Rocket "Delta 4 Heavy" Launch - West Coast

[Denise]

So my son-in-law calls Don and me and let's us know he has access to one of the "viewing sites" for the rocket launch of the new Delta 4 Heavy! And we are invited to go with him ! The launch is scheduled for Thursday Jan. 20, at 1:08 pst from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. We will be about 7 miles from the launch site at "Slick 6" (where the space shuttle was to be launched once upon a time back in the late 80's). This one will be louder than any that have been launched from VAFB in previous years. It will be very kewl to see it so close up!

For you rocket aficionados out there click here for more info

[Denise]

This was the largest rocket launched from the West coast and was pretty kewl to watch on a clear day but amazingly it was quieter than I expected! If you are interested in checking out the launch yourself click here. Also a pic from our vantage point is below

FYI - this missile was 1 1/2 times taller than the statue of liberty.... pretty big!

Ohhhhh one other note... there were no protestor's at the main gate today!!! Wow!

[Seann45]

It would have been a 6 hour drive for me but would have gone so I could see that... but just read it.. DARN!!!!

[Denise]

Next time we have a bigger launch again, maybe I could post it sooner. There are quite a few off base vantage points that are accessable to everyone in the surrounding communities and are neat to watch at least once in your lifetime

[Seann45]

Thanks... anytime between now and April 1 (north time)

[Denise]

Originally Posted by Seann45

Thanks... anytime between now and April 1 (north time)

I just found this VAFB Future Launch . Here's some info from that page:

FEB 5 To be
announced Minotaur I SLC-8 Vehicle will launch the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-66 payload

FEB 23 02:09:43 Taurus XL 576E Payload is the Glory scientific satellite. Vehicle will carry three small satellites as secondary payloads: Explorer 1 Prime (Montana State University), Hermes (University of Colorado), and KySat-1 (Kentucky space consortium).

MAR 31 To be
announced Atlas V SLC-3E Vehicle will launch the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-34 payload

JUN 9 Unknown Delta II SLC-2W Vehicle will launch Argentina's SAC-D
scientific satellite carrying NASA's Aquarius instrument


If you would like to be kept apprised of future launches, click here.

[Crabman]

Every once in a while we get to see a much smaller launch here at Nasa Wallops Island.


-Lee

[Denise]

You know what's just as kewl is taking the Amtrak between Santa Barbara to Lompoc-Surf station. It passes right by where Slik-6 complex is as well as other missile launch sites dotting the lanscape along that coastal section.

[Seann45]

All Space Kadets please sign in NOW...