Scope Diagram Astrocamera.Net - Astrophotography by Dave Kodama  

SpaceX Iridium 2 Launch




 
This SpaceX launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base was partially obscured by coastal fog. The launch site itself was shrouded in fog, but the public viewing site on the other side of some hills was clear.

I was hoping that the early afternoon launch time would allow enough time for the fog to burn off, but that wasn't the case. It took a few seconds more for the vehicle to become visible to the crowd lined up on Ocean Avenue. We actually could hear the booster before we could see it.


Click on image above to see the time-lapse sequence

This launch placed the second set of 10 Iridium satellites into orbit. These are replacements for the current set of satellites in the Iridium communications constellation.