NASA and the U.S. military will launch a record payload of 29 satellites from a Virginia spaceport Nov. 19, on a mission that could create a spectacular sight for skywatchers along the U.S. East Coast, weather permitting.
The U.S. Air Force launch will send an Orbital Sciences Minotaur 1 rocket into orbit from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility and Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Va., sometime during a two-hour launch window that opens tonight between 7:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
A Minotaur 1 rocket was launched from the Wallops Island, Va., facility Sept. 6 of this year, creating a great show for local observers. The Nov. 19 launch will create a similar spectacle, but a higher trajectory should increase the visibility for people with an obstructed horizon.
Local beaches which are relatively dark and offer an unobstructed southerly view toward the Virginia shore will make for great viewing. With a clear sky, the bright lights of the launch facility should be visible on the horizon prior to launch. Conditions permitting, the rocket’s fiery path, including distinctive stage separations, will be quite visible to the naked eye. Outdoor observers should be dressed for near-freezing temperatures and breezy conditions.
If you’re unable to get outside tonight, you can watch the launch live at 6:30 p.m. from NASA’s UStream channel:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/13567824
For more information on the launch, go to space.com:
http://www.space.com/23627-rocket-launch-visible-east-coast-tuesday.html
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
