Animation of SDO launch. Images: Nancy Atkinson

Two rocket launches in one week! It doesn’t get any better than this! The launch of the Atlas V rocket with the Solar Dynamics Observatory on Feb. 11 was incredible! (Have I used that word before here?!) Above is an animation of the images I took of the launch, and below is a video taken by another journalist that was near where I was at the Kennedy Space Center press site. The Atlas launch was not as loud and engulfing as the shuttle launch, but still it is breathtaking. Where the shuttle guns it off the pad, Atlas rises slowly and gradually picks up velocity.

What I felt most privileged about was that I was standing about 100 ft. from the SDO scientist, so could witness their excitement at seeing what was likely years of their work heading off to space. And then, I walked back to the press building alongside them, and got their initial reactions. Since I was one of the few journalists there (seemingly there were more photographers than writers) and there was no official press conference after the launch, I got quotes from them that no one else has in their articles! (w00t for exclusivity!)

There was this awesome moment during the launch, and I describe it in my Universe Today article where the rocket was soaring up into the sky and there was a sundog, or rainbow-like effect on the clouds. Then when the rocket experiences the maximum dynamic pressure in its atmospheric flight (Max-Q) it gave off a shock wave which was visible to us on the ground, and it dissipated the sundog! The best video which shows exactly what we saw is posted on Spaceweather.com, and was taken by a 13-year-old girl at the launch. (follow that link — I highly recommend it!) There’s another video that I’ve put in below that shows a different look (the sundog isn’t visible, but the shockwave is –and they replay it) and includes a shadow from the rocket that I didn’t see from the ground.

So, first video:

Second video:

SDO is going to is going be sending back hi-res video of the sun at a constant stream. The amount of data it will provide (equivalent to half a million song downloads every day!) will revolutionize our understanding of the Sun, how it affects us here on Earth, and how scientists might be able to predict solar storms.

Sunrise at Kennedy Space Center. Image: Nancy Atkinson

It was a beautiful (and early!) morning at Kennedy Space Center. I arrived at the press site at about 6:30 a.m. to watch the rollout of the Atlas V rocket which will bring the Solar Dynamics Observatory to orbit. Launch is, hopefully, tomorrow (Wed. Feb. 10) but the weather — and specifically winds — are going to be a factor. But this morning, it was gorgeous. Note the launchpad and countdown clock. See more, plus some rollout images below.

Sunrise and the Moon. Image: Nancy Atkinson

See the crescent Moon in the upper right.

Pre-dawn at KSC. Image: Nancy Atkinson

Fog coming off the water, with the countdown clock (actually it is now counting UP, with mission-elapsed time), an empty launchpad (shuttle is gone!) and flagpole. No wind at all; and with all sorts of birds calling, made for a calming, Zen-like experience.

Atlas V with SDO emerges from the processing building. Image: Nancy Atkinson

My first view of the Atlas V rocket, with the SDO satellite in the fairing. SDO will be studying our dynamic sun, and sending back a continual stream of HD data 24/7.

Camilla watches the rollout, too. Image: Nancy Atkinson

Yes, more Camilla. She’s the rubber chicken mascot of SDO, and she’s wearing her spacesuit. She doesn’t get to go along on the flight, but she still likes to wear a spacesuit, just in case.

SDO ready to go. Image: Nancy Atkinson

Here’s the Atlas V secure at the launchpad. The drive of about 1,800 ft. took about 30 minutes, so no land speed records were set today. But during launch, it should move pretty fast!

Me at the SDO press conference. Image: Rich Yaeger

Here I am at the press conference for SDO which took place after the rollout. Fellow journalist Rich Yaeger took this image. Thanks Rich!

I’m really looking forward to seeing the Atlas V give SDO a kick the pants with a successful launch tomorrow…. or the next day, depending on the weather. The Atlas doesn’t have as strict launch restraints as the shuttle does, and winds are the usual suspect for creating havoc with launches. But as one of the guys from United Launch Alliance told me today, they have an hour window, and if they can find four minutes of winds below 20 knots (there are predicted to be gusts between 22 and 30 knots) they can launch tomorrow.