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Vandenberg launch viewing recommendations

Discussion in 'SpaceX' started by BrokerDon, Dec 15, 2018.

  1. BrokerDon

    BrokerDon Active Member

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    We live in Newport Coast CA are thinking about traveling a couple of hours north to the Vandenberg CA area to witness Tuesday evening's Delta 4-Heavy launch in either our 2015 Tesla Model S P85D or our
    We live in Newport Coast CA are thinking about traveling to the Vandenberg CA area to witness Tuesday evening's Delta 4-Heavy launch or the next SpaceX Falcon launch in either our 2015 Tesla Model S P85D -OR- our 25' fully self contained 2011 Winnebago View (Mercedes Sprinter) RV "mobile condo".

    What are the best launch viewing areas?

    What hotels / motels would you recommend?

    Where are the best places to camp? (boondock or campgrounds)
     
  2. Lloyd

    Lloyd Well-Known Member

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    #2 Lloyd, Dec 15, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2018
    Eagles Nest is good for viewing if it is open, or On Ocean Avenue on the side of the road close to 13th street .

    I would recommend staying in Buellton, or Solvang. Lots of good choices and restaurants.

    For camping I would stay at Jalama Beach. call for availability (805) 568-2460 . Viewing is good there also. A little further away is Cachuma Lake.
     
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  3. ecarfan

    ecarfan Well-Known Member

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    W. Ocean Ave and Renwick Ave.

    GPS coordinates (34.6662836, -120.5544591)
     
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  4. BrokerDon

    BrokerDon Active Member

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    Thanks for the great suggestions !!!
     
  5. ecarfan

    ecarfan Well-Known Member

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    Have you stayed there during a launch?

    I just checked availability for that county park for Dec 18 and the reservations website stated that it was closed on that date because of a launch from Vandenburg.
     
  6. Lloyd

    Lloyd Well-Known Member

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    I live in the area and drive to launches. It used to be open during launches.
     
  7. nwdiver

    nwdiver Well-Known Member

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    I watched a launch from Harris Grade road. It's hard to miss... there's a nice turnout. The downside is there there aren't any facilities nearby and you're a couple miles away but you do get a fairly unobstructed view of the launch. Once the F9 goes vertical you can actually see the top of the rocket over the hill. I arrived ~4 hours early... I think ~2 should be fine to find a spot but it filled up quick.

    Just make sure you charge up BEFORE the launch. There was a line ~60 cars deep at the Buellton Supercharger.

    It was kinda funny; The CHP came by shortly after the launch because there were some cars block traffic.

    CHP: 'Who's Tesla? It's about to get towed.'

    Crowd: 'Which one?'

    CHP; 'The Blue one'

    Crowd: 'Which Blue one?'

    Screen Shot 2018-12-17 at 12.10.46 AM.png Screen Shot 2018-12-17 at 12.08.36 AM.png
     
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  8. ecarfan

    ecarfan Well-Known Member

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    That’s the first time I’ve heard of that location as a launch viewing site. I measured the distance from there to the launch pad using Google Maps: it’s 11.6 miles. The location I have used, W. Ocean Ave and Renwick Ave, is 4 miles from the pad.

    From Harris Grade Road can you really see the top of the rocket without binoculars?
     
  9. nwdiver

    nwdiver Well-Known Member

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    It was a very crowded sight. Lots of Space X people there too. Yes, you can see the top of the rocket without binoculars... if you look carefully.

    Screen Shot 2018-12-17 at 12.24.53 PM.png
     
  10. bxr140

    bxr140 Active Member

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    I just watched the last launch from Paradise Landing Park in Vandenberg Village. It’s basically Harris Grade but a few miles closer.

    It’s pretty far away, but you can at least see the gantry move back with the naked eye.
     
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  11. BrokerDon

    BrokerDon Active Member

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  12. BrokerDon

    BrokerDon Active Member

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    Did you mean Providence Landing Park ? Google Maps
     
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  13. bxr140

    bxr140 Active Member

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    Lol! Yes!
     
  14. ecarfan

    ecarfan Well-Known Member

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  15. Mike1080i

    Mike1080i Member

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    Going back to 1994 in Google Earth it looks like might have been mobile homes.
    34.7321987, -120.5072063.jpg
     
  16. ecarfan

    ecarfan Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, interesting. I wonder if it is possible to drive onto that property now? Would be great place to boondock (meaning camp off grid) in my trailer and watch a launch!

    Google Maps lacks the resolution to show me if there is a gate where Azalea Ln connects to Hwy 1.

    58EE6B27-710C-4669-A079-015FDCE5CEF2.jpeg
     
  17. bxr140

    bxr140 Active Member

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    There’s a gate there so I’m certain you won’t be able to overnight or anything like that.

    We drove past after sso-a and there was a stream of cars coming out. There were also base guards so it’s obviously a controlled area, but given that there are so many better places to view from on-base, I can’t imagine that credentials are required to gain access to this particular viewing site.
     
  18. ecarfan

    ecarfan Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, I did not realize the location I was discussing was on base. Google Maps does not demarcate the base perimeter.
     
  19. bxr140

    bxr140 Active Member

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    It’s kind of weird—all the grey on google maps is technically the base, and that encompasses both sides of the highway there.
     
  20. ggr

    ggr Expert in Dunning-Kruger Effect!

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    Reviving this thread. I'm planning to fly up (private) from San Diego for the launch currently planned for the 25th. I have seen one other launch from the air, which was good because the ground was fogged in. But this launch is in the afternoon. Land at Lompoc, and then?
     

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