Crotch Rocket Ride

[timmeh]

There's a launch scheduled from Vandenburg on March 19th (Sat), afternoon, found a couple of approved public viewing areas. Anyone up for a ride?

It's near here (click the red star to zoom in):
http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?cs...rf=0&mag=7

[beauregard]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

Lets go! Yeah yeah yeah!

(I'm into it).

[u_cant_prove_it]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

Im down for a ride if you mean "ride" on motorcycles to go view a launch, Im not ready to ride anything yet that needs to be launched, not yet anyways.

[beauregard]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

Would this be an overnight? If so i can see if i can get us a room at one of the hotels in my chain.
Seriously, for like $65 we can get a kick ass room in Solvang, San Luis Obispo, or Pismo Beach but i'd need to know ASAP.
Here: http://www.cliffsresort.com/
or here: http://www.seaventure.com/
or here: http://www.pismobeachhouse.com/
or here: http://www.applefarm.com/
or here: http://www.royalscandinavianinn.com/

I seed the rad-ness scale escalating.

[timmeh]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

Any of the Pismo places would be good, that's about an hour north of the launch site. I'm thinking take the boring 101 route on Friday eve. on the way down, but take the scenic route all the way back up 1 on the way back.
T.

[Frenchmillerlover]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

And don't you forget to stop at McClintocks! Hot waitresses and fun time garanteed! (At least last time I Went..)
http://www.mclintocks.com/locations/index.asp

[Gromit]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

The Vandenberg Launch schedule is down right now. Does anyone know if it's a military or commercial payload?

Go figure... I'd be the one to ask !?!?

[timmeh]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

This one is a weather satellite. There are some military ones earlier in the month but the dates are not solid / regularaly updated.
T.

[beauregard]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

I have checked with the powers-that-be and we can have a room with 2 queen beds and a roll-away for $59.00. (That's a $279.99/night room) http://www.cliffsresort.com/index.html

lets DO IT.

[dirty_j]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

count me in as well. 8)

[gromit]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

Even though I was the one to spawn this ride concept over a year ago... I'll have to pass.

Just sold the VFR and riding down to Vandenberg on the 400 wouldn't be kind. Not to mention I'll still be fat drunk from birthday sushi/sake from the night before.

Tell those Lockheed folks at the launch pad I said hi !

[gromit]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., February 11, 2005 -- Lockheed Martin’s first Atlas V booster for launch from the West Coast has arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base, continuing the proud legacy of over four decades of Atlas operations from California.


The booster and Centaur upper stage made separate trips from Denver, Colo. aboard an An-124-100 Russian aircraft and upon landing and offload were taken to a base facility for receiving inspection. In March, the Atlas team will transport the rocket segments to the newly refurbished Space Launch Complex 3 East for vertical stacking, followed by “pathfinding” activity leading to first launch later this year.

“This is a very exciting week for the Atlas program as we receive our first flight hardware at our West Coast launch site,” said James V. Sponnick, Lockheed Martin Atlas program vice president. “Space Launch Complex 3 East will soon begin to launch many critical payloads for our government customers as we perform our mission to provide assured access to space for the nation. Hats off to the construction team for the outstanding job they have done in getting the new pad ready.”

Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force broke ground at SLC-3E in January 2004 to begin the renovations required to prepare the launch site for Atlas V missions. In a ceremonial transfer last week, the “activations” team handed over the launch pad to the operational team, signifying that the major focus of activity on the pad now turns from construction to preparation to launch. The activations team includes many of the same engineers and contractors that built Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., which has already launched four successful Atlas V missions.

The Atlas V vehicle stands over 200 feet tall, an increase of about 50 feet over the Atlas IIAS vehicle that launched successfully three times from SLC-3E. The vehicle also incorporates a stretched Centaur upper stage. In performance, The Atlas V 400 and 500 series of launch vehicles will provide over two times the lift capability of the 100 percent successful Atlas IIAS vehicle, which concluded its perfect record with the final launch from CCAFS Aug. 31, 2004.

[dirty_j]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

ya know, though, i feel sorry for the guys that gotta share a room with me and barrett....i recommend strong ear plugs.

[beauregard]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

I'll make the reservation as soon as I've got money from all ya bitches.

[timmeh]

Re: Crotch Rocket Ride

Call me with contact info, I'll put it on my credit card.