Chicken Wings Forum

Roost Air Lounge => General Discussion => Topic started by: G-man on May 16, 2014, 02:01:34 AM

Title: It's not rocket science...
Post by: G-man on May 16, 2014, 02:01:34 AM: Well apparently it is....... I am currently aboard the Sea-Launch Commander headed to the equator as one of two pilots for mission support for the launch of the Eutelsat 3B satellite..... You can follow the adventure on Google Plus.... https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/117044438551777463600/117044438551777463600/posts (https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/117044438551777463600/117044438551777463600/posts)

I will also try to post pics here as we progress to the equator.

I am on this: http://www.sea-launch.com/ (http://www.sea-launch.com/)
Title: Re: It's not rocket science...
Post by: G-man on May 19, 2014, 01:30:55 AM: (https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wkyF7AYOHX9S-poxoqK6M5BiM101sK8Ri_0yK9nKXw=w800-h562)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/O6OEIrrZaUEZ5ipDL6GhdYCz_7fA4bVIFov9z7d9brQ=w800-h600)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/rvjUqtlqHtUwZNeIB8X86vR9xerTPeN81K85shgUrGQ=w903-h677-no)
Title: Re: It's not rocket science...
Post by: FlyboyGil on May 19, 2014, 08:46:36 PM: Nice There G-Man. Neato job! |:)\
Title: Re: It's not rocket science...
Post by: Stef on June 03, 2014, 09:32:04 AM: Really cool! What exactly does one do with a helicopter to support a satellite launch? Pick up the pieces if it crashes?
Title: Re: It's not rocket science...
Post by: Mike on June 03, 2014, 05:07:32 PM: this looks like a great adventure to be on!! (minus the single engine - over water - way out over the ocean - part)

post more pics!!
Title: Re: It's not rocket science...
Post by: G-man on June 04, 2014, 07:53:47 PM: I'm back.....I will go through the thousand or so pictures I took and put some more up in a day or so....But a few for starters:

The rocket ready to go:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/LaunchPlatform_zps3272f539.jpg)

The launch from inside the helicopter---we were spooled up ready to go

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/10003560_10204095539417724_1268416441352708473_o_zpsa587c36d.jpg)

Helicopter on the deck---we had just landed:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/IMG_3838_zpsf1a8eb7b.jpg)

(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/l/t31.0-8/10403807_10204045800854291_1585761422816244621_o.jpg)

I have been officially "mooned" as I fly across the equator:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/IMG_14971_zps5313118f.jpg)

Watch the launch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ORRgsX1tnkM
Title: Re: It's not rocket science...
Post by: G-man on June 11, 2014, 05:46:46 PM: Yep---sea legs take a little getting used to shaking off---also the constant noise on a ship.

Here is a bunch of pictures, (I have HUGE files which could be used as a calendar pic), I will try keep them in order:

The LP in transit----once at the equator, they flood the tubes and it sinks about 70 ft:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/_SRC2168_zpsfea527a2.jpg)

Landing with pax from the LP:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/Eutelsat3B_140525_03946_zps866f8ee6.jpg)

At the equator in launch position about 3 miles from each other:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/Eutelsat3B_140525_04372_zps858a9838.jpg)

Pushing the Jet Ranger into the hangar:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/Eutelsat3B_140525_04403_zpsa169a094.jpg)

Rocket raised and ready for launch the day before:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/Eutelsat3B_140525_04181_zps476bb48b.jpg)

Command vessel:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/Eutelsat3B_140525_04331_zpse47e09cc.jpg)

Shout out to the girls who take care of us---they have many roles: room cleaning, laundry, bar tenders, kitchen staff:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/Eutelsat3B_Launch_20140526_05598_zpsc0458803.jpg)

Day of the launch we start moving people early---pitch black, (photos did not turn out), then we have a break till sunrise and move more people:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/IMG_3983_zpsc928a133.jpg)

The launch:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/Eutelsat3B_Launch_20140526_05630_zpsa8d2adcc.jpg)

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/Eutelsat3B_Launch_20140526_05638_zps4762aecf.jpg)

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Sea%20Launch/Eutelsat3B_Launch_20140526_05644_zps29c44a61.jpg)

The launch pad at L+ 5 minutes:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/IMG_4026_zps801a9176.jpg)

We then flew back essential personnel, the rest went back later in the evening on the "link bridge" which is where the two vessels get within about 100 ft of each other and we swing a bridge over:

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/IMG_3916_zps12d9141e.jpg)

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/IMG_3922_zpse5205655.jpg)

The trip back had a LOT of happy rocket engineers.......the bar was open each night.......

Total of 19 days at sea, a little under 6,000nm, and learnt a lot.....
Title: Re: It's not rocket science...
Post by: Stef on June 12, 2014, 08:59:28 AM: Really cool story and pictures G-man!! Thanks for sharing!

I guess you can consider yourself lucky that the laws of physics make them launch rockets near the aequator and not the poles! ;)
Title: Re: It's not rocket science...
Post by: Mike on June 17, 2014, 08:52:03 PM: I'm totally jealous! This looks like a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!

::bow:: ::bow::
Title: Re: It's not rocket science...
Post by: Baradium on June 22, 2014, 06:45:34 PM: Great pictures, the launch platform looks like a self propelled oil platform to me, but I guess that kind of design would be ideal for something that needs a stable launch base.

Mike, it's going to be pretty tough for you to top this one ::whistle::