Vandenberg AFB

Canon PowerShot G9

ƒ/4

7.4 mm

1/320

Erik and were tooling around the base today, trying to find a good spot to watch the Atlas V launch, and getting twitter updates as we drove all over.

It was a military weather satellite launch to LEO (Low Earth Orbit), and the launch vehicle had 10K lbs of unused capacity. That’s a lot. After satellite deployment, they sent it to a heliocentric orbit for disposal. Hearing this from the Flight Director last night, I suggested that there was a sizable lost opportunity to send some cremated remains around the sun.

Afterward, we explored the sprawling Air Force Base with the brass and marveled at the Shuttle launch pad, not yet used. That one pad used enough cement to pave a two-lane highway from California to New York.

7 responses to “Vandenberg AFB”

biotron

Oct 19, 2009 at 5:06 am

"cremated remains"? should this be parcelled off in the same container as "burnt grass"? nothing is sacred, nothing shall be spared! 😉

"enough cement to pave a two-lane etc from etc to etc"?
– that is one überheavy carbon footprint, n’est-ce pas? bring on the fart-eating Venter microbes quick sharp to restore the balance!

Reply
In Memoriam: jerryfi_99

Oct 19, 2009 at 7:09 am

I was at the Rod & Gun club on base, normally a good view of SLC-3 …. fogged out, but did record the audio of the countdown and launch roar 8-/. I assume that you weren’t able to find a vantage above the clouds either?

Reply
jurvetson

Oct 19, 2009 at 3:49 pm

So close! We were at the club too around 8:30, with Col. Cox. But we went off to scout the high ground. Alas, you are right, we were unable to get above the marine layer, so we just got as close as we could for audio.

Here is a highlight video of today’s launch, and mission overview PDF.

Reply
In Memoriam: jerryfi_99

Oct 20, 2009 at 5:26 am

I arrived at the club around 0830-0840, so just missed you. Friday morning was clear and sunny, as was this morning. Well, better luck next time, early Dec.

Reply
Victor1

Oct 21, 2009 at 12:30 am

Envy lives! I spent 5 years in the satellite industry and only saw the birds in their cleanrooms. One satellite had a plastic sheet over it and I thought that odd. When I asked about it, they said "Oh, its because the roof is leaking". I took note of what an achievement it truly is then, for humans to collectively make a rocket launch properly and put a functioning satellite into space.

Reply
Victor1

Oct 21, 2009 at 12:31 am

Looks like Erik is holding a detonator for some ordnance you rigged up or something…

Reply
jurvetson

Sep 29, 2013 at 11:06 pm

P.S. a couple more shots from this tour… The remains of a Minuteman that drilled into the beach

ICBM Launcher (at base commander’s house party)

McDonalds in Lompoc

SpaceX got perfect weather there this morning:

Reply

Vandenberg AFB

7 responses to “Vandenberg AFB”

Leave a Reply to In Memoriam: jerryfi_99 Cancel reply