We missed the #GPS2F12 launch, but not the webcast. Family first!

The launch was delayed and pushed into our vacation. For the actual launch day we were in south Florida (Pompano Beach) with our family. We watched the webcast and went outside with the babies for the odd chance we would see or hear the rocket overhead.  Being 200 miles to the south, I knew it was a longshot (the trajectory would need to also be going south), but the cloud coverage made sure we would not see anything. The babies of course are not aware yet, and it is still a fun ritual to spot the rocket.

Rafi and Harper enjoyed meeting each other and shared a launch experience... well at least the webcast!

Just the boys home watching the Halloween #GPSIIF11 launch. #CapeLife

Jen works on Saturdays, leaving the boys home alone for shenanigans. Rafi awoke from a mini cat-nap just in time to watch ULA's successful launch of Atlas V rocket with GPSIIF11 (GPS 2F-11, the 11th of 12 total) payload from our balcony. Teddy as usual was the early warning system for the sound wave.

Popping out from behind the rooftops, the rocket soars upwards. If you didn't know it was a rocket launch day, you would have heard it a few minutes later but missed the bright part of the show.

The labor of launching a rocket. #GPS2F10 launched as #BabyK prepped for arrival. #ULA #AtlasV

After a sleepless night, we headed to the hospital on the morning of July 15th expecting both a rocket launch and a baby launch. With contractions steadily progressing, we didn't know if we would catch the launch. At the beginning of the launch window, we were in between contractions so we took our positions by the hospital window. The rocket launched right on time and unfortunately we couldn't see if from Melbourne. However, I did get to see this particular rocket up close on one of our legislative tours of KSC/CCAFS. We went up to the top deck of ULA's Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) and were able to look down at the rocket before the payload was added. We saw the rocket on multiple platform levels with the most bizarre floor numbers. We even got to stick our heads pretty close to the RD-180 engines on the ground floor and read the Cyrillic print "РД-180" in red paint. To finish the story, after a long labor, Rafael Neil Kobrick was born on the next day at 0030, July 16th, the anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch to the Moon! It happened to be a new moon that night and a very busy hospital.

The Atlas V patiently waits for it's payload to be delivered at LC-41. We went to the very top floor (just under the yellow crane, but not up by the ULA logo) and what a view of the Cape! Photos were not allowed inside/outside the VIF, but check out the video below.

Missed launch, but worth it. Away on #BabyMoon

This is a null space blog post. It's a placeholder about missing a Florida launch, but maintaining a count on how many have occurred since we moved the Florida (35th?). This was the 4th launch I have missed, and the 2nd one while being out of town. But the excuse is good, we were at the Grand Canyon (or on the way there) for our Baby Moon.

GPS 2F-8 Launch on Atlas 5 - Smooth Florida sailing in shadow of Orbital's Anatres explosion

United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched their Atlas 5 this afternoon with a GPS satellite as the payload (GPS 2F-8 or #GPSIIF8). This launch is a tribute to Florida’s amazing track record of safety and operations in lieu of Orbital’s catastrophic  rocket explosion last night in Virginia. The Orbital explosion of Antares may have caused significant damage to their only launchpad. The failure will require an accident investigation before they can start rebuilding, which may hurt their business significantly as commercial customers migrate towards Florida to launch on +SpaceX's Falcon 9 or overseas. SpaceX will be the only Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) provider for NASA to the International Space Station for the near-term, which will cause shifting in payloads manifested, and could trickle-down to payloads being delayed or costs going up as the supply capability reduces. As payloads jockey for position, the true economic impact to the space coast will occur in December during the Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1). Hotels across the coast are already sold out (including our floor space) and Florida is expecting "Shuttle-like" crowds. This mission is a simple two-orbit profile, but is a critical step in returning launching human spaceflight from the USA.

Another successful launch from the space coast. My 28th in 25 months since moving here.

Orbital Sciences Corporation's Antares rocket exploded shortly after clearing the tower at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. It was en route to the International Space Station as a resupply mission loaded with consumables for the crew, science, and secondary payloads. Photo Credit: NASA HQ

The official stats:

Oct. 29	Atlas 5  •  GPS 2F-8
Launch time: 1721 GMT (1:21 p.m. EDT) Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launched the Air Force's eighth Block 2F navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The rocket flew in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. See our Mission Status Center. [Oct. 29]

Space!

Ryan

My first missed launch while being in Florida, but at least I was playing ice hockey! #GPS2F7 on #AtlasV

Friday night I was on the ice playing hockey, yes ice hockey in Florida, so I missed my first launch ever while being in the same location/State. Apparently one of my teammates felt the building rumble. Next time I'll have to wear my digital sports watch and set an alarm. Douglas Adams would not approve of me not wearing my Timex 24/7. I was tempted to set an alarm, throw on skate guards, and "run" outside, but there will be plenty more launches to witness. At least I was able to capture a few photos of the rocket on the launchpad during the #SpaceInterns tour of CCAFS/KSC earlier this summer (Photo from 21 July).

A drive by of SLC (or LC) 41 and a view of GPS 2F-7 on top of a Atlas 5 rocket. This was the only view of the rocket I saw since I was playing hockey during the launch late Friday night.

The official Spaceflightnow.com summary:

Aug. 1/2	Atlas 5  •  GPS 2F-7
Launch window: 0323 GMT on 2nd (11:23 p.m. EDT on 1st) Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launched the Air Force's seventh Block 2F navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The rocket flew in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from July 31. See our Mission Status Center. [Aug. 1]

Space!

Ryan

GPS 2F-6 Delta 4 Sunset launch

A lovely sunset launch that we watched from our balcony because we had to leave for my championship hockey game right after the launch. I took a ton of photos, but the best was a panorama from my iPhone.

GPS 2F-6 making it's way into space as the sun sets

Colorful launch with the setting sun of GPS 2F-6 on a Delta 4

Panorama with the GPS 2F-6 riding a Delta 4 away from the sunset in Cape Canaveral

The official stats:

May 16/17

Delta 4  •  GPS 2F-6

Launch time: 0003 GMT on 17th (8:03 p.m. EDT on 16th) Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket deployed the Air Force's sixth Block 2F navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The rocket flew in the Medium+ (4,2) configuration with two solid rocket boosters. Scrubbed on May 15 by weather. See our Mission Status Center. [May 16]

Space!

Ryan

GPS 2F-5 Night Launch on Delta 4

This is why living in Cape Canaveral rocks! After softball I rushed home to set up the camera on the balcony. The first photo merge is from two, 30 second exposures. Then we ran across the condo out the front door and the second merge is of five, 30 second exposures, leading up to MECO (Main Engine Cut-Off).

GPS 2F-5 on a humid night leaves Cape Canaveral launched on a Delta 4

On a clear night you can watch the rocket all the way to Main Engine Cutt-Off (MECO) and into the stars

The official stats:

Feb. 20/21

Delta 4  •  GPS 2F-5

Launch time: 0159 GMT on 21st (8:59 p.m. EST on 20th) Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket deployed the Air Force's fifth Block 2F navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The rocket will fly in the Medium+ (4,2) configuration with two solid rocket boosters. Delayed from Oct. 17, Oct. 23 and Dec. 12. See our Mission Status Center. [Feb. 20]

Space!

Ryan

GPS 2F-4 launch before Kickball playoff win from Cape Canaveral's beach

Our Kickball team "Girls Love Big Kicks" or GLBK went to watch the Atlas V GPS IIF-4 launch from the beach. We went on to win our playoff game 5-0!

GLBK captivated by the launch from the beach.

A great view from the beach of almost every launch.

The official stats:

May 15	Atlas 5  •  GPS 2F-4
Launch window: 2138 GMT (5:38 p.m. EDT) Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-039, deployed the Air Force's fourth Block 2F navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The rocket flew in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from March. See our Mission Status Center. [May 15]

Space!

Ryan