More Rockets, More Better

During my latest trip to Florida, the rocket fates aligned like never before. SLS was already rolled out to LC-39B and I was flying in to cover Crew-12. Luckily, Starfleet was offering sunset launch pad viewing tours. I purchased my ticket and penciled that into the itinerary. As the week went by, Crew-12 encountered unfavorable weather predicted in the ascent corridor which caused a push in the launch window. Due to this, the first attempt lined up for Thursday Feb 12 which was also the day ULA’s Vulcan was scheduled. Rockets are raised vertical on the launch pad sometimes a few days beforehand so now the wheels start turning…could we see THREE rockets on three launch pads?! Rocket chasing isn’t for the weak so I didn’t know if I would get to see more than one, but the chances were high. That wish came true as I found out both Crew-12 and Vulcan were vertical on their launch pads the day of my scheduled tour.

Upon arriving at the port, the boat was loaded with 5 other rocket chasing photographers and off we went into the sunset. As you ride along the coastline of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station you first pass LC-36 where Blue Origin launches New Glenn and then the site where Stoke Space is building out a presence at SLC-14. Ahead you start to see SLC-40 and SLC-41 where SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon Freedom were awaiting Crew-12 with ULA’s Vulcan further north. We pause to snap photos until pressing on towards Artemis II at historic KSC pad LC-39B.

Since SLS was at the pad, the exclusion zone was extended to 1.5 miles, slightly further than my last viewing trip, but wow that didn’t change the experience. The boat cruises into neutral and there you see it…our man-made moon rocket soaking in the setting sun.

A modern-day marvel!

Once the sun sets, the boat begins to return to port. We passed each launch pad and rocket one last time. Seeing three rockets on three launch pads, two of them taking humans to space, leaves you in awe. That feeling always strikes a moment of reflection. The hard work and sacrifices humans made to build these vehicles continues to push us forward in our desire to explore the unknown. If you’re ever on the Space Coast, I highly recommend looking into a Starfleet tour to experience this yourself!

https://www.star-fleet.tours/