... is that on Thursday, July 20 at 0409 UTC, SpaceX is scheduled to launch a load of the V2 Mini Starlink satellites from SLC-4E (Space Launch Complex 4 East) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. That's 9:09 PM on Wednesday, July 19th local time, and one hour later in every time zone going east in the CONUS. It's 12:09AM and on the 20th only here in the Eastern Time Zone.
Originally meant to launch yesterday evening, the countdown was aborted 5 seconds before lift-off. SpaceX did not specify a reason for the abort, however, during the first attempt of the night, the launch director paused the countdown due to a “perceived leak in the second stage,” which was heard in the company’s Mission Control Audio stream on YouTube.
I was a bit surprised to read that they've never launched the V2 Mini satellites from the west coast, only V1 and V1.5. While V2 Mini launches from Cape Canaveral have been 21 or 22 at a time, they're saying this one will carry 15. It will be launched toward the south out of Vandy, and go toward a 43 degree inclination angle orbit.
The SpaceX launches site adds:
This is the 10th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, and four Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
Wednesday May 10th launch from SLC-4E, which was the 200th consecutive successful Falcon 9 launch. As I said back then, Vandenberg is actually a pretty place when it's not covered in the usual pea soup fog and you can actually see the place.
I miss Vandenberg. And, yes, very pretty. Very very pretty. As long as, as you said, the almost everpresent fog isn't present.
ReplyDeleteFor bonus funs, shoot down to Lompoc and look at the Rose Capital of the World. Great place as long as you're not allergic to it.
Lived in Santa Maria and then on VAFB as a kid. Beautiful coastal area, not full of idjits like in LA or SF, well, back in the mid to late 60's. I'm sure it's a foreign world there now except on the launch pads (well, when I was there, it was mostly test launch pads for Titans and Minutemen.)
The double CME event was underwhelming. I'm with Beans, Vandenberg is a nice base...even today.
ReplyDeleteBeen to VAFB numerous time. It's a beautiful area....when you can see it.
ReplyDeleteThat's what the destroyer flotilla thought, too...
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Point_disaster
At least until the first "crunch" of each ship...
DeleteStationed on Vandenberg for several years in 80s. Walking the beach (or near the beach) back then you could still see remnants of the destroyers on the rocks. Definitely beautiful when the fog rolls out. Foggier that anyplace I saw in England. Glad they are using SLC 4E now if they would finally start using SLC 6.
ReplyDeleteSpaceX signed a long term lease to use SLC-6 back in April.
DeleteLike here at Cape Canaveral, SpaceX will dedicate their current Vandenberg launch complex (SLC-4E) to Falcon 9 launches and SLC-6 will be shared between Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches. I haven't seen an update, but I have to assume they're in the midst of major construction work now. I mean, April was 3 whole months ago!
I wonder if SpaceX will think of launching Starship from Vandy. Now that would be rather wonderful and throw the idiots in LA off their keisters when it launches (referring to all the 'alien' sightings when Falcon launches.)
DeleteI did my T-38 solo cross-country from Williams "Willy" AFB to Vanderbreg and back in 1975. Pissed off my T-38 IP because I climbed to FL430 to go over some weather en route on the way back. It was fun and I was 23 and full of it.
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