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The Falcon 9 is expected to carry the Canadian Space Agency's mission from Vandenberg Air Base, with a subsequent landing likely to result in sonic booms
Three satellites of the Radarsat Constellation mission are undergoing preparations for their launch on Wednesday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
(Photo of the Canadian Space Agency)
A Falcon 9 rocket delivering a trio of satellites in Canada could create a visual and audio show as it takes off and returns to land at Vandenberg Air Force Base on Wednesday morning.
The launch of the SpaceX rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 East on the southern base is scheduled for 7:17 Wednesday after being delayed a day.
On Saturday, SpaceX announced that it had conducted a static fire test at Vandenberg, a key step in clearing the ground for the launch. The test consists of counting down to zero and igniting the engines, the rocket remaining in place.
The mission of the Falcon rocket is to put into orbit three identical Earth observation satellites for the Canadian Space Agency.
The Radarsat continuity mission relies on data collected by two Earth observation satellites, one of which had taken off from Vandenberg in 1995.
The new Radarsat mission will collect 250,000 images a year, 50 times more than the first-generation satellite.
"As most of you know, Canada has the longest and longest coastline in the world and the second largest land mass in the world," said Magdalena Wierus, project engineer for the Radarsat mission.
Wednesday's mission will put into orbit three identical Earth observation satellites provided by the Canadian Space Agency. (Photo of the Canadian Space Agency)
"Given the density of our local population and our vast, remote, geographically diverse areas, Earth observation from space is a natural choice for monitoring our assets."
The data will help monitor various industries, including agriculture, forestry, mining and oil.
But the real goal of the launch can be overshadowed.
Vandenberg officials confirmed that in addition to launching the rocket, SpaceX predicted that the first propeller would be landing at Landing Zone 4. This site is the former Space Launch Complex-4 West, formerly the Titan II, just to the west. Falcon launch site.
Wednesday's flight return mission could create a show seen and heard on the central coast, Vandenberg officials said.
"Local residents could see the first leg of the Falcon 9 return to Vandenberg Air Force Base, including many engine burns associated with the landing," base officials said.
"When trying to land, residents of Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties can hear one or more sonic booms."
A sonic boom is the resulting sound of shock waves created when an airplane or vehicle is moving faster than the speed of sound.
"Sonic booms generate a sound like an explosion or a thunderclap," officials said. "The sound boom felt will depend on weather conditions and other factors."
Of course, what spectators will see when launching and landing the rocket will depend on Mother Nature and her early morning marine layer, which is detrimental to the views of the central coast.
This will be the second flight return mission to the launch site. SpaceX has successfully returned a first-stage booster after its launch in October.
A first Falcon 9 rappel relay landed in Cape Canaveral, Florida, earlier this year. This recall will be used for Wednesday's launch and landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base. (SpaceX photo)
Wednesday's recall explosion has already allowed the Crew Dragon to visit the International Space Station in March in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
From the beginning, SpaceX has touted the potential for reuse of its rockets through the recycling of key components to reduce costs and delays between missions.
Although access to Vandenberg is limited, the public can watch the launch from the Hawk's Nest on Azalea Lane, off Route 1, one kilometer south of Vandenberg's main gate.
The viewing site will open at 6 am and close after the end of the landing of the first leg.
Other places around the Lompoc Valley also offer a view of the launch and landing site, which is visible when you look south of Ocean Avenue (Highway 246).
Popular viewing sites include the oceanic and central avenues located west of Lompoc, the top of Harris Grade Road, and near the intersection of Moonglow and Stardust Roads in the village of Vandenberg.
However, law enforcement officers will establish a wider roadblock for this launch, which is expected to attract large crowds to the area.
A roadblock normally established at 13th Street on Ocean Avenue will be moved east to the intersection of Ocean and Floradale Avenues.
A secondary roadblock will also be established on Floradale and Central avenues.
Drivers may be required to take additional temporary traffic control measures on local roads to safely accelerate planned traffic.
Vandenberg staff have teamed up with the sheriff police departments of Santa Barbara County and Lompoc to ensure public safety around the launch, base officials said.
– Janene Scully, editor-in-chief of Noozhawk County North, can be reached at . (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
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