![]() Heading west on Ocean avenue to Surf Beach, as you are almost out to the beach you will see an active military gate into the base on your left and across from it on your right is another military gate. On your way to the beach there are some neat things.įirst, you will go on the same road that rockets take on their way to the pad and can see how to road was altered to accommodate. If you are driving all the way up and like space, you might as well see some of the space landmarks and history in the area.Ī few hours before or after the launch you can drive out to Surf Beach and get the closest direct view of the SpaceX pad. Trivia and Space Landmarks around Lompoc and Surrounding Areas Do not miss these, they are somewhat rare. This scenario was the reason a recent SpaceX launch created an enormous spectacle in the Southern California sky that was visible as far as Phoenix. The sky is dark but anything high up will be outside the Earth's shadow and will light up in the night sky. The best launches to watch are any launch within an hour after sunset or an hour before sunrise. ![]() So, during the summer months, be prepared to see nothing- even if it's 3 in the afternoon. It's so notable we have names for the phenomena: June Gloom, No-Sky-July and Fog-ust. The Central Coast gets a ton of persistent fog June through August. Perhaps you will be able to see the rocket maneuver for return. Watching the rocket prepare to return to Earth on the last SpaceX launch out of VAFB I used a spotting scope and could clearly see the rocket firing maneuvering thrusters a few minutes after launch. I personally have terrible cell connection when I'm way out watching the launch. This is useful for knowing if you are picking up the broadcast or not. but if it works, its the best way to listen.įor the launches I have listened to, when you tune in and it's broadcasting you will hear silence instead of static. I have previously had trouble hearing SpaceX launch traffic on the scanner. you can still pick up launch traffic with a scanner. Your scanner might be offset a little, so if you don't hear anything try the nearby frequencies.Īs of the Delta IV launch on Jan 12, 2018. You have to be within a few miles of the base. The frequency is 386.3 (I was also able to pick it up on 388.0 one time). VAFB broadcasts launch communication traffic that can be picked up with a regular radio scanner. There are other viewing spots closer to Lompoc near Harris Grade and a park, but I never go there and know nothing about them other than Harris Grade has extremely limited parking (30 cars) and no overflow. There is a radiation hazard due to high power equipment. It's good for watching the north base launches (not this one) and listening to communication traffic which they sometimes pump over a loud-speaker. My last viewing spot is at a far-away tracking station on Firefighter Road. It has finite parking and unless you get there really early (hours in advance) it will probably be full. Recently, VAFB has been opening 'The Hawks Nest' on Hwy 1. I don't recommend this spot for SpaceX launches. This spot gets crowded quickly (can park about 100 cars) and only has limited viewing spots because of trees and shrubs. Don't walk in them, don't let your dog walk in them, don't go to the bathroom anywhere near them.Īnother viewing location is Santa Lucia Canyon road which offers a partial pad view of SLC-4 (SpaceX) and a full view of SLC-3. Fatal salmonella outbreaks originate from unclean activity in or near the fields. Note: These fields grow the food that we all eat. Even on the most crowded launches the fields have tons of space. This is the best option if you don't like crowds. The next best location is any of the farm roads on the nearby fields. You will also get the most intense, chest pumping sound experience as you are only 4 miles away and the weather will likely be cool resulting in dense air. Your view will be obstructed by hills so you won't see the first two seconds of flight- but you will get the closest possible view of the rocket in flight once it gets to about 200 feet. You will see spectators parking on both sides of the road. On the map it is marked as 'Closest Possible Viewing'. The best launch experience for the vast majority of people is going to be on W Ocean Ave, heading as far west as you can go until the road is blocked. After the launch it will take quite a while to exit the area- up to 30-45 minutes to get past the first stop light into Lompoc. As a local, I always shoot for 30-60 minutes in advance to settle and listen to launch communications. ![]() SpaceX launches have been getting very crowded an hour and a half before launch. I have watched every launch out of VAFB for the last three years and worked at SpaceX setting up SLC-4- here are my tips for watching a launch in person. (Authors note: See the bottom of this article for updates and news)
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