Gravity Probe B trip
Album has 34 photographs.
Separation of GP-B
view from second stage rocket as the satellite separates during the second half of its first orbit.
Earth Orbit 2004
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Mission San Juan Bautista
Travelled down to the Vandenberg area on the Saturday prior to the launch. Stopped for a breakfast coffee and pastries in San Juan Bautista where this Spanish mission looks out over the valley.
San Juan Bautista CA USA 2004
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Mission San Miguel
Damaged chapel of the mission following the December 2003 earthquake.
San Miguel CA USA 2004
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Mission San Miguel
Arches in the courtyard of the mission are supported after the Dec 2003 earthquake nearby.
San Miguel CA USA 2004
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Further up Happy Canyon
We turned round after a little progress on the forest road to head back for the 2pm briefing and to meet Jill and look after the labrador.
Happy Canyon CA USA 2004
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What closed road?
Refugio Road from Santa Ynez to Camino Cielo is mostly unpaved
Refugio Road CA USA 2004
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At the end of Refugio Road is the beach.
We had a quick break and checked out the ocean at the bottom of the mountain and the end of Refugio Road. Apparently the Reagan`s rance is somewhere along the road we had come along
Refugio State Beach CA USA 2004
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Cold Spring Tavern
After the scrubbed launch on Monday
Cold Spring Tavern CA USA 2004
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Across the Santa Ynez valley
The road climbs to about 4400 feet and is paved but narrow and bumpy most of the way.
Figuerosa Mountain CA USA 2004
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Bike and Lupins
These bushy lupins were along most the mountain road.
Figuerosa Mountain CA USA 2004
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Fording a trickle
Coming back from Figuerosa mountain we found a few trickles of water left crossing the road as it headed back to Happy Canyon.
Figuerosa Mountain CA USA 2004
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First view of the launch
First view of the Delta II as it clears the treetops. It is about 7 miles away.
Vandenberg AFB CA USA 2004
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GP-B streaks skyward
GP-B streaks skyward aboard a Delta II with main engine and 6 ground start solid rocket motors all burning well.
Vandenberg AFB CA USA 2004
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Air start SRMs ignite
The Delta II was fitted with 9 SRMs. Six are ground lit and three ignite in the air to provide the necessary lift.
Vandenberg AFB CA USA 2004
[1482]
Launch trail and wind patterns.
As GP-B progresses ever upward the trail left behind is modified by the winds - which today thankfully allowed the launch to proceed.
Vandenberg AFB CA USA 2004
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Smoke trails over the pad
Clouds of smoke and steam from the Delta II over the SLC2 pad at Vandenberg about a minute or so after launch.
Vandenberg AFB CA USA 2004
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