BajaNomad

UPDATED!!!! February 21 sunrise rocket launch may be visible in Baja

mtgoat666 - 2-15-2018 at 11:47 AM

UPDATED, LAUNCH DELAYED AGAIN TO FEB 21

Elon musk’s people can’t get their act together,... this launch is delayed for the umteenth time!

If you like rocket launches, Check out the space websites and follow the delays yourself! I’m done posting delays!

[Edited on 2-18-2018 by mtgoat666]

shari - 2-15-2018 at 12:31 PM

thanks for the heads up but it is supposed to be cloudy here in central baja but ya never know!

John Harper - 2-15-2018 at 02:59 PM

Perfect, right when I'm out for my morning walk.

John

Bubba - 2-15-2018 at 06:34 PM

Working on the base now. Always a good show.

mtgoat666 - 2-16-2018 at 02:59 PM

The launch is one day later, now sunday feb 18

The next publicly announced Vandenberg AFB rocket launch is a Falcon 9 on February 18. The vehicle is scheduled to lift off at 06:16 PST and carry Spain's Paz earth observation satellite and two secondary payloads into orbit. Liftoff occurs 29 minutes before Vandenberg AFB sunrise and the rocket's exhaust plume will probably be illuminated by the sun when the vehicle reaches high altitude. Delayed from February 17

woody with a view - 2-16-2018 at 05:20 PM

Going to be overcast here.

El Jefe - 2-17-2018 at 06:54 AM

Are you guys messin with me? I got up early today to watch and just happened to pull up this thread while I had my coffee. Delayed one day!? Dang, I'd go back to bed but I've already got a buzz.

tobias - 2-17-2018 at 07:56 AM

It looks like this will only be visible for northern baja. I think south of ensenada you are out of luck

elgatoloco - 2-17-2018 at 09:49 AM

https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/02/16/falcon-9-paz-mission-s...

Launch window is one second.

msteve1014 - 2-18-2018 at 07:26 AM

Delayed again. Now it is the 21st.

mtgoat666 - 2-18-2018 at 07:36 AM

UPDATED, LAUNCH DELAYED AGAIN TO FEB 21

Elon musk’s people can’t get their act together,... this launch is delayed for the umteenth time!

If you like rocket launches, Check out the space websites and follow the delays yourself! I’m done posting delays!

woody with a view - 2-18-2018 at 09:26 AM

yeah, if it was NASA's rocket they would have launched and possibly failed. Musk is spending his own money. go figure, he doesn't want it to fail!

thebajarunner - 2-18-2018 at 12:21 PM

The Russians never scrub a scheduled launch, according to Scott Kelly in his new book "Endurance" which documents his year on the ISS.
Fascinating to read the difference between the Russian approach and the US approach to the whole space program.
He says when you are strapped in the launch seat on a US mission your odds are not great that you will go as scheduled.
When you are seated in a Soyuz capsule there is not a doubt. You will go for certain at the time prescribed.

surfhat - 2-18-2018 at 02:24 PM

Criticizing Space X for wanting the best launching conditions points to some other motivations with certain critics.

Elon Musk will do what he feels has the best chance for success. I don't fault him for that. He has gone where no other has, and good on him.



DavidT - 2-18-2018 at 03:37 PM


This website has good coverage of rocket launches worldwide.




https://spaceflightnow.com/

BajaTed - 2-18-2018 at 07:19 PM

Landing those used boosters together was fantastic. They come down real fast and then the slam the brakes on, 4 sonic booms real quick. 3rd booster ran out of landing fuel, bigger fuel tank planned for next time.
Way to go Space X, NASA had best move to Cali while they are relevant

BajaBlanca - 2-18-2018 at 10:40 PM

I did not wake up early enough today and even so, had forgotten about the launch so I am thrilled that it has been delayed!

John Harper - 2-19-2018 at 06:41 AM

Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner  
The Russians never scrub a scheduled launch.

When you are seated in a Soyuz capsule there is not a doubt. You will go for certain at the time prescribed.


Boy, I'm really glad they did not delay the Challenger launch due to cold weather. Launching on time was far more important than the lives of seven of our beloved astronauts.


John



[Edited on 2-19-2018 by John Harper]

caj13 - 2-21-2018 at 07:15 AM

unfavorable winds - they try again tommorrow - the 22nd

pauldavidmena - 2-21-2018 at 07:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by John Harper  
Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner  
The Russians never scrub a scheduled launch.

When you are seated in a Soyuz capsule there is not a doubt. You will go for certain at the time prescribed.


Boy, I'm really glad they did not delay the Challenger launch due to cold weather. Launching on time was far more important than the lives of seven of our beloved astronauts.

John

[Edited on 2-19-2018 by John Harper]


The Challenger should have been delayed due to weather, but there was pressure to launch as scheduled because Reagan wanted to call the astronauts during the State of the Union address. I was a NASA contractor down in Huntsville, AL at the time, and the O-Rings were already a widely-known problem.

Bubba - 2-21-2018 at 12:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by caj13  
unfavorable winds - they try again tommorrow - the 22nd


It's been gusting here really bad for the last few days. It will happen when it happens.

BornFisher - 2-21-2018 at 08:51 PM

Will this rocket go west or south?

David K - 2-21-2018 at 09:17 PM

My guess is south. The last one from there was fantastic viewed from here in North County San Diego. Shari's photo of it from 400 miles south looked pretty much like what I saw here.

mtgoat666 - 2-21-2018 at 09:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BornFisher  
Will this rocket go west or south?


South. Going for a polar orbit.

Bajaboy - 2-22-2018 at 08:37 AM

Watched from our living room and online as well. My daughter can't get enough of it! Anyways didn't see anything in the sky this time with a little cloud cover here in San Diego.

[Edited on 2-22-2018 by Bajaboy]

pauldavidmena - 2-22-2018 at 12:41 PM

I'm not sure if the webcast is available in Mexico, but the press release from SpaceX is here.

David K - 2-22-2018 at 01:01 PM

Quote: Originally posted by pauldavidmena  
I'm not sure if the webcast is available in Mexico, but the press release from SpaceX is here.


That was great! Thanks for the link.

AKgringo - 2-22-2018 at 06:21 PM

I don't know what the trajectory of that rocket was, but it was visible from Sacramento this morning! They just showed a clip on Fox 40 news that was taken in west Sacramento.

John Harper - 2-23-2018 at 06:48 AM

Only got a brief sighting here in Carlsbad. Just a small streak, then a small "poof" as the second stage separated. Only visible for about 3-5 seconds. It appeared to be headed southeast, but not much time to observe.

John

[Edited on 2-23-2018 by John Harper]