Next rocket launch, Wed. Jan. 8, 1:32 pm ET

[PotomacCyclist]

Launch has been put on hold, due to high levels of space radiation. (NASA’s words, not mine.)

They are blaming it on the solar flux activity. Which is not the same thing as a polar vortex. Nor is it related to a flux capacitor.

http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Orb-1/MissionUpdate/index.shtml

They might try again on Thursday, at 1:10 pm. Depends on the space radiation, I guess.

[cyclingfool]

@PotomacCyclist 74005 wrote:

Launch has been put on hold, due to high levels of space radiation. (NASA’s words, not mine.)

They are blaming it on the solar flux activity. Which is not the same thing as a polar vortex. Nor is it related to a flux capacitor.

http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Orb-1/MissionUpdate/index.shtml

They might try again on Thursday, at 1:10 pm. Depends on the space radiation, I guess.

Time to come up with new lunch break plans. I was gonna ride somewhere with a better view for BAFS sleaze miles and try to catch a glimpse. Guess that plan’s on hold until tomorrow.

Thanks for the update. I hadn’t looked on my Wallops Island Android app yet, but now I know launch WON’T be today.

[PotomacCyclist]

This explains the reason for the delay, a massive solar flare pointed at Earth. No danger to us, but there could be some auroras up north (Arctic) and south (Antarctic). Probably no light show here.

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/01/08/watch-sun-unleashes-first-big-flare-of-2014-may-create-colorful-aurora-light-show/

Thur. 1:07 pm is the current schedule, subject to clear weather conditions at Wallops. There’s a 25% chance of thick cloud cover.

[ebubar]

If anyone is in the National Harbor area and wants to try to see this with a bunch of astronomers, let me know. The Super Bowl of Astronomy is wrapping up there tomorrow and we will be there and try to watch!

[PotomacCyclist]

1:07 pm launch time is still a go, as of 8:09 this morning.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/launch/orbital.html#.Us63kvS1ySo

[cyclingfool]

Launch pad coordinates saved on my GPS so I can be sure to be looking in exactly the right direction!

Just in case anyone else cares, they are: N 37*51.040′ / W 075*28.206′

[PotomacCyclist]

This page has images that show exactly where to look from a few specific locations in the Mid-Atlantic. Fortunately, they include diagrams from the Capitol, the National Mall in front of the Castle, and from the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington. Either to the southeast or east-southeast.

http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Orb-1/LaunchViewingMaps/index.shtml

[PotomacCyclist]

Liftoff!

Ongoing coverage of the mission at NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/home/index.html#.Us7nrfS1ySr

[cyclingfool]

@PotomacCyclist 74232 wrote:

Liftoff!

Ongoing coverage of the mission at NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/home/index.html#.Us7nrfS1ySr

I made it out at lunch to watch it on the Ellipse and grab a couple sleaze miles fecthing a bite to eat and going to my chosen vantage point.

Highlight of watching: there was an AP video reporter taping the launch from the same spot. He did a brief interview with me after the vapor trail had dissipated. I doubt it’ll be picked up by anybody, but I plan to keep searching to see if it shows up somewhere. Anyway, it was fun to be interviewed.

[PotomacCyclist]

From NASA TV

[DCAKen]

There’s an Android app that shows launch status. It also includes a compass showing the direction of Wallops Island from where you are.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4456[/ATTACH]

[cyclingfool]

Got the app. It’s nice and simple.

Sadly I left for lunch yesterday sans phone, however. Only had my GPS, but at least I had added the launch site as a waypoint and could determine it’s direction from my viewing location. Nighttime launches are more spectacular, but this one was still neat.

[PotomacCyclist]

From NASA:

“Astronauts aboard the International Space Station Sunday used a robotic arm to capture and attach the Cygnus supply spacecraft, which carried dozens of new science experiments from across the country and the world to the orbiting laboratory. The arrival capped the first successful contracted cargo delivery by Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., for NASA. …”

[cyclingfool]

@cyclingfool 74245 wrote:

Highlight of watching: there was an AP video reporter taping the launch from the same spot. He did a brief interview with me after the vapor trail had dissipated. I doubt it’ll be picked up by anybody, but I plan to keep searching to see if it shows up somewhere. Anyway, it was fun to be interviewed.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x19glfy_privately-launched-rocket-heads-to-iss_tech

I’m a movie star! 0:41.

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