UPDATE: lAUNCH TIME HAS BEEN SET FOR 8:15. lOOK IN THE SOUTHEAST SKY RIGHT ABOVE THE HORIZON.
The launch of a Minotaur I rocket for the U.S. Air Force ORS-3 mission is scheduled to occur on Tuesday night, with a planned launch window of 7:30 – 9:15 pm EST.
NASA and the U.S. military will launch a record payload of 29 satellites from a Virginia spaceport Tuesday night 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 Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. EST.
The nighttime launch could light up the sky for millions of observers along a wide swath of the Eastern Seaboard, and could be visible from northeastern Canada and Maine to Florida, and from as far inland as Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky, depending on local weather conditions, according to NASA and Orbital Sciences visibility maps.
I could see the last one right from my front yard. It was sort of to the left of the constellation Orion. I don’t live in a light free area. What I could see was the reddish glow that was definitely as large to my eye at Venus. I plan on getting out there tonight when they narrow the time down some. It was VERY neat to watch. It only lasted about 30 seconds before it sped on off over the horizon.
I watched an earlier launch from the control center on Wallops Island. It was a daytime launch, but impressive nonetheless.
Neat. Can anyone do that or is it by special invitation? How do you find out when the launch is?
Are you watching tonight?
NASA TV Wallops website has a live feed/ It looks like the launch is a go for 2014-2015 (i.e., 8:14,8:15pm) You can pull up the live feed of the rocket on the pad with a countdown clock, watch ignition on your screen, run outside and look to the SE or ESE.
Saw it. One gets the noise effect when one is at the on-base observation point, but this was pretty spectacular also. The idea that my dogs and I could sit on the grass in Vienna and watch a rocket carrying a 29 satellite payload go into space a 100 miles away is pretty heady stuff. I saw the first stage separation with the naked eye. (well, not entirely naked – I was wearing my spectacles).
Too many trees around here to have seen that. Also there was a lot of cloud cover. I can’t believe you saw the first stage separation. Wow!!!
I was surprised how long it was visible. Last one I watched was only visible for about 30 seconds. Maybe its just me.
I am glad your dogs got to see the rocket.
They were thrilled. They’ve talked about little else since.
I am sure that its been the topic of conversation over the water bowls for hours. My little guy had to go in. He was cold.