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  #1  
Old 11-05-2021, 04:26 AM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Default Astra trying again at PSCA (link)

Hello All,

Astra will, hopefully, reach orbit this time with their small kerolox-powered SLV. Their first launch window, at the PSCA (Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska: https://akaerospace.com/spaceports/ ), runs from November 8 to November 14 (see: https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/11/...early-november/ ). They've flown their rocket sideways, and very nearly reached orbit on a previous launch attempt (video shot from that round is on the opening page of their company website: https://astra.com/ ), so hopefully they'll make it all the way this time.
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  #2  
Old 11-17-2021, 09:57 PM
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mbauer mbauer is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blackshire
Hello All,

Astra will, hopefully, reach orbit this time with their small kerolox-powered SLV. Their first launch window, at the PSCA (Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska: https://akaerospace.com/spaceports/ ), runs from November 8 to November 14 (see: https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/11/...early-november/ ). They've flown their rocket sideways, and very nearly reached orbit on a previous launch attempt (video shot from that round is on the opening page of their company website: https://astra.com/ ), so hopefully they'll make it all the way this time.

Looks like Nov 19-20 now.

Mike
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  #3  
Old 11-18-2021, 12:48 AM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mbauer
Looks like Nov 19-20 now.

Mike
Thank you! What news source did you get that update from? (I'm not questioning your veracity; I've been looking on SpaceFlightNow, and Astra itself [I've also been checking their site] has been rather slow about posting launch preparation news, and not only for the currently-in-process mission.)
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
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  #4  
Old 11-18-2021, 10:02 PM
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mbauer mbauer is offline
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I'm a pilot so I use SKYVECTOR: https://skyvector.com/

It has weather, flight planning, and updated fuel prices for the world on a complete set of aviation sectional maps. The different colored pins all mean different weather at that location. If you hover over or click on the pin you get the weather and also a map of the runways etc..

It also has TFR and any other Notams that pilots need to be aware of.

I don't ever want to be like the idiot pilot that delayed one of Elon's launches.

Don't want to get run over by a rocket either, so they list all launch windows as TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) if you fly into one even by accident you get into big trouble-candidate for license removal etc...

If you go to skyvector today thru the 20th: Kodiak Island you will see the area just below the Space Launch area is a large TFR color orange, tomorrow when it goes live it will be Red. Not sure if there are any webcams covering the launch. Zoom in and you can see the offical faa Rocket Launch area symbol.

Thinking I'm going to do a cardstock version.

Hover on the orange/red line and it will tell you the hours of operation. Also other info available as well.

I've started planning my retirement trip: From Alaska to New Zealand and back. Over 11,000 miles one-way. Planning to go down the Asian Coastline Island hopping, and returning up the South American Coastline all the way along the North American Coastline to Alaska and home. Retirement is planned for next May. Skyvector helps with range between fuel stops (1100miles fuel range for my Vans RV-6: 7.5 hours of flying), helps to identify public airports for my use, other needed information as well.

Mike

Last edited by mbauer : 11-18-2021 at 10:21 PM.
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  #5  
Old 11-19-2021, 11:29 PM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mbauer
I'm a pilot so I use SKYVECTOR: https://skyvector.com/

It has weather, flight planning, and updated fuel prices for the world on a complete set of aviation sectional maps. The different colored pins all mean different weather at that location. If you hover over or click on the pin you get the weather and also a map of the runways etc..

It also has TFR and any other Notams that pilots need to be aware of.

I don't ever want to be like the idiot pilot that delayed one of Elon's launches.

Don't want to get run over by a rocket either, so they list all launch windows as TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) if you fly into one even by accident you get into big trouble-candidate for license removal etc...

If you go to skyvector today thru the 20th: Kodiak Island you will see the area just below the Space Launch area is a large TFR color orange, tomorrow when it goes live it will be Red. Not sure if there are any webcams covering the launch. Zoom in and you can see the offical faa Rocket Launch area symbol.

Thinking I'm going to do a cardstock version.

Hover on the orange/red line and it will tell you the hours of operation. Also other info available as well.

I've started planning my retirement trip: From Alaska to New Zealand and back. Over 11,000 miles one-way. Planning to go down the Asian Coastline Island hopping, and returning up the South American Coastline all the way along the North American Coastline to Alaska and home. Retirement is planned for next May. Skyvector helps with range between fuel stops (1100miles fuel range for my Vans RV-6: 7.5 hours of flying), helps to identify public airports for my use, other needed information as well.

Mike
Ah--thank you! The funny thing is, I've used SKYVECTOR before, to find NDBs (Long Wave Non-Directional Beacons--they make ideal radio DXing targets because they constantly transmit their Morse Code identifiers, and some also carry voice TWEB [Transcribed WEather Broadcasts for aviators]). I didn't think of it in connection with launches, but it makes perfect sense that it would list and show NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen and Mariners) and what they are for, and:

Just make absolutely sure your navigational equipment is in tip-top shape; I've been across the Pacific several times (Miami to Australia; having an aunt who worked at Pan Am saved my father considerable money!), and most of those mid-Pacific islands are awfully small targets! Even GPS isn't always terribly helpful; our Van Tran (our municipal bus service's disabled para-transit van service) vans have GPS systems (they're usually helpful in the countryside around Fairbanks, where road signs are few), but sometimes--when only one NavStar GPS satellite is overhead, the vans' GPS systems display location errors measured in miles. One of the now-retired drivers showed me that one day some years ago, when we went to a correct drop-off point (the airport terminal, when I worked at the parking authority), and he brought up the GPS map, which said that were were 1-3/4 miles southwest of that point.
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
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  #6  
Old 11-20-2021, 12:31 AM
Ltvscout Ltvscout is offline
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Congratulations to Astra in reaching orbit!
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  #7  
Old 11-20-2021, 12:48 AM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ltvscout
Congratulations to Astra in reaching orbit!
Yes--I watched the whole event on their livestream: https://astra.com/livestream/ , including their little onboard TV camera surprise upon achieving orbital velocity!
__________________
Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
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  #8  
Old 11-20-2021, 11:59 AM
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mbauer mbauer is offline
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Default Dang Blast It

I'm only 170 miles away. It was clear last night. Why didn't I go outside. Wish I had known the lift off time in advance-I'll be keeping a closer eye on the website!

I was out earlier checking out the moon it was awesome! It was only minus 7 F early in the evening.

Dang! Could've been outside at the fire-ring watching the southern sky.

If the Next lift off is a clear night, I'm having an Astra Blast Off Party outside at the ring.

Mike
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  #9  
Old 11-20-2021, 12:58 PM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mbauer
I'm only 170 miles away. It was clear last night. Why didn't I go outside. Wish I had known the lift off time in advance-I'll be keeping a closer eye on the website!

I was out earlier checking out the moon it was awesome! It was only minus 7 F early in the evening.

Dang! Could've been outside at the fire-ring watching the southern sky.

If the Next lift off is a clear night, I'm having an Astra Blast Off Party outside at the ring.

Mike
I could have have gone outside to watch it, too, but since it was about -20 outside, that deterred be from hanging around outside (ditto for the lunar eclipse the night before, but it was carried online, too: https://www.youtube.com/results?sea...e+november+2021 ). And why do I suddenly have a Johnny Cash song stuck in my head ("I fell down in a burning ring of fire...")?
__________________
Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
NAR #54895 SR
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