Trying to post a picture here!

The bridge of the Launch Platform.

Wow!

I DID IT!!!!

Way to go Jim, will we get to see a pic of the actual launch! I remember going online to look for live webcasts of the launches of "Rock" and "Roll", but don't think I found one. I have watched a couple of the Delta launches in conjunction with the Boeing Webcasts, they do a nice job. Hope everything goes smooth this trip, good luck!

If it's broke - fixit
If it ain't broke -
let me see it for a minute

Bill Heher

Jim,
Nice picture. Can you fill us in on the story that goes along with it?

Here Here!

Jim,

Glad to see you have a handle on how to do this new fangled electronic Voodoo stuff! Just thought I'd let you know how nice you have it at the moment. Tomorrow the temp is not likely to climb above 33 degrees. Seems like you headed the right direction!

Looking forward to more photo's of the liftoff if you get a chance. I'm sure everyone in the club (NVCL) wishes you all the best.

Only thing wrong here is you cut the color quality down when you didn't have to. Just use a compression utility and compress the pictures. You may need to go to 30% or even 25% compression, but you won't know the difference in quality on the computer screen.

Len,

I guess I need to work on using the compression utility! The picture didn't look like that in my file before I uploaded it though!

Ok, what did you do with the crew?? Or are you moored and they are on liberty??

Neat picture, like Ty I'd like a little more info on what I'm looking at! What type vessel is it? I served aboard an LPH in the early 70's
our helm had a big brass and mahogany wheel with a engine order telegraph beside it. We didn't have any video screens either! Does a quartermaster still stand a watch on the bridge, maintain a log and keep track of the navigation?

Hi there Ty,

The crew or the person on watch actually is out of the picture to the right of the camera. The video screens are monitors to observe the Rocket in the hangar and various other parts of the platform. LP stands for Launch Platform. It is a converted North Sea oil drilling ring. It has 4 submarine engines and navagates it's own way to the equator and back. When the Rocket gets launched all personnel are evacuated to the Command Ship until about 20 minutes after the launch. Then they are either helicoptered back or just walk back on a link bridge system between the Command Ship and Launch Platform.
This ship has only a small wheel as it is navagated by autopilots using GPS. We are stationary directly on the equator right now, and starting to ballast down for the launch. It takes 12 hours to get this set so that the launch sequences can begin. Then it takes 3 days of work and testing before moving the Rocket out of the hangar to the launch area and erecting it. It's all kind of a complicated process, but one that has worked well for 7 other launch missions. Oh yes, and of course all this commentary is comming to you via Intelsat communications!

Fantastic stuff Jim.

Is there a website where we can learn a bit more about the operation? Being something of a "rocket junkie" I know a little about platform launches from the equator, but would love to see some of the details!

Thanks!

God bless!

Yes,

Pictures of both ships. There will be a web cast of the launch too.

The site is at Sea-Launch.com

Regards

All,

Here is the motley crew of Boeing personnel and 1 DTSA monitor.
Guess which one I am?

LAST EDITED ON Jan-07-04 AT 04:13 PM (CDT)
 
WOW !!! I thought you where on some type of vacation going on a seacruz. What a cool place to work. I like the web cam's.
Nice view from your office window.

Thanks
Paul:)

You would be the guy with glasses?

LAST EDITED ON Jan-07-04 AT 04:27 PM (CDT)
 
There are several with glasses on.

Which one of those?

Well,

Since y'all seem to have given up, i'm the one with the blue shirt to the right with my hand pointing toward the payload fairing. Of course Ty, Rollin, Ron King, Krik Wicker, Curtis Comer, Tom Morris, Tom McClain and the rest of the NVCL along with some others can easily identify me.

This was to easy really. Jim is the guy with the control handle shaped like an arrow pointing which way is up and with the line attached to the rocket with the slider clips... I'm not sure those will hold up Jim. You may want to switch to a set of LARGE sissor clips in case it gets away from you:+

Yep, I counted 5 or 6 folks with glasses on. Figured one them was you.
Checked out the web site. Neat stuff.

Ahoy, matey. 'Ave ya done the thing on the equator yet? I be a Shell Back, a Golden Shell Back. Be ye a scallywag pollywog still, eh matey??

Ty,

Still a scallywag pollywog for now. When the hazing is to begin, who knows??

Jim,
Been watching the web cam. Why does the Command ship keep docking then pulling away from the LP? And when is the bird going on the pad?

LAST EDITED ON Jan-09-04 AT 09:56 AM (CDT)
 
Paul,

Roll out from the hangar is today! The command ship docks and puts a link bridge across between the two vessels so that personnel can transfer back and forth as necessary. I have made two trips across the link birdge delivering my luggage to the ACS for the ride home. I will be evacuated by helicopter at T -4:40:00. Then I go to the Launch Control Center on the ACS and backup the other monitor for that operation during the launch process. I have a picture of the link bridge operation but I really can't post it. When I get a picture small enough and compressed enough to post the quality goes to squat. I really need a copy of Adobe Photoshop but don't have one here for this computer! Sorry guys!

Jim Pollock: -(

Was wondering what the link to the web cam might be?

Thanks,

LAST EDITED ON Jan-09-04 AT 10:28 AM (CDT)
 
Kirk,

It's posted up above - but since it's YOU! It is>> Sea-Launch.com

There are some links to past launches of you want to watch those.
This one gets the candle lighted at 2013 pacific time. Ummm, that would be 2313 Eastern time. At least it's on Saturday pacific, but early Sunday there! Oh, send me some E-Mail at [email protected] and let me know how the meeting went. Flying site happenings ect!

Have a wounderful day!

E-mail and pics on the way.