Rocket reality check

Jack Kennedy, Wise, Virginia — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:20:04 GMT

Alan - will there be any nexus between the 2006 X-Prize Cup and the UP Aerospace launch at the proposed America's Spaceport at Upham in October? It would seem to be a good opportunity to mix the launch with the X-Prize weekend from the participant prospective.

Rocket reality check

Alan Boyle — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 19:25:01 GMT

This was one of the issues discussed at the Space Frontier Foundation ... that the UP Aerospace launch including ashes from James Doohan and Gordon Cooper would be during the X Prize Cup festivities, and wouldn't it be great if the X Prize folks presented a video feed of the preparations and launch from the Upham spaceport (which is a substantial distance from the Las Cruces site of the X Prize Cup). I'll try to find out whether there's a plan to take advantage of the timing, but if anyone has information to add, please feel free to leave a comment.

Rocket reality check

Randall Clague, Mojave, CA — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 05:48:41 GMT

If UP Aerospace launches during the X Prize Cup, the launch may be visible from Las Cruces with binoculars, depending on how clear the air is. SRS is 48 miles from LRU, just west of due north. A rocket launched from SRS will clear the northern horizon from Las Cruces as it climbs through 12,000 feet.

If UP Aerospace makes a just in time announcement of the launch, so people at Las Cruces know where and when to look, we should be able to see it. I hope Up Aerospace coordinates with the X Prize Foundation; it would be really cool to watch a space launch between X Prize Cup events.

-R