Month: October 2019

As I learned with the last rocket launch, technical glitches can happen. If, for some reason, I fail to record the rocket launch you can watch it right here at this site. That launch is scheduled for Saturday morning at 8:59 a.m. Hey, if NASA can have glitches so can I! ha

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-television-coverage-set-for-cygnus-resupply-mission-to-international-space

NASA TV will begin airing coverage of this launch on Friday. That schedule is with that link I just gave you.

The map below shows how far out the rocket will be visible. Each ring represents time in seconds. For instance, if you are on the yellow ring you should be able to see the rocket in the sky 150 seconds after launch. Pretty cool, right?

“The Cygnus spacecraft, dubbed the SS Alan Bean, is named after the late Apollo and Skylab astronaut who died on May 26, 2018, at the age of 86. This Cygnus will launch 50 years to the month after Bean, Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon flew to the Moon on NASA’s Apollo 12 mission, during which Bean became the fourth human to walk on the lunar surface. Bean was the lunar module pilot aboard Intrepid with mission commander Conrad when they landed on Moon at the Ocean of Storms on Nov. 19, 1969.

With a Nov. 2 launch, the Cygnus spacecraft will arrive at the space station Monday, Nov. 4 at about 5:45 a.m., Expedition 61 NASA astronaut Jessica Meir will grapple the spacecraft using the station’s robotic arm. She will be backed up by NASA astronaut Christina Koch. After Cygnus capture, ground controllers will command the station’s arm to rotate and install Cygnus on the bottom of the station’s Unity module.”

Pretty cool stuff, right?

As usual, I will have a big write-up for the Fentress Courier and Livingston Enterprise when I get back. That story will then be shared with you all as a Sunday Story, after it publishes in the papers.

I’ve also just learned that the risk for severe weather has really increased across Virginia for tomorrow. I’ll be trying to stay ahead of the storms as I drive toward the coast! Or maybe just do some chasing? …… lol Only a weather guy would get excited about severe weather being forecast for his road trip.

Pictured below is the beautiful rocket on its launch pad. That was taken this morning. The rocket is vertical now, but it will be lowered back down before launch. That is so they can load fruits, veggies, or science experiments that need to stay fresh before launch.

Aint’s she a beaut?

If you’re headed out for lunch make sure you take the rain gear with you. We have plenty of showers around the area and many more are moving our way from the southwest. As you can see from radar, the last of the big breaks in the rain has passed. We could even hear a rumble of thunder during the afternoon, especially when that heavier activity along the Alabama border gets here.

Weather Headlines

–Rain develops today, with rumbles of thunder

–Strong to severe storms are possible tonight and early Thursday

–Strong, cold north winds and cloudy skies will make for terrible trick-or-treat conditions Halloween evening (move festivities indoors)

–Hard freeze conditions expected Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings

Main threats

TODAY & THURSDAY: Strong to severe storms are possible tonight and the first half of tomorrow. The Storm Prediction Center has included all of the plateau in the marginal risk for severe storms for both this evening and for the first half of tomorrow. Heavy rainfall will also be possible. The tornado threat is very low, but not zero.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY MORNINGS: A hard freeze is expected to develop each morning. Temps will stay below freezing for several hours.

Summary

We will see widespread rain showers today, along with a few thunderstorms. Some storms could become strong or severe this evening. I’ll keep an eye on it for ya.

Our Halloween forecast is looking pretty rough. We’ll be dealing with the passage of a very strong cold front the first part of the day. That front could set off some strong to severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.

After that front moves through, scattered rain showers will still linger for the better part of the second half of the day. Temperatures will also be falling, as north winds gust to 25 mph. I HIGHLY encourage everyone with outdoor trick-or-treating plans to move those indoors. It’s just not worth freezing the kids to death and have them catching colds.

After the miserable weather for Halloween, we have multiple nice weather days coming our way. It will be chilly, that’s for sure, but at least the sun will be shining.

Almanac

Baldwin’s 7-Day forecast

Records

The earliest snowfall to ever be recorded in the city of Nashville fell on this day in 1925. The city measured one inch of snow.

On this day in 1947, the Monongahela Valley in Pennsylvania became smothered in smog. The smog was trapped in the valley when atmospheric conditions prevented the flow of air in the valley from removing the smog. This carried on for five days. The poor air quality killed 20 people and left more than 2,000 others sick.

Tropics

We still have that disturbance that is hundreds of miles east of the US. It may become our next named storm, but it is absolutely no threat to the US.

Today’s WeatherTAP WeatherWORD

Smog

A word coined in the early 20th century and is a contraction of the words smoke and fog. The fog and haze are combined with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants. Vehicle emissions are the primary pollutant associated with smog.

WeatherTAP WeatherFACT

In the past, smog was primarily produces when fog would mix with smoke coming from burning coal. This was the case when the word “smog” was first created. This created filthy air in cities and almost made air quality unbearable to breathe at times.

Today, most smog is created by a chemical reaction between sunlight reacting with Nitrogen oxides and at least one volatile organic compound in the atmosphere. The nitrogen oxides come from car exhaust, coal power plants, and factory emissions. The organic compounds come primarily from cleaning solvents. When sunlight hits these chemicals, a nasty, harmful smog develops.

Pictured below is Shanghai, China, struggling with a very smoggy day. Can you imagine breathing that?

NASA Knowledge

The Juno spacecraft has captured some stunning photos of the jet stream region of Jupiter’s northern hemisphere. Juno has helped scientists discover that the swirling bands of clouds in Jupiter’s atmosphere actually extend deep into the planet, to a depth of about 1,900 miles! At the time of this image, Juno was about 6,000 feet above the clouds.

I head out early in the morning to get to Wallop’s Island before dark (hopefully). Wish me well on my travel!

News

The season’s first winter-like cold front is producing widespread light snow across much of the central plains today.

Fire weather conditions continue to look bad for California today.

Hard freeze watches cover most of Kentucky for Thursday night.

You all have a great day!

 

Ok. Now I’m getting way too excited! This is going to be so cool! Notice the zero-G oven demonstration. How cool will that be?! Can you tell I’m easily amused? Oh yeah, and there’s the rocket launch thing. lol

Friday, Nov. 1, 2019

8:00-8:20: NASA Social check in at Wallops Visitor Center

8:20-8:30: Opening remarks from NASA social media

8:30-8:50: Get to know your peers

8:50-9:00: Load onto busses

9:00-9:20: Travel to Wallops Island

9:20-9:40: Tour Horizontal Integration Facility

9:40-9:45: Travel to launch pad

9:45-10:05: Tour Launch Pad 0A and Antares rocket

Speaker: Mission Assurance Manager Chris Hale

10:05-10:25: Travel to Wallops Visitor Center

10:25-10:45: Comfort break/shopping break

10:45-11:15: Cooking Demonstration with the Zero-G Oven

                Speaker: Andrew Grage, Social Media Strategy Manager, DoubleTree

11:15-11:30: Take seats in Visitor Center auditorium

11:30-1:00: What’s on Board Briefing

1:00-2:15: Lunch break

2:15-2:30: Take seats in Visitor Center auditorium

2:30-3:30: Pre-launch Press Conference

3:30-3:45: Travel to NASA Wallops main base

3:45-4:45: Tour of the sounding rocket factory

                Speakers: Mission Manager Eric Roper and Test Engineer Nate Wroblewski

4:45-4:55: Walk to NASA’s Balloons Research and Development Lab

4:55-5:25: Balloons tour

                Speaker: Balloon Technologist Chris Yoder

5:25-5:30: Travel to Near Earth Network

5:30-6:00: Near Earth Network walking tour

6:00-6:15: Drive back to Wallops Visitor Center, tour concludes.

Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019

7:45: Arrive at BAE building/Lockheed Martin building

8:00: Depart for Wallops Island Media Viewing Area

9:59: Launch