macpuzl
By Chuck McPartlin
Coming up early on Saturday morning, May 5, is the first launch of an interplanetary mission from Vandenberg – NASA’s InSight mission to Mars to gather information on the interior of the red planet and the wobble of its rotational axis. The predawn launch, scheduled for 4:05 AM, should result in an impressive display as the Atlas 5 rocket climbs into sunlight.
NASA has arranged for two official public viewing sites in Lompoc; at the Lompoc City Airport, and at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, with both sites opening at 2:30 AM. NASA team members and running commentary will be available at both sites.
You can find viewing site details at the Space.com website.
The launch window lasts for two hours each morning, and into early June. You can monitor the launch proceedings, and find out about any launch delays, on the live webcast at Spaceflight Now.
If you want to see it from the comforts of home in Santa Barbara, you have about a minute from when the Spaceflight Now website shows the launch, and when the rocket climbs above our western horizon, assuming a clear sky.
Lots of information about the InSight mission is available at the NASA Mars page.
Hasta nebula.
