{"id":1133,"date":"2018-10-08T23:46:17","date_gmt":"2018-10-09T03:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chiplynch.com\/wordpress\/?p=1133"},"modified":"2024-09-13T19:35:37","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T23:35:37","slug":"live-launch-off-the-bucket-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chiplynch.com\/wordpress\/?p=1133","title":{"rendered":"Live Launch Off the Bucket List!"},"content":{"rendered":"

I don’t know if you all know I keep my bucket list online<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 I haven’t updated it in ages, but at one point it was a publicly editable wiki (I know Ferf knew… nothing like putting things on someone else’s bucket list, is there?).\u00c2\u00a0 Now I lock it down a bit just to avoid putting temptation out to the rest of the world.<\/p>\n

On Dec. 5th, 2006 (12 years ago!), I added “Watch a shuttle launch”<\/a> to the list, where it lingered until Feb. 2012<\/a>, when, due to the retirement of the Space Shuttle, I marked the Bucket List item forever “Failed”.<\/p>\n

This past weekend Mary Ann and I got to watch the SpaceX launch of the SAOCOM 1A<\/a> satellite, near Vandenberg Air Force Base. and I have now crossed watching a launch off of the bucket list!\u00c2\u00a0 (Also, I belatedly crossed off writing a novel, which I did for NaNoWriMo a while back).<\/p>\n

Here’s the teaser pic:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Awesome atmospheric effect of the M-Vac firing into the atmosphere.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

People who have worked at SpaceX far longer than me keep saying that you don’t get tired of these happenings, and I’m certainly no where close to tiring of it myself.\u00c2\u00a0 The launches and the plans we have never cease to amaze me, but being up close and in person was absolutely astounding.<\/p>\n

About 1000 people gathered in a high school soccer field a few miles from the launch for the show.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We couldn’t see the launch pad — a trade off for having a large crowd — but the moment the rocket fired up the lower sky was filled with light…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Silhouette of some people climbing the fence to see the launch, back lit by the ignition.<\/p><\/div>\n

We watched the bright light of the ascent for a good 30 seconds before we could hear the roar of the engines, but given how far away we were it was still super loud; not quite the shake-you-to-your-bones it would be on base, but it gave the heart a good rattle.\u00c2\u00a0 Unfortunately, my photography wasn’t quite up to the task.\u00c2\u00a0 That’s fine, I need practice, but man these things are difficult to expose!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Not great, but the best rocket flame I got.<\/p><\/div>\n

I did manage to get a little video, though, both of the late ascent:<\/p>\n