Black Rock Point on Friday evening
The Jackson Range towers in the distance north of the AeroPAC launch site.
The Black Rock Desert playa northeast of the AeroPAC launch site.
A row of 10 launch pads at the AeroPAC launch site - these are the
"low power" pads.The dust trail in the distance is from a car speeding away on the lakebed.
Launch pads 21-30 form a second row 200 feet from the flight line.
These are used for rockets with I through L motors, or others that the Range Safety Officer determines need to be launchedfarther from the line.
Pads A, B, C and D form a third row 500 feet from the flight line.
These are for rockets with M through O motors.Beyond this point, anyone with a larger rocket needs to bringtheir own pad and rail and set them up at 1500 feet (over 1/4 mile)from the line.
The flight line at an AeroPAC launch consists of mostly of camp sites.
There are also some reserved spots for rocket motor vendors, sincemost hobbyists don't have facilities to store motors anywhere nearwhere they live.
A second row behind the flight line is where recreational vehicles
("motor homes") park. At large launches, RVs also form a third rowbehind the flight line.
Bryan was supposed to be my launch crew.
But he's mobility-impaired this time with that cast on his leg.He insisted he's still glad to get a chance to get outside.
The "Elephant Back" is one of the Black Rock Desert's most recognizable
landmarks, besides the enormous flat lakebed itself.
Another view of the Elephant Back.
A model ("low power") rocket launches from the low power pads.
At this time of the evening, the high-altitude airspace closure is over.But model rockets can't go high enough to need one so they can keeplaunching after high-power operations are done for the day.
Visible to the west through haze from dust is the Calico Range.
The lower peak in the foreground is Mormon Dan Peak.
Another view of the Calico Range.
"The Black Rock"... Black Rock Point is what the Black Rock Desert was
named for.In a bit of historical irony, it's mainly only accessible to 4x4 vehiclestoday. But it was a major stopping point for the old west wagon trains forpioneers bound for Northern California or Southern Oregon.
The high cliffs of the Black Rock Range tower 1000 feet over the lakebed,
about 10 miles north of the AeroPAC launch site.
The mountains east of the Black Rock Desert.
The full moon rises in the east at dusk.
The full moon rises in the east at dusk.
The full moon rises in the east at dusk.
Black Rock Point on Friday evening
The Jackson Range towers in the distance north of the AeroPAC launch site.
The Black Rock Desert playa northeast of the AeroPAC launch site.
A row of 10 launch pads at the AeroPAC launch site - these are the
"low power" pads.The dust trail in the distance is from a car speeding away on the lakebed.
Launch pads 21-30 form a second row 200 feet from the flight line.
These are used for rockets with I through L motors, or others that the Range Safety Officer determines need to be launchedfarther from the line.
Pads A, B, C and D form a third row 500 feet from the flight line.
These are for rockets with M through O motors.Beyond this point, anyone with a larger rocket needs to bringtheir own pad and rail and set them up at 1500 feet (over 1/4 mile)from the line.
The flight line at an AeroPAC launch consists of mostly of camp sites.
There are also some reserved spots for rocket motor vendors, sincemost hobbyists don't have facilities to store motors anywhere nearwhere they live.
A second row behind the flight line is where recreational vehicles
("motor homes") park. At large launches, RVs also form a third rowbehind the flight line.
Bryan was supposed to be my launch crew.
But he's mobility-impaired this time with that cast on his leg.He insisted he's still glad to get a chance to get outside.
The "Elephant Back" is one of the Black Rock Desert's most recognizable
landmarks, besides the enormous flat lakebed itself.
Another view of the Elephant Back.
A model ("low power") rocket launches from the low power pads.
At this time of the evening, the high-altitude airspace closure is over.But model rockets can't go high enough to need one so they can keeplaunching after high-power operations are done for the day.
Visible to the west through haze from dust is the Calico Range.
The lower peak in the foreground is Mormon Dan Peak.
Another view of the Calico Range.
"The Black Rock"... Black Rock Point is what the Black Rock Desert was
named for.In a bit of historical irony, it's mainly only accessible to 4x4 vehiclestoday. But it was a major stopping point for the old west wagon trains forpioneers bound for Northern California or Southern Oregon.
The high cliffs of the Black Rock Range tower 1000 feet over the lakebed,
about 10 miles north of the AeroPAC launch site.
The mountains east of the Black Rock Desert.
The full moon rises in the east at dusk.
The full moon rises in the east at dusk.
The full moon rises in the east at dusk.