Ares I-X launches !!

First launch of the Ares Rocket

The stars and stripes on the American flag reflect NASA’s commitment to teamwork as the Constellation Program’s Ares I-X test rocket roars off Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The rocket produces 2.96 million pounds of thrust at liftoff and reaches a speed of 100 mph in eight seconds. Liftoff of the 6-minute flight test was at 11:30 a.m. EDT Oct. 28. This was the first launch from Kennedy’s pads of a vehicle other than the space shuttle since the Apollo Program’s Saturn rockets were retired. The parts used to make the Ares I-X booster flew on 30 different shuttle missions ranging from STS-29 in 1989 to STS-106 in 2000. The data returned from more than 700 sensors throughout the rocket will be used to refine the design of future launch vehicles and bring NASA one step closer to reaching its exploration goals. For information on the Ares I-X vehicle and flight test, visit http://www.nasa.gov/aresIX. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

VHF propagation

More than high-power, more than big antennas, more than tall towers – what I likes is some good VHF propagation… I’ve been hearing some distant repeaters during the morning drive this last week, and had hopes to catch me some decent signals during a good band opening. This weekend the propagation indicator map (you can see the current image below, on the right) had some good red paint over the south eastern US. I don’t know if the big HF contest event had folks distracted, or as Craig – K4XR suggested – a microwave conference in Texas; but there sure weren’t many folks on 144.200 this weekend…

I did catch one good contact Sunday evening tho; about 0150Z I worked Clayton – W4KVW in EM80, just west of Jacksonville, Florida. That distance is ~406 miles. I always like to point out that I’m only running 30 watts, with an omni-directional antenna in the attic. Shortly after that I heard Jimmy – W4ZRZ working Drew – KO4MA (also in Florida), but I couldn’t hear Drew… Maybe we’ll have some more good conditions like this before the winter cold settles in. These big cold fronts really spice up the bands.

Good VHF conditions for southeast US this weekend.

This is a piece of the map I grabbed showing where the conditions were enhanced at the time we made that contact. Thanks NG0E (his system makes these maps http://www.mountainlake.k12.mn.us/ham/aprs/path.cgi?map=na – and we watch em !)

Good DX and 73 for now /;^)

2009 Boy Scout JOTA

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