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01-31-2018, 12:08 PM
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#1
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Guru
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,264
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Out to Launch
I’m headed up to Cape Canaveral next week to watch Elon’s little toy rocket fly. Actually more interested in seeing the boosters come back. I’ve seen and felt real rockets take off, never seen a rocket come back.
I bought expensive tickets so I could watch from the visitors center but it’s not a great viewing site.
I was wondering if any of my TF friends have watched a launch from the water?
How close can you get?
I know NASA closes big areas of water but I can’t find a map showing the closed areas. I figure I’m using the wrong search terms. Can you help me out?
__________________
Parks Masterson
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supply
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01-31-2018, 12:43 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Brookline, NH
Vessel Name: Shalloway
Vessel Model: Defever 44, twin Perkins
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,229
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01-31-2018, 12:49 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 27,697
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Much of the area in the Indian River is OK, slightly closer in the Banana just north of tbe barge canal. There are some areas to anchor but not much if its a crowd that day. Should be on the local nautical chart for the area, also a good explanation on Active Captain last I recall.
Every time we have been in the area, it gets oostponed and we wind up seeing it from Patrick AFB. Great view in 7×50 binocs.
Last launch we saw was just before Christmas and even saw the landback rockets fire. Cant see the ground operation from there, not sure you can from any anchorage.
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01-31-2018, 12:57 PM
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#4
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,724
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I'm jealous! I just read about their planned launch of the biggest boosters since Saturn V! Should be quite a show.
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01-31-2018, 02:31 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Fort Lauderdale. Florida, USA
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 21,449
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Wifey B: We've watched sort of from the water, from the marina. Great view. Fun, but a one time thing as it's sort of a great mental buildup to what you're going to see, then a minute of action, then it's all over.
You have to sort of psych yourself up to think, even though it's now done all the time, space launches are still amazing. People have been flying around in space all my life so it's easy to take it for granted. Now, those of you who are over 56 remember the first manned launch and those over 60 remember the first launch. To me it's still amazing but perspective isn't the same. I'm also very glad I don't know anything at all about the science and can just be in awe that we can do such things. 
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01-31-2018, 03:35 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: New Orleans
Vessel Name: Panache
Vessel Model: Viking 43 Double Cabin '76
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,253
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Didn't exactly "watch" a launch from the water, but was proximate to several - from under the water. Good, close seats for all. I'd love to see one.
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01-31-2018, 04:28 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,264
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kchace
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Thanks, that is helpful. Unfortunately it tells me I shouldn’t have bought the tickets since I’m more interested in seeing the returning boosters than the launch. There is a better place to see that over by the inlet to the port. I’ll know next time.
__________________
Parks Masterson
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supply
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01-31-2018, 04:39 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,264
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyWright
I'm jealous! I just read about their planned launch of the biggest boosters since Saturn V! Should be quite a show.
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Al, I saw and felt two Saturn V launches from maybe three miles away. I like to say Walter Cronkite was behind me. I had press passes to Apollo 11 and 12. If you ever see a picture taken from the old press sight there is a big digital count down clock and an American flag. I was down by the water to the left of the flag.
__________________
Parks Masterson
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supply
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01-31-2018, 04:45 PM
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#9
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,426
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Parks: I think it will be very cool. Lena and I just watched our first launch (4:25 this afternoon) from Vero Beach of the Falcon 9, a small guy compared to what youre going to see. Were talking about renting a car to drive up to get closer for the 2/6 launch. Definitely a wow factor for us.
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01-31-2018, 05:51 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,264
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry M
Parks: I think it will be very cool. Lena and I just watched our first launch (4:25 this afternoon) from Vero Beach of the Falcon 9, a small guy compared to what youre going to see. Were talking about renting a car to drive up to get closer for the 2/6 launch. Definitely a wow factor for us.
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Shoot, I forgot about that one. I wanted to watch the live video feed from SpaceX. I understand that the booster on this one was old so they decided not to land it.
__________________
Parks Masterson
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supply
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01-31-2018, 06:09 PM
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#11
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,426
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HopCar
... I understand that the booster on this one was old so they decided not to land it.
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Thanks for that. Lena had the binos and I was on the camera looking for the booster drop. I’m glad we didn’t miss it but then again I’m not sure we would have seen the drop anyway since we were so far away. Still, pretty amazing to see what we did.
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01-31-2018, 07:12 PM
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#12
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,724
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This is what I got today in the KSC email. Check out the link for lots more info than the video below.
"The inaugural flight of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, targeted for Tuesday, February 6, 2018, is one of the most anticipated launches in recent history. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex invites you to experience the awe and excitement from within a few miles/kilometers from the launch pad. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for launch viewing announcements."
This Falcon Heavy Test Flight launch had great potential to be quite a show....success or fail. Parks, I think you've got a great chance to see something spectacular.
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01-31-2018, 09:25 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,264
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Thanks Al. I bought the “Closest Package”. It’s actually not the closest but the Feel the Heat package was sold out.
If they delay the launch to the seventh, I’m screwed. I have to be in Miami on the seventh.
__________________
Parks Masterson
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supply
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01-31-2018, 09:28 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Melbourne, FL
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,729
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Even Elon musk is saying it may not work, so you might be able carry home a souvenir if something goes wrong...
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01-31-2018, 09:33 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,264
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stubones99
Even Elon musk is saying it may not work, so you might be able carry home a souvenir if something goes wrong...
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They actually talk about there being danger in the viewing area.
__________________
Parks Masterson
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supply
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01-31-2018, 09:35 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
Vessel Model: 2003 Monk 36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,882
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In the mid 90s one night I was in a car a few miles south of South Bay headed to Clewiston when a launch took place. It was amazing the amount of light, about like the sun coming up again. Cars were pulling off the road just to have a good look.
Steve W
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01-31-2018, 09:54 PM
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#17
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,724
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HopCar
Thanks Al. I bought the “Closest Package”. It’s actually not the closest but the Feel the Heat package was sold out.
If they delay the launch to the seventh, I’m screwed. I have to be in Miami on the seventh.
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I sure hope you get a video! You can be our TF Lead Reporter on the front line.
"Film at 11..."
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02-01-2018, 12:44 AM
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#18
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,103
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HopCar
Thanks Al. I bought the “Closest Package”. It’s actually not the closest but the Feel the Heat package was sold out....
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The "Closet Package" might offer more protection.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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02-01-2018, 08:52 PM
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#19
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Guru
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,264
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceK
The "Closet Package" might offer more protection. |
The information I received talks about debris and toxins! I’m very afraid!
__________________
Parks Masterson
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supply
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02-01-2018, 09:03 PM
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#20
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Guru
City: Quebec
Vessel Name: Bleuvet
Vessel Model: Custom Built
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 4,277
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HopCar
The information I received talks about debris and toxins! I’m very afraid!
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Hydrazine used in rocket fuel is highly toxic.
L
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