My experience at Mojave

[spacechump]

Well my roommate and I drove from Ventura to Mojave at 1:30 in the morning due to a split second decision we made at 12:00 am. So we get there at four in the morning where quite a large crowd had already formed. Bob I did see White's motel. I got some pics but they aren't very good. I'll post the best here. I post one right now but then I need to get some sleep.....<br /><br />Here's the takeoff of White Knight:

 

[spacechump]

Oops...I guess I am tired.<br /><br />

 

[spacechump]

Base of operations<br />

 

[spacechump]

Higher and higher it goes!

 

[spacechump]

I've never seen something shoot straight up so fast. You can see the exhaust plume if you look carefully.<br /><br />

 

[spacechump]

Ok NOW I'm going to bed.

 

[bobvanx]

In the immortal words of the fans at any of Tom Slick's races,<br /><br />YAY!<br /><br />Congratulations on being able to impulse on something as historic as this. I saw the first flightof SS1 to space, back in June, and I agree: seeing something go straight up like that is truly mind bending.<br /><br />Sleep well, I'm so glad you went!

 

[flynn]

That is so cool, thanks for sharing the pics, especially when your knackered. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[sloracer]

Cheers! Thanks for going and adding to the crowd of well wishers. I would like to have done that myself!

 

[spacechump]

I'm back up.<br /><br />The White Knight...it's job done.<br />

 

[igorsboss]

SpaceChumpYouOneLuckyDude

 

[spacechump]

Chase planes getting in close...<br /><br />

 

[spacechump]

Hmmm...still tired I guess <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />

 

[spacechump]

Semi-formation of SS1 and its chase planes.<br /><br />

 

[spacechump]

A nice, smooth landing...job well done!<br />

 

[spacechump]

Chase planes fly over field in tribute.<br /><br />

 

[spacechump]

I didn't get a shot of SS1 with Brian parading around unfortunately. They were well into the ceremonies which were delaying it and I had to take off. But my roommate did get video of the events from takeoff to landing. I'll grab the footage and do a little editing and see what I can do k? Just don't expect it right away though.

 

[spacechump]

Oh and I thought this was strikingly beautiful.<br /><br />

 

[spacechump]

<i>SpaceChumpYouOneLuckyDude</i><br /><br />It's all about location, location, location.<br /><br />I've only been out in California for over a month. At first I didn't realize Mojave was that close to Ventura. After the Discovery show we made a rash decision to go see it an hour before we left. I guess you could say we were inspired due in part to Discovery's fine documentary skills which pushed us to want to see it firsthand.

 

[thermionic]

Wasn't that phenomenal?!? I just got home, after a longer drive than you, back and forth to Santa Cruz. Worth it. Took the family. Visibility and thrillingness was much better than I expected. I described the Virgin Galactic thing to my 8 yr old son, and he said "Probably everyone in America will want to go!"

 

[igorsboss]

I showed my 3 1/2 year old son this launch, then we went for a walk outside. In the clear sky above us, there was a jet making a con trail. He saw it and said "Look! A rocket going up to space! It IS a rocket!".<br /><br />Last week, while playing a preschool, he picked up a plastic hoop, about 12 inches in diameter. He positioned a playground ball inside it, and said "Look! A planet!" I asked him which planet it was, an he said "Its the planet Saturn!".<img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[flynn]

Cool, teach him to type and he can come on here and show us lot a thing or too <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[propforce]

Great photos, Spacechump !! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Did you guys take Hwy 126 to Hwy 14?<br /><br />Welcome to California, btw ! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[omegamogo]

Those are some very beautiful photos, thanks for sharing them!<br />One question though, is WK really as loud as they say it is?

 

[scottb50]

I was there in June and WK sounds like a Lear 24-25. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>