where / when to see a Rocket Launch?
Discussion
I was lucky enough to be in Florida when one of the last space shuttles tooko off about 5+ years ago. You have to leave early but anything from 10 miles away and you get a great view. Got the whole family up at 3:30Am to watch the take off and all loved it
No more space shuttle take off's but they have a list of what is lunching
https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/events/events-c...
No more space shuttle take off's but they have a list of what is lunching
https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/events/events-c...
Edited by RemaL on Monday 6th March 09:03
There's a few sites which list planned launches. For example: https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/
There's no guarantee though, they're always weather dependent.
There's no guarantee though, they're always weather dependent.
RemaL said:
I was lucky enough to be in Florida when one of the last space shuttles tooko off about 5+ years ago. You have to leave early but anothing lost to 10 miles away and you get a great view.
No more space shuttle take off's but they have a list of what is lunching
https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/events/events-c...
By complete coincidence I was over there in 99 I think it was when a shuttle launch was on. We drove down to the shore to see it from over the water. Wasn't sure what to expect but the roadside was rammed with trailer parties for the big event. No more space shuttle take off's but they have a list of what is lunching
https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/events/events-c...
When it actually went up it was amazing, turned night into day and the noise was incredible. So worth doing.
Watched an Atlas IIAS being launched from LC36 at the Cape on the 16th of February in 1999. That was absolutely awesome, and very loud aswell despite being a few miles off site. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_in_spaceflight#...
Proof:
As it broke through the clouds.
Cape tour bus:
Saturn 5: Huge is a massive understatement
Proof:
As it broke through the clouds.Cape tour bus:
Saturn 5: Huge is a massive understatement
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Monday 6th March 09:12
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Monday 6th March 11:08
On my list of "things to do before I die" as well.
Cape Canaveral is by far the most accessible launch site in the world. They actually cater properly for visitors.
People sometimes don't realise that the launch complexes at Cape Canaveral are mostly military. The only bit that is civilian is the Kennedy Space Center.
KSC only has two pads, 39A and 39B - both originally built for the mighty Saturn V and then modified for the Space Shuttle. 39A is now being used by SpaceX and 39B is being converted for the upcoming SLS.
All the other pads at the Cape are on "the other side of the fence" i.e. in the USAF Patrick Air Force Base complex - and are technically off limits to the public. However, launches from those pads (which is most launches from Cape Canaveral) are visible from anywhere in the vicinity of the area.
Other launch sites in the US are Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and Wallops Island, Virginia. Vandenberg is an Air Force site so access isn't normally allowed but there do seem to be areas around the facility where launches can be seen. Wallops Island is more open and flat and a bit like the Cape. There are fewer launches from there though.
Outside the US you are looking at India, Russia/Kazakhstan, China, Japan and Korou in French Guiana. All fairly difficult to get to unless you are working on some aspect of the launch.
There are currently no European launch sites outside of Russia. Europe is not an ideal location for launching orbital or deep space rockets mainly because
a) it is too far north
b) it is too densely populated
Rocket launches should ideally take off travelling west to east - because in that way they get an added "kick" from the earth's rotation. This allows lower fuel weight and higher payload weight - so is much more efficient. Launching west to east from western Europe is not really possible because the rocket would be climbing out over heavilly populated areas.
For the same reason, launching as close to the equator as possible is good because the closer to the equator the launch site is, the better the free boost from the earth's rotation.
That's why I have my doubts about the proposed launch complex at Prestwick.
The French weren't being stupid when they picked French Guiana as the location for their launch pads. This site is now also the main site for European Space Agency launches.
Cape Canaveral is by far the most accessible launch site in the world. They actually cater properly for visitors.
People sometimes don't realise that the launch complexes at Cape Canaveral are mostly military. The only bit that is civilian is the Kennedy Space Center.
KSC only has two pads, 39A and 39B - both originally built for the mighty Saturn V and then modified for the Space Shuttle. 39A is now being used by SpaceX and 39B is being converted for the upcoming SLS.
All the other pads at the Cape are on "the other side of the fence" i.e. in the USAF Patrick Air Force Base complex - and are technically off limits to the public. However, launches from those pads (which is most launches from Cape Canaveral) are visible from anywhere in the vicinity of the area.
Other launch sites in the US are Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and Wallops Island, Virginia. Vandenberg is an Air Force site so access isn't normally allowed but there do seem to be areas around the facility where launches can be seen. Wallops Island is more open and flat and a bit like the Cape. There are fewer launches from there though.
Outside the US you are looking at India, Russia/Kazakhstan, China, Japan and Korou in French Guiana. All fairly difficult to get to unless you are working on some aspect of the launch.
There are currently no European launch sites outside of Russia. Europe is not an ideal location for launching orbital or deep space rockets mainly because
a) it is too far north
b) it is too densely populated
Rocket launches should ideally take off travelling west to east - because in that way they get an added "kick" from the earth's rotation. This allows lower fuel weight and higher payload weight - so is much more efficient. Launching west to east from western Europe is not really possible because the rocket would be climbing out over heavilly populated areas.
For the same reason, launching as close to the equator as possible is good because the closer to the equator the launch site is, the better the free boost from the earth's rotation.
That's why I have my doubts about the proposed launch complex at Prestwick.
The French weren't being stupid when they picked French Guiana as the location for their launch pads. This site is now also the main site for European Space Agency launches.
Eric Mc said:
...
There are currently no European launch sites outside of Russia. Europe is not an ideal location for launching orbital or deep space rockets mainly because
a) it is too far north
b) it is too densely populated
Rocket launches should ideally take off travelling west to east - because in that way they get an added "kick" from the earth's rotation. This allows lower fuel weight and higher payload weight - so is much more efficient. Launching west to east from western Europe is not really possible because the rocket would be climbing out over heavilly populated areas.
For the same reason, launching as close to the equator as possible is good because the closer to the equator the launch site is, the better the free boost from the earth's rotation.
That's why I have my doubts about the proposed launch complex at Prestwick.
...
Depends what orbit you want, for Polar orbits you want to be at the optimal Azimuth for the orbit.There are currently no European launch sites outside of Russia. Europe is not an ideal location for launching orbital or deep space rockets mainly because
a) it is too far north
b) it is too densely populated
Rocket launches should ideally take off travelling west to east - because in that way they get an added "kick" from the earth's rotation. This allows lower fuel weight and higher payload weight - so is much more efficient. Launching west to east from western Europe is not really possible because the rocket would be climbing out over heavilly populated areas.
For the same reason, launching as close to the equator as possible is good because the closer to the equator the launch site is, the better the free boost from the earth's rotation.
That's why I have my doubts about the proposed launch complex at Prestwick.
...
This is why polar orbit launches in the US go from Vandenberg.
Having an ocean to launch your rocket out over is also a big factor. Most launch sites try to use this if at all possible. Vandenberg, for example, launches rockets in a southerly direction over the Pacific flying more or less parallel to the cost of California.
The Russians polar launch site (Plesetsk), fires its rockets north out over northern tundra and the Arctic Ocean.
However, because of its very northerly latitude, it cannot make use of the earth's rotation and heavier payloads cannot be launched from that site.
Just checking the co-ordinates for Plesetsk and Vandenberg, Plestetsk is 62.5 degrees north but Vandenberg is only 34 degrees north - which is slightly south of where Gibraltar is..
The Russians polar launch site (Plesetsk), fires its rockets north out over northern tundra and the Arctic Ocean.
However, because of its very northerly latitude, it cannot make use of the earth's rotation and heavier payloads cannot be launched from that site.
Just checking the co-ordinates for Plesetsk and Vandenberg, Plestetsk is 62.5 degrees north but Vandenberg is only 34 degrees north - which is slightly south of where Gibraltar is..
Yep, Florida is definitely the place to be. I moved out here in October and have seen two launches from my house, which is about 30 miles away. Still very impressive. I am determined to go to the Cape though in the summer to see the launch of the big SpaceX rocket, with it's returning first stage and two boosters. 
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