Reply #164 on:** 02/02/2018 12:18 am »

Quote from: GenXApollo on 02/01/2018 11:38 pm

What time is recommended to head out to Playalinda beach? Right at the opening at 6 am? What about beach gear (Chairs, Umbrella, etc..)? How close can I park the car?

The earlier you go, the closer you park to the beach. It's one of the prettiest beaches in America, IMHO, and the pad looks like it's right next to you. The nude sunbathers won't be there on launch days (as much).

Just remember, if you go there, it is super austere out there, and once you are there, you are committed until the launch or scrub once traffic starts.

No food or water, no shelter, and primitive bathrooms (mobbed by people). Cell phones often don't even work out there! My AT&T, definitely not.

I'll go there once FH is flying regularly, but not this first go around...

Lar · « **Reply #165 on:** 02/02/2018 12:24 am »

Quote from: Jeramiah Johnson on 02/01/2018 05:25 pm

I live in a northern suburb of Chicago and I would like to see this launch and a meet up can be on the table.

Are you suggesting a Chicago area meetup?

I will be in Phoenix for work (rather than at the launch as I wished) and would love to meet fans in that area.... maybe yet another thread?

Jakusb · « **Reply #166 on:** 02/02/2018 07:29 am »

How about following the launch stream at the locations mentioned?
I guess at Fishlips there might be a chance of using the WIFI to follow the launch per stream too?

In Europe I have a virtual unlimited (24Gb) 4G data bundle.
How is that in US? Many people with proper data bundle and maybe even willing to share it with Personal Hotspot?
Is there even proper reception at for example 401?

sghill · « **Reply #167 on:** 02/02/2018 11:37 am »

Quote from: Jakusb on 02/02/2018 07:29 am

How about following the launch stream at the locations mentioned?
I guess at Fishlips there might be a chance of using the WIFI to follow the launch per stream too?

In Europe I have a virtual unlimited (24Gb) 4G data bundle.
How is that in US? Many people with proper data bundle and maybe even willing to share it with Personal Hotspot?
Is there even proper reception at for example 401?

Your carrier won't work over here. When you get to the Orlando airport, purchase a SIM card for your phone that includes a data package. Buy an unlimited calls and data SIM card from one of the airport AT&T carrier phone stores for around US$40, and you will be fine for calls and Internet access.

Playalinda Beach itself is the only place you won't have signal anywhere in the area on land.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/mco-shops-anywhere-to-buy-phone-sim-data.3452947/

c · « **Reply #168 on:** 02/03/2018 12:00 am »

NSF FALCON HEAVY MEETUP!

Please take the SURVEY

Hello space fans,

As Chris G. mentioned earlier, I am helping out with the meetup that we are hoping to have THIS Monday night (Feb 5th, 2018).

There is a short survey HERE that will help us flush out the details of the meetup. Please fill this out as quickly as possible so that we can make reservations, print out some fantastically normal name tags, and maybe decide if anyone should win a door prize or two.

c - the other, other, other Chris

c · « **Reply #169 on:** 02/03/2018 12:45 am »

Quote from: Ike17055 on 01/31/2018 09:27 pm

My darling wife, ever the planner, suggested that someone have name labels, complete with our online monikers, on hand. Any ambitious types want to take that on?

I will be bringing name tags & markers. I'll pre-print as many as possible.

intrepidpursuit · « **Reply #170 on:** 02/03/2018 01:14 am »

Quote from: c on 02/03/2018 12:45 am

Quote from: Ike17055 on 01/31/2018 09:27 pm
My darling wife, ever the planner, suggested that someone have name labels, complete with our online monikers, on hand. Any ambitious types want to take that on?

I will be bringing name tags & markers. I'll pre-print as many as possible.

Might I suggest the tags have both name and handle? I only know you guys by handle but it would be weird calling someone vaporcobra, Flying Beaver, or Jim to their face.

IanThePineapple · « **Reply #171 on:** 02/03/2018 01:15 am »

Quote from: intrepidpursuit on 02/03/2018 01:14 am

Quote from: c on 02/03/2018 12:45 am
Quote from: Ike17055 on 01/31/2018 09:27 pm
My darling wife, ever the planner, suggested that someone have name labels, complete with our online monikers, on hand. Any ambitious types want to take that on?

I will be bringing name tags & markers. I'll pre-print as many as possible.

Might I suggest the tags have both name and handle? I only know you guys by handle but it would be weird calling someone vaporcobra, Flying Beaver, or Jim to their face.

Maybe like this:

[Real name, large text]

[username, slightly smaller text]

c · « **Reply #172 on:** 02/03/2018 01:31 am »

Quote from: intrepidpursuit on 02/03/2018 01:14 am

Quote from: c on 02/03/2018 12:45 am
Quote from: Ike17055 on 01/31/2018 09:27 pm
My darling wife, ever the planner, suggested that someone have name labels, complete with our online monikers, on hand. Any ambitious types want to take that on?

I will be bringing name tags & markers. I'll pre-print as many as possible.

Might I suggest the tags have both name and handle? I only know you guys by handle but it would be weird calling someone vaporcobra, Flying Beaver, or Jim to their face.

So as an example....
HANDLE - Jim
NAME - Pat

I will print out the name tags with two lines and pre-fill what I can. And bring plenty of blanks & Sharpies.

REMEMBER - Please take the SURVEY

WindnWar · « **Reply #173 on:** 02/03/2018 03:01 am »

Is Playalinda beach a deadzone for all cell providers or only certain ones? I'm bringing a live streaming pack that has several providers modems in it, but no point in going there if its a total deadzone.

kerrycockram · « **Reply #174 on:** 02/03/2018 04:43 am »

Quote from: WindnWar on 02/03/2018 03:01 am

Is Playalinda beach a deadzone for all cell providers or only certain ones? I'm bringing a live streaming pack that has several providers modems in it, but no point in going there if its a total deadzone.

As far as I can tell, there's barely any towers out there.

Each tower has a finite capacity, as does the tower's backhaul. When you get a few thousand of your newest best friends out there LiveInstaTinderBooking, something's gonna give. And, like everywhere else on the planet, it won't be physics that does the giving

When there are big events at parks in my area (at the edge of the Everglades) the telcos bring in portable cell towers. Maybe they'll do that for FH Day but none of my contacts know anything going on that far north.

You could do a test, but that would require testing under similar conditions (i.e. with thousands of people in a small area) beforehand.

P.S. - bring patience for when the network fails and people start going through TinderBookGram withdrawals. OK, I added this because I'm having fun concatenating things like WhatsBookGramTinder and FaceGramInstaBook.

Jakusb · « **Reply #175 on:** 02/03/2018 01:55 pm »

My brother bought a drone. A real good one.
But I am not sure if it will be a good idea to bring it and use it for filming the launch and landing.
What are the regulations there. Does anyone know?

rsheitz · « **Reply #176 on:** 02/03/2018 02:12 pm »

Going for my first launch. Where would be a good spot to view as KSC tix seem to be sold out.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #177 on:** 02/03/2018 02:21 pm »

Quote from: c on 02/03/2018 12:00 am

NSF FALCON HEAVY MEETUP!

Please take the SURVEY

Hello space fans,

As Chris G. mentioned earlier, I am helping out with the meetup that we are hoping to have THIS Monday night (Feb 5th, 2018).

There is a short survey HERE that will help us flush out the details of the meetup. Please fill this out as quickly as possible so that we can make reservations, print out some fantastically normal name tags, and maybe decide if anyone should win a door prize or two.

c - the other, other, other Chris

Please please please if you are definitely coming to our NSF meetup for Falcon Heavy, or even just considering coming, fill out this form. We have made reservations but need to keep the restaurant informed of how many of us our coming.

Looking forward to seeing everyone.

kerrycockram · « **Reply #178 on:** 02/03/2018 02:33 pm »

Quote from: Jakusb on 02/03/2018 01:55 pm

My brother bought a drone. A real good one.
But I am not sure if it will be a good idea to bring it and use it for filming the launch and landing.
What are the regulations there. Does anyone know?

The FAA knows what regulations there are regarding RPV operations. And it is the pilot's responsibility to know and follow FAA rules. If he causes a scrub due to security violation he's not gonna have a good time.

An organization dedicated to safe hobby operation of RPVs is the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) -
https://www.modelaircraft.org -. I STRONGLY encourage membership, training, and practice outside the airspace of things like AIR EFFING FORCE BASES and SPACE EFFING LAUNCH SITES.

_Ahem.

But to fully answer your question, he should look for a NOTAM for that airspace during that time. Here's an example NOTAM from Jan 26th, 2018:

FDC 8/1640 ZMA FL..AIRSPACE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL..TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE OPS AREA. PURSUANT TO SECTION 91.143 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR 91.143), FLT OPS CONDUCTED BY FAA CERTIFICATED PILOTS OR CONDUCTED IN ACFT OF U.S. REGISTRY ARE PROHIBITED AT ANY ALT FM THE SFC-FL180, WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 285116N804219W TO 290730N803000W THENCE CLOCKWISE VIA A 30 NM ARC CENTERED AT 283703N803647W TO 281330N801600W TO 282501N803029W TO 282501N803759W TO 282501N804144W TO 283121N804349W TO 283801N804701W TO 284910N805044W TO 285116N804714W TO 285116N804219W. MIAMI CENTER, PHONE 305 716 1589, IS THE COORDINATING FAA FACILITY AND MAY BE CONTACTED FOR THE CURRENT STATUS OF ANY AIRSPACE ASSOCIATED WITH LAUNCH OPS. THIS AREA ENCOMPASSES R2932, R2933, R2934, AND PORTIONS OF W497A, W136F, W137F AND W137G. ADDITIONAL WARNING AND RESTRICTED AREAS WILL BE ACTIVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OPS. PILOTS SHALL CONSULT ALL NOTAMS REGARDING THIS OPERATION. 1801302048-1801310037

I wish to highlight "PROHIBITED AT ANY ALT". That means, inside that restricted area, you cannot legally fly a "drone" even 1 millimeter off the ground. And the FAA is humorless enough to consider that a violation worth acting on, because the risk of catastrophe is already so high that any unnecessary risk is, well, unnecessary.

You can find NOTAMS on the FAA's website. Additionally, the aforementioned AMA has a news feed: https://www.modelaircraft.org/membership/clubs/notams.aspx .

Remember: The pilot is responsible for not violating a TFR (temporary flight restriction). The FAA doesn't do "oops, our bad".

intrepidpursuit · « **Reply #179 on:** 02/03/2018 02:51 pm »

Quote from: rsheitz on 02/03/2018 02:12 pm

Going for my first launch. Where would be a good spot to view as KSC tix seem to be sold out.

This has been discussed pretty extensively already. Please read back and don't force us to repeat out insight and opinions on every page.