Personal experience: to see how the launch vehicle "Antares"

Photo: NASA

October 17 carrier rocket "Antares" successfully launched from the spaceport on the island of Wallops, Virginia. The launch was watched by ForumDaily journalist Lesya Bakalets.

It was like in the movies - the countdown of 10, 9, 8 .., a bright flash of light and hum, because of which even a nearby person could not be heard. The Antares rocket took off quickly and after 9 minutes it was already in orbit.

Journalists are watching the launch on the viewing platform at 2 kilometers from the starting point. A large field surrounded by swamps, tall grass and many mosquitoes. We are immediately warned: if the launch does not go according to plan - immediately return to the buses.

Photo: Lesya Bakalets

They warned not just for the sake of compliance with the safety rules protocol: “Antares” was already trying to launch into space in 2014, and it was then that the rocket exploded during the launch. Witnesses said that they were standing on this very field, and they were literally thrown away by a blast wave by several meters.

We are told that the level of radiation from a rocket explosion would be such that we would also fall under its influence.

The launch of Antares has been postponed several times since July. And all this time, it was not only the Americans who closely followed the process. Russian and Ukrainian specialists took part in the program to prepare for the launch of the American launch vehicle - the Ukrainian Yuzhnoye Design Bureau and Yuzhmash State Enterprise and the Russian Energomash.

Photo by nasa.gov

The Russians have developed, manufactured and certified engines, and Ukrainian specialists have designed the first stage of the rocket. These are fuel tanks, pipelines and a variety of sensors, which together with the engine are responsible for launching the rocket.

Alexander Degtyaryov, General Director of the Yuzhnoye enterprise, came to the launch personally and, like all those present, believed in a happy outcome. For the Ukrainian space industry, this is like a beacon: the successful launch of Antares will provide an opportunity for the implementation of new projects.

The program to prepare the launch of the American launch vehicle was attended by Russian and Ukrainian specialists. Photo: NASA

Before the launch, even NASA workers said to those present: cross your fingers and toes, even cross your eyes - the main thing is to take off. The launch was delayed by 5 minutes. And then everything happened in seconds - once, and already just a bright dot in the night sky.

Live broadcast was conducted on the channel NASA on the YouTube site.

Viewers watch the launch from the second viewing platform. It is located more than 10 kilometers from the cosmodrome. Americans with chairs, blankets and picnic baskets began to gather 3 hours before the start. Many traveled here for several hours just to witness the launch. Experienced people said “even if it didn’t explode like last time,” the newcomers tuned the lenses of their cameras.

The Americans began to gather on the launch of the rocket before the light. Photo: Lesya Bakalets

The young couple, Dan and Daisy, rejoiced almost the most. The rocket should have been launched the day before, but a few hours before the launch, the launch was postponed. Dan and Daisy say that it was precisely such a delay that was good for him - on Sunday the guys worked, but on Monday they just had a day off.

The couple traveled the 3 hour to see the rocket. Photo: Lesya Bakalets

How to get to the spaceport

On the launch date of the missiles Center for Space Flight Wallops said on his Online. There are also tips for spectators: arrive a couple of hours before the launch to take a place on the open-air observation deck, and follow the dress code. The dress code means closed shoes and long pants - there is long grass and a lot of bugs on the site.

Get on a tour of the command center and visit the hangar with new missiles can anyone. On the official website of the Center you can find detailed information about how to get to the venue of the tour. Add to Cart tour should be in advance, not less than a month.

Tours are free of charge, and the site is separately highlighted. Get in touch that it is prohibited to charge groups for excursions (except transportation costs). In addition, the minimum and maximum number of people in a group (at least 8 and no more than 20 people) and the frequency of excursions (no more than 6 once a year) are specified among the list of strict rules. Foreign nationals in a group may be no more than 6 people, and they must send out data confirming their identity, no later than 5 weeks before the planned tour date.

The Syngus cargo module is the one that will deliver cargo to the International Space Station. Photo: NASA/ESA

Now, while you are driving to work, having breakfast or dinner, reading this sentence, the cargo module is flying somewhere in space. It is huge - as tall as an adult giraffe - and carries more than 2 tons of cargo.

He will fly to the station on Sunday, where 3 astronauts are waiting for him: an American, a Russian and a Japanese woman. Then they will unload the ship for XNUMX hours. It is like a large package from Earth: it contains food supplies and equipment for scientific experiments.

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