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Rocket Launch to be Visible From Bakersfield Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Thursday at 11:38 AM exactly, a Delta II rocket will be launched from Vandenberg AFB on the coast. The launch will be visible from Bakersfield. There is a chance the launch may be delayed due to technical difficulties, but at this time everything is a go with weather expected to be perfect for the launch. To view the event, look to the south-southwest at 11:38 AM. Within one minute, the rocket will rise above the horizon and become visible to us in Bakersfield. The rocket itself will be too far away to be seen, but you may see the flames from the exhaust and it will leave a vapor trail that will quickly dissipate. If you do not see anything by 11:40 AM, you have either missed it or the launch is somehow delayed. The unmanned rocket will be launching an Earth imaging satellite for a private corporation. Good luck and happy hunting. This is a semi-rare treat that only occurs about 3-4 times per year.
12 comments from 7 users
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posted by
anglo1
on Oct 7, 2009 at 08:40 PM
These can be awesome if you're on the beach So. of Oceano. About two weeks [?] after the 2004 Indonesian quake I was walking with a women in that area and saw a huge launch from Vandenberg. A couple of minutes later there was a rumbling and I swear the beach shook. She laughed and said "earthquake", I almost ran right over her before I realized it was just the sound waves of the launch finally reaching us. She thought it was pretty funny. Tsunami on my mind. posted by
CurtDalton
on Oct 8, 2009 at 09:25 AM
I used to work at Vandenberg and was privileged to see MANY launches up close and personal from the fallback safety area. Believe me when I say the missiles are quite a bit larger than they appear on television. Even when you are five miles away, a Titan launch will shake you! It's a completely cool experience and to tell the truth I miss the excitement and beauty of these launches. (Especially the shuttle launches I witnessed at KSC (Kennedy Space Center) Whoa! Whatta sight! posted by
Lingtaowoo
on Oct 8, 2009 at 09:34 AM
Think I'll make the trip up to the bluffs and check it out amigo--should be a cool sight to see....I remember seeing alot of those when we were kids.... posted by
donmason
on Oct 8, 2009 at 09:39 AM
Live launch status updates can be found here....... posted by
middlepathII
on Oct 8, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Launch delayed until 11:51. Just a few minutes more wait. :-) posted by
ronmexico
on Oct 8, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Well, that was disappointing. SWA 523 to Seattle put on a better show. They need to do these at night. At least I know what heading Vandenburg is. posted by
paxchristi3
on Oct 8, 2009 at 12:01 PM
No, UAL to SF put on the better show! posted by
middlepathII
on Oct 8, 2009 at 12:05 PM
I took a video of it, and as usual you can't see a thing. LOL Oh well. Personally, I thought it was neat. They are scheduled to launch another one in a couple weeks, then maybe another in December or later. posted by
ronmexico
on Oct 8, 2009 at 12:11 PM
I got a video too, but not sure much can be seen, except you can hear me cursing for going in to the house at 11:51 to check the vandenburg website, finding nothing, then going back outside just as it is heading horizontal and out of sight. I saw an airliner headed north not to far from the area and figured it had been cancelled. That must have been the UAL flight to SFO. Oh well. posted by
middlepathII
on Oct 8, 2009 at 12:15 PM
LOL You have to wait about a minute before it flies high enoiugh above the horizon to be visible form here. Next launch is scheduled for Oct. 18th for 9:12 AM. We'll see how that one looks. It's a bigger rocket. posted by
anglo1
on Oct 8, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Ron, I did nearly the same thing. I drove down to the beach to get a good view, waited for about ten minutes and gave up. As I was leaving the beach I saw several people pointing south. I took a couple of photos but they are worthless. posted by
Lingtaowoo
on Oct 8, 2009 at 01:16 PM
Hey...I'll be at the intersection of River Blvd. & Panarama---can't miss me--I'm the one with the tomato beer in one hand and a smoke in the other---- Who's bringing the BBQ??
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