ROCKET SPOTTING on Long Island

[ch2tdriver]

Did anyone here catch the Moon Probe launch last Friday night 9/6 at 11:30 PM? I did and it was more impressive than I thought it would have been! If I knew how much more I would of headed down to the south shore. Instead of a dot obscured by trees, from my driveway in Deer Park I caught it much higher and brighter in the sky than anticipated. It launched from the new pad at Wallops Island VA by Orbital, who hold the contract for re-supplying the ISS. Therefore we will be treated to more of these launch viewings. It appeared well above the roof tops and trees, and I clearly saw the flickering flame and smoke trail. It staged about 3/4 of the way across the sky, and then became a bright orange dot (third stage) before fading out. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/ladee/longexposures/ This Tuesday there will be a daytime launch visible (9/17/13 with the window being 11:16 - 11:31 a.m. EDT) of Orbital's first run to the ISS. This is a liquid fueled rocket (LOX and Kerosene) so it will not be as bright as the exhaust is CO2 and Water. (Friday's was a solid fueled like the Shuttle boosters - ex ICBM) But if the conditions are just right, you may see a contrail develop. Check out these taken from Brooklyn on the rockets first test flight in April (NOT my photos) http://www.flickr.com/photos/grink/8668981981/ Neat Stuff! So now when approached by people asking you "What are you taking pics of?" You can say "Why the rocket ships of course!" http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Orb-D1/

[ch2tdriver]

http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Orb-D1/images/Top-of-the-Rock.jpg

[Kiffy]

I saw it! That was very cool! I was able to get a few bad/blurry/out of focus pictures:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7415/9734679189_7f2ef92400_z.jpg

I was surprised how bright it was and that I could spot it through all the large trees.

It was also really cool it launched from Wallops Island. I had a lot of my marine science classes in and around the NASA base and airport. I was able to see some pretty close launches but they were much smaller rockets.

Thanks for the heads up of the daytime launch; hopefully clear skies!

[Gerard]

Apparently a frog had a very close view of the launch..http://now.msn.com/frog-flies-into-space-during-nasa-ladee-launch-from-wallops-flight-facility?ocid=ansnowex

I also saw it going down to the local MIddle School which has a pretty unobstructed view to the S/SE!! And yes it was very cool!!

[Mateo]

Here's my shot from Battery Park. Bigger at http://www.flickr.com/photos/26196547@N06/9690952963/

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/9690952963_f16cbe5fe6_z.jpg

[moose135]

I saw it from Syosset, but since I only heard about it 10 minutes before launch, and didn't know what to expect, I wasn't able to try to shoot it. It was neat to see!

[megatop412]

Best photo I have seen (from NYC) of the launch so far:

http://petapixel.com/2013/09/08/photo-nasas-ladee-streaking-towards-moon-behind-nyc-skyline/

[wunaladreamin]

That's badass William.

Gerard I saw the frog in the paper the other day. Pretty funny but I wonder if the little guy survived.

[Gerard]

Gerard I saw the frog in the paper the other day. Pretty funny but I wonder if the little guy survived.

Haha that would be nice but I'm not holding out hope!! Probably was close to the launch site and got blown up into the air when the engines ignited!! If he is still alive he has a helluva story for friends and family with a picture to back up his tale!! :cool::biggrin:

[ch2tdriver]

The launch is delayed to Wednesday (Sept. 18) rather than Tuesday. Liftoff is set for 10:50 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT).

I can't wait for the next night time one!

[Speedbagel_001]

I can recall when the Space Shuttle made a very rare northern launch track in the daytime. Must be around 20 years ago, I'm guessing. And yes, I was able to see it from the back yard here on Long Island. What I found so interesting was that the level of acceleration it showed was both massive and continuous. It just kept going faster and faster! Didn't get a photo either, but awesome to see.

Then there was another time it was in a more Southern-Northern orbit that took it over the Island for a couple of consecutive mornings. I remember waiting and waiting for it at the time just after dawn, and seeing nothing. Was losing hope of seeing it, thinking maybe I just didn't catch it. But just as the "window" was closing, I saw this bright white dot zooming overhead. No sound (obviously), no contrail. And it was seriously quick! Made my day for sure!

[Kiffy]

http://www.space.com/17933-nasa-television-webcasts-live-space-tv.html

That was pretty cool! The small/short trail near the horizon definitely helped with spotting.

Here are my pics taken at just 50mm because my long lense is in the shop. :eek:

Trail, T+2.3:
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2814/9802523914_bb3d136e54.jpg

Taken at T+5 mins I believe this is separation of the first stage:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7354/9802579993_6dd738b452.jpg

[ch2tdriver]

Another Rocket Launch visible from LI next Tuesday! 20 deg azimuth should make it easily visible weather permitting!!! http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/MinotaurI_ORS-3/

[ch2tdriver]

The launch of a Minotaur I rocket for the U.S. Air Force ORS-3 mission is scheduled to occur on November 19, 2013, with a planned launch window from 6:30 -10:30 pm EST http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/MinotaurI_ORS-3/images/NYC%20Rockerfeller%20Ctr.jpg

[Chris S]

Reminder: the Minotaur I rocket is scheduled to lift-off tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST and has a launch window until 9:30 p.m. EST.
Here's NASA's website link for more info and the LIVE video feed link also:
http://www.nasa.gov/content/air-force-minotaur-rocket-launching-from-virginia-november-19/#.UoviA8SUR1c

[LGA777]

Had a surprisingly nice view of tonight's launch from work at LGA. Saw the end of the first stages burn then the igniting of the second stage and boy that thing was really moving great experience and my first view of a launch outside of Florida. VERY VERY Cool !

LGA777

[ch2tdriver]

I'm lovin' these VA launches!!! Luckily my Dad's boat was still in the water for another day at West Islip, so we bundled up and took a ride out to the bay. We went out to have a clear view of the southwest sky just past the lights of the Babylon pool area. JFK was on the 33's and my Dad was impressed with the lights of the arrivals all stacked up in that direction. Then all of a sudden in the midst of them a pillar of flame appears. Shortly after that it staged and we watched it flicker and arc across the sky, smoke trail and all. We caught the third stage light and I picked out the interstage adapter come off in a blob of flame. We were the only boat out there. What a great time. Next launch is the larger Antares at night in December. It's liquid fueled so I'm looking forward to seeing the difference. Probably a bright blue light like the shuttle main engines (which I also caught on those rare missions to a high inclination orbit). Great stuff!