Hi folks:
Not sure how many of you are aware of NH successful launch this morning.... Well normally we dont have much chance of seeing a rocket over our sky. So when Tony from Australia alerted me to NH..- I was excited and wanted to video the passage of rocket dragging a flaming tail..... The first date, I have to asked for singapore prediction but the launch was delay due to bad weather (WX)... then the next day it was delayed again due to a power failures in control room ... and the 3rd time ( this morning).. ... read on.
NH( New Horizons rocket to pluto) - 3rd try - launch 18:06;
1) 15:15 UT ( 11:15pm) - NASA released the trajectory of the 3rd burn. David from Iota emailed me. Singapore was included in the drop-down box of viewing locations. Using SkyAtlas 2000.00 - I started to tag the positions. ( Not too different from first launch prediction). The rocket will move quickly through Southern Cross at eleavation 21 degree and up. Too bad the sky was still cloudy. Will this improve towards early am? Video gears ready... cables checked..... Sony video walkman tested.... Gone to bed but leave the internete connections on...
2) 18:15 UT ( 2:15am) - Alarm Clock Rang. Jumped out of bed and peeped outside the window - sky was still cloudy.
3) 18:40 UT - Checked out Nasa web page - and watching count down - this process 'restarted' at least twice due to 'WX or weather violation' pushing the launch twice to 19:00.
4) 19:00 UT - This time it went through all the tests smoothy - not more last minute 'violations' messages... it was 'exciting' to watch the count down ... T-10, T-9, T-8......T-0 - 'engine fire'... and lift off! .... finally after the first two days delayed.. I felt the goose pimple all over me...
5) 19:10 UT - quick check on updated trajectory... glanced at a couple of coordinates...and verify with skymap on my Palm T3... well not much change. Sky still lousy... no chance to see anything...
6) 19:35 UT - sky did not improved at all - given up hope.. gone back to sleep leaving one video system watching the cloudy sky. Returning to bed, wife stirred - and murmured - 'did you watch the Rocket' 'No, too cloudy' but its on its way ..'.
7) 19:51 UT - I heard my wrist watch alarm went off and 'imagined' that the rocket was sailing pass the Southern Cross...and headed SE - and out of reach from my south- facing window.
rgds
ykchia
www.ykchia.com
I caught the whole liftoff live on my screen too! Saw all these 'fireworks' igniting from the ground and witnessed how the New Horizons probe actually went through all the 3 main flight stages before escaping from Earth. Cool! Initially I almost couldn't catch the live streaming as the servers were always either too busy or full..phew... Maybe I should start counting my lucky stars.. 
Btw, Enjoy the movie! 
