Satellite Launch

Every so often a new weather satellite gets launched. Most people don't realize this and only ever hear about it when something goes wrong. Luckily, most of the time things go right, which saves us taxpayers millions to billions of dollars from having to build another one. One nice thing about working where I do is that whenever a new satellite goes up with some instrument on it designed, built or run by the organization we get to watch the launch live.

Two days ago the NOAA-N Prime (NOAA-19) satellite was supposed to be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Unfortunately there was a problem with the launch vehicle and it had to be delayed until today... good thing too because I totally forgot about it on Wednesday. So I went down right before launch to check it out. Being as this was my second launch I wasn't as excited as before. Last time there was a camera on the actual spacecraft that showed us the actual separation and extension of the solar panels out in space... this time we only got a stupid artist's rendition.


The launch went off without a hitch right before lunch. So while we waited for the satellite to get to it's proper position, which took about an hour or so, we went to lunch and then came back to make sure we didn't miss out on the champagne (as is the tradition). Long story short, all went well and now we have successfully added to the clutter out there orbiting our planet... now the rest of the work day is ruined because everyone is tipsy and I have a headache.