Rocket launch Sept 6th

[dgates80]

The NASA Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer is scheduled for launch on a U.S. Air Force Minotaur V rocket at 11:27 p.m., September 6, from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport launch pad 0B at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility.

You are warned.

 

[thakidistight]

I might have to go check it out. Do they allow spectators? How often do they get delayed/postponed? I looked around on their website, but govt sites give me a headache.

 

[Railroad]

The NASA Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer is scheduled for launch on a U.S. Air Force Minotaur V rocket at 11:27 p.m., September 6, from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport launch pad 0B at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility.

You are warned.

Cool! Thanks.

 

[gary_webb]

Good to know the U.S. Government is more concerned with lunar dust than it's employees.














For the sarcasmically challenged:

 

[phobos512]

I went earlier in the year when I was here on travel (before I moved out here) and watched one of the Wallops sounding rocket launches from Point Lookout. They had a live broadcast from the launchpad that I watched in my phone and then we were able to see the plume. If you can see that across the bay you'll definitely be able to see the Minotaur as it's waaaaaay bigger.

 

[ylexot]

I might have to go check it out. Do they allow spectators? How often do they get delayed/postponed? I looked around on their website, but govt sites give me a headache.

Are you planning to drive all the way over there? They can't really stop you from seeing it and you'll be able to see it from miles around. SO, just stop on the side of the road and watch.

Yes, they frequently get delayed/postponed for weather or technical issues. They usually give updates on their twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops

 

[thakidistight]

Are you planning to drive all the way over there? They can't really stop you from seeing it and you'll be able to see it from miles around. SO, just stop on the side of the road and watch.

Yes, they frequently get delayed/postponed for weather or technical issues. They usually give updates on their twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops

Not driving, probably riding my bicycle through on the way across country. I wanted to leave earlier, and not head out in the wrong direction, but a rocket launching is cool enough to go out of the way for. Thanks for the info!

 

[Popster]

Thanks!

 

[officeguy]

Wrights seafood in Atlantic,VA has a front-row seat towards the range. I believe they have events on launch days.

 

[desertrat]

I might have to go check it out. Do they allow spectators? How often do they get delayed/postponed? I looked around on their website, but govt sites give me a headache.

Depends on the type of launch. This one does not sound there would be much reason to postpone it unless weather is really bad. Last one they needed clear skies I think and they pushed it back a few times.

 

[dgates80]

Bump

 

[Railroad]

Here's a graphic of the Minotaur rocket family.

 

[Railroad]

The Wiki Article on the Rocket

Minotaur V - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[GWguy]

Just heard something interesting on the news. Data transmission back to earth is going to be done via laser rather than radio waves. Data will arrive 1000x faster than by radio.

 

[FISHTAIL]

Just heard something interesting on the news. Data transmission back to earth is going to be done via laser rather than radio waves. Data will arrive 1000x faster than by radio.

If by "faster" you mean higher bandwidth, then yes, I agree.

 

[desertrat]

If by "faster" you mean higher bandwidth, then yes, I agree.

Light travels faster than radio.

 

[GWguy]

If by "faster" you mean higher bandwidth, then yes, I agree.

Yes. Radio waves travel at the speed of light, and laser is also the speed of light, so arrival time for first packet will be the same. But the laser will allow higher transfer rates over greater distances.

Just curious how they set up the targeting.

 

[DoWhat]

Is there a compass on line to figure out which way to look in relation to your house?

 

[aps45819]

Point lookout is about 35-40 miles away

 

[GWguy]

Is there a compass on line to figure out which way to look in relation to your house?

Can't bring up Google maps and find Wallops Launch Facility and draw a line to your house?