Pictures from JP Aerospace's May 22-23 Space Launch Attempt
Saturday, May 22 Pictures

Photos and text on this page are by Ian Kluft KO6YQ. See also Sam Severs' photos from Saturday.

Participants' Amateur Radio callsigns are noted where I knew of them.

This light tower was put up by Sacramento Channel 10 because they had trouble filming the pre-dawn activities back in September.

ERPS's Dave Lautenschlager signs in at 3:30AM.

This is the launch box that will eventually hold the rocket while the balloons carry them up.

People are starting to move (roll) the Helium tanks out. One is jumping over the "caution" ribbon to follow the tank he just pushed.

The Sacramento Channel 10 cameraman.

The ground control consoles.

The rocket.

JP Aerospace founder, John "JP" Powell W6JPA, starts the launch process with a meeting and then picks the balloon filling team captains.

Filling balloons as daylight begins to show on the eastern horizon.

Sunrise at Black Rock, and half the balloons are filled.

A view of the JPA camp with all 10 balloons filled and waiting in the calm air.

The JPA crews work on a last-minute problem with the rocket's GPS receiver.

The CNN and Channel 10 news crews.

A Cessna 172 arrives at 7AM with Brad Walker and Sam Severs N6FAV from the Bay Area.

The rocket is ready and the launch box is brought out into position.

Balloons are being brought into position for launch. The deformation of the balloons in the photo is an indication that by now (8AM), the wind has picked up.

The wind started popping balloons one by one until there weren't enough spares. The launch is scrubbed and will be tried again Sunday.

One of the teams struggles in the wind and successfully salvages a balloon.

The CNN crew looks unhappy. Probably because of the wind. It did that to everyone.

Brad and Sam depart for Palo Alto.

Takeoff.

Brad and Sam fly by on their departure.

Back to the JPA May 22-23 launch photos index
Back to Ian's Black Rock Pictures page

	This light tower was put up by Sacramento Channel 10 because they had trouble filming the pre-dawn activities back in September.
	ERPS's Dave Lautenschlager signs in at 3:30AM.
	This is the launch box that will eventually hold the rocket while the balloons carry them up.
	People are starting to move (roll) the Helium tanks out. One is jumping over the "caution" ribbon to follow the tank he just pushed.
	The Sacramento Channel 10 cameraman.
	The ground control consoles.
	The rocket.
	JP Aerospace founder, John "JP" Powell W6JPA, starts the launch process with a meeting and then picks the balloon filling team captains.
	Filling balloons as daylight begins to show on the eastern horizon.
	Sunrise at Black Rock, and half the balloons are filled.
	A view of the JPA camp with all 10 balloons filled and waiting in the calm air.
	The JPA crews work on a last-minute problem with the rocket's GPS receiver.
	The CNN and Channel 10 news crews.
	A Cessna 172 arrives at 7AM with Brad Walker and Sam Severs N6FAV from the Bay Area.
	The rocket is ready and the launch box is brought out into position.
	Balloons are being brought into position for launch. The deformation of the balloons in the photo is an indication that by now (8AM), the wind has picked up.
	The wind started popping balloons one by one until there weren't enough spares. The launch is scrubbed and will be tried again Sunday.
	One of the teams struggles in the wind and successfully salvages a balloon.
	The CNN crew looks unhappy. Probably because of the wind. It did that to everyone.
	Brad and Sam depart for Palo Alto.
	Takeoff.
	Brad and Sam fly by on their departure.

Pictures from JP Aerospace's May 22-23 Space Launch Attempt Saturday, May 22 Pictures

Pictures from JP Aerospace's May 22-23 Space Launch Attempt
Saturday, May 22 Pictures