Virgin's Cosmic Girl on its way over to Cornwall for Sept satellite launch

[Stu]

Turning south now… on station I guess 

[DaveL59]

2 minutes ago, Stu said:

Turning south now… on station I guess 

don't forget that's delayed data 😉 

dang I wish I still had my real-time account, c'est la vie...

Edited January 9, 2023 by DaveL59

[PeterW]

Looks like the slightly delayed launch means the clouds are going to kill of @Stua chance. That 100miles buys me more time, but stuff will be much lower. What’s the betting that no-one sees this from the UK…. Anyone predicting sighting astro phenomena in the mass media always ends up dooming the event 😞

 

Peter

[Stu]

1 minute ago, PeterW said:

Looks like the slightly delayed launch means the clouds are going to kill of @Stua chance. That 100miles buys me more time, but stuff will be much lower. What’s the betting that no-one sees this from the UK…. Anyone predicting sighting astro phenomena in the mass media always ends up dooming the event 😞

 

Peter

Quite likely Peter. What time is launch?

[DaveL59]

15 mins to launch

[Captain Scarlet]

2 minutes ago, Stu said:

Quite likely Peter. What time is launch?

Around 8 mins past 11 apparently 

Edited January 9, 2023 by Captain Scarlet

[DaveL59]

2 minutes ago, Captain Scarlet said:

Around 8 mins part 11 apparently 

according to live stream, drop in 13 mins so that'd be 23:08

Unlikely I'll see anything but it'll be an excuse to step into the garden for a smoke 😉 

Edited January 9, 2023 by DaveL59

[Stu]

In other news, if anyone has a scope on the Moon, there are stunning shadows cast across Mare Crisium currently, well worth a look 👍

[Captain Scarlet]

At 9km up and 500km away that’s only 1 degree up I think. Only 5 degs for me unless I’ve made a mistake

[Craney]

Can follow on Flight-Tracker ...

[paul mc c]

This is now.

[AstroKeith]

Started to climb up to 35000

[AstroKeith]

Coming down now, suspect that it was the launch

[paul mc c]

1 minute ago, AstroKeith said:

Coming down now, suspect that it was the launch

Yip

[DaveL59]

sadly didn't see anything from here but would've been too low with the houses and trees around that direction.

[Stu]

Nothing for here either, but possibly too low for me too. Looks like it went off successfully though 👏👏

[Mognet]

Watched from the back bedroom window so I could see over the houses, but no sign of it from here. Probably lost in the haze or just too distant.

[sorrimen]

Down in Plymouth today but no luck with clouds in the way. 

[PeterW]

Went to the park, could see down to a little below 9degree, mistiness inbound. Nothing apart from a few stars that just stayed put. Nice and chilly, great wide view of the Hyades with the ol 7x35 and the sound of deer bashing antlers (I did check they were plenty far enough away).

Wonder if anyone else got lucky.. maybe in more southerly and warmer climes?

Peter 

[PeterW]

16 minutes ago, sorrimen said:

Down in Plymouth today but no luck with clouds in the way. 

I wondered @sorrimen, I did have a quick look about in case you were doing some outreach. 

Peter

[Malpi12]

Did I hear " an anomaly " on the

edit to complete my post !  :- on the Virgin 'tube.

I was outside viewing a moon halo and 1/2 listening to the 'tube playing indoors. Sad

Edited January 9, 2023 by Malpi12

[Malpi12]

 argh  yes , all is not well

 

[PeterW]

Someone will have to go and find where the satellites landed so they can have another go, at least they were small and so easier to rebuild.

Peter

[DaveL59]

That'll be one heck of an insurance claim then... oh well, that's 2 for 2 UK launches recently that didn't go to plan 😞 

Still, third time's a charm as they say 😉 

[Malpi12]

I heard commentary through 2nd stage 1st burn and into the coast phase, then my attention wandered to the moon, dont recollect hearing the start of the 2nd burn of the 2nd stage just prior to orbit injection. So maybe it was that burn that failed ??