T minus 40 minutes

T minus 40 minutes

SpaceX is webcasting the launch of the Falcon-1 rocket right now. You can watch the video feed here. So far everything looks good - I wish the best of luck to Elon Musk and all the SpaceX crew. If all goes well, I will be trying to get some screen captures and will post them here after the launch.

Update, 130pm MST: apparently I spoke too soon; the launch is currently 25 minutes into an unplanned countdown hold, as the recovery boat has strayed into an unsafe area. When the boat moves into a safe area the countdown will resume.

Update, 2pm MST: the countdown will resume in 15 minutes, and the launch is expected to occur 1 hour and 15 minutes later (230 pm California time, 330 MST, 530 EST).

Update, 215pm MST: the countdown has resumed.

Update, 330pm MST: LIFTOFF!

Update, 331pm MST: I lost the signal from the webcast, but definitely saw liftoff and a view from the rocket as it ascended. Trying to reacquire webcast now.

Update, 345pm MST: Here are the screen capture pics I managed to get. First, an image of the rocket on its launch pad. For an idea of the scale, note the people to the left of the rocket.


Next, an image showing some of the liquid oxygen venting off:


The tower retracts just prior to launch:


Liftoff!


Kwajalein Atoll receeding as the rocket ascends:


A view of the Pacific just before I lost the webcast signal: update: this is probably a view of the sky rather than the Pacific; by this time the rocket had already gone out of control and was on its way to impact.


Update 355pm MST: DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT
According to Gwynne Shotwell of SpaceX, the vehicle was lost soon after the webcast feed failed. To quote Rand Simberg: Scheisse.


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