OS Minotaur Launch Dec. 11 from Wallops Island, VA

Swampcat · Dec 3, 2006

<center>Rocket will carry buzz to develop East Coast hub <blockquote>WALLOPS ISLAND — In 10 days, if all goes as planned, a 70,000-pound Minotaur I rocket will blast into orbit here, carrying aloft a payload of experimental satellites for the Air Force and NASA./p> It will light the sky with a trail that will be seen as far away as North Carolina’s Outer Banks, if the weather is right./p> You’ll see that sucker from Norfolk,” said Billie Reed, who directs the fledgling Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport./p> It will be the inaugural launch for the spaceport, known as MARS./p></blockquote></center> This is about as close as I'll get to seeing an orbital launch. Should be able to see this one fly along the coast from my front porch. Here's the link to the rest of the story and here's a link to more info on the Minotaur I LV. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

MeteorWayne · Dec 3, 2006

I wish they'd mentioned what inclination the launch is firing into. I've seen launches of artificial aurora from Wallops back in the 60's from NJ, wonder if I can see it from here? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

Swampcat · Dec 3, 2006

"I wish they'd mentioned what inclination the launch is firing into." Here it says 40o. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

MeteorWayne · Dec 3, 2006

Thanks!! So it will be heading slightly north of east. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

Swampcat · Dec 9, 2006

Here are some links to articles about OS Minotaur launch scheduled for Monday morning. Minotaur rocket poised for its first blastoff from Virginia Monday Morning Rocket Launch Could Surprise East Coast Residents According to the articles, the trajectory will go southeast along the coast. Sunrise on Monday where I live is 7:07 so I'm hoping for a launch at the opening of the window. I'm off on an eight day road trip later in the day so won't get to see it if it is postponed. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

Swampcat · Dec 10, 2006

"Are you going to do a model of this one, when you get back from your trip?" <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Funny you should mention that. I've thought about it and even saved some drawings and other technical data just in case. But I've got a couple other projects I'm working on now, money's tight (saving for hybrid GSE) and I've been out of town a lot lately (will be in New Jersey and Connecticut sometime next weekend) so probably will have to save the Minotaur for another day. I haven't seen anyone else model it so it would be a nice one to do. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

Swampcat · Dec 11, 2006

Scrub called for today's rocket launch from Virginia "The first launch from a newly christened commercial spaceport on the coast of Virginia has been delayed because of a problem with the payload, NASA says. The Minotaur rocket was scheduled to launch this morning carrying the TacSat 2 experimental military satellite. Officials have not yet said when the next launch attempt could be made." Guess I'll miss it afterall.<img src="/images/icons/mad.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

Swampcat · Dec 11, 2006

"Maybe not?" From a local TV stations' website... <center> Wallops rocket launch called off <blockquote>ATLANTIC, Va. (AP) -- This morning's scheduled launch from Virginia of a rocket carrying satellites for the Air Force and NASA was scrubbed because of a problem with the flight software./p> Neal Peck, program manager for the Air Force's TacSat-2 satellite, says the software problem would prevent one of the satellites from getting enough power in space to conduct all its experiments./p> The launch from NASA's Wallops Island facility has been postponed until at least Wednesday, and possibly as long as two to three weeks, while the problem is being resolved./p></blockquote></center> All morning, this same TV station has been running a report about the upcoming launch with some really nice video of the rocket and surrounding facilities. Apparently, they were going to cover it live. Anyway, if the delay is more than a week, maybe I'll still get a chance to see it. I've also thought of driving up there. It's only a two hour drive (and $24 in tolls for the Bridge-Tunnel). As long as I've been into rocketry I've never seen a "real" rocket launch. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

comga · Dec 12, 2006

"Anyway, if the delay is more than a week, maybe I'll still get a chance to see it. I've also thought of driving up there. It's only a two hour drive (and $24 in tolls for the Bridge-Tunnel). As long as I've been into rocketry I've never seen a "real" rocket launch." I finally did that for the January launch of New Horizons. Granted that I had to fly out, and that there were lots of others and organized parties ("Nerdstock: All the fun without the mud" according to one of the scientists) but the launch itself was very very cool. Bring us back some photos, but don't spend your whole time looking through a viewfinder. (My big lesson from January.) Good luck catching the launch!

disownedsky · Dec 15, 2006

I hear they're go for tomorrow morning.

MeteorWayne · Dec 15, 2006

Thanx for letting us know, if I'm up, I''ll look! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Dec 15, 2006

Boy I wish they could narrow it down more than that! I'll probably be up all night looking for leftover Geminids, it would be more fun if I knew what time to set the alarm for <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Dec 15, 2006

Yes I do, but that won't stop me from trying <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

ozspace · Dec 16, 2006

Launch! All looks good so far.

comga · Dec 17, 2006

Terrific video at http://www.wff.nasa.gov/multimedia/video/tacsat2.wmv Lots of back-looking on-board footage.

disownedsky · Dec 18, 2006

beautiful!

disownedsky · Dec 18, 2006

I've seen a press release for GeneSat, but no status on Tacsat 2. Complete silence. It's mainly a tech demonstrator, so I don't think its status is classified...

Swampcat · Dec 18, 2006

"As seen from the central Maryland area, about 100 miles from launch site, 7:03AM :" Nice photo. Thank you. I missed the whole thing. I left on a road trip early Thursday morning and didn't even know they had launched until Sunday afternoon. I was in Wallingford, Connecticut Saturday morning so couldn't have seen anything anyway. Maybe I can catch the next Minotaur launch from Wallops Island next year. If only work will stay out of the way <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" />. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

bpcooper · Dec 18, 2006

You probably could have. It was easily seen from Long Island by two people I know. I posted some photos to my website if interested. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> -Ben </div>

bpcooper · Dec 19, 2006

Yep that's water from the surpression system. Thanks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> -Ben </div>

Swampcat · Dec 19, 2006

"You probably could have. It was easily seen from Long Island by two people I know." If I had only known... I had no Internet access for 4 days and, from reports issued before leaving home, expected a longer delay before launch. I've got to get a laptop with wireless Internet access. At least I'd know what I was going to miss <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" />. Oh, and thanks for those photos. SpaceflightNow has some more here/a>. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

disownedsky · Dec 20, 2006

I hae since heard that Tacsat 2 is OK, although there were some communication glitches early on.

MeteorWayne · Dec 20, 2006

Harrisburg is a long way fron Long Island. Probably 180 miles. Still not sure if it would have been visible <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

OS Minotaur Launch Dec. 11 from Wallops Island, VA

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