14 January 2015

We didn't launch last night but did get to see some nice aurora overhead.  Last night's aurora, starting around 1:16.  Too bad it was getting cloudy but there was still a lot to see.

13 January 2015

First night of the launch window!  Good to finally get the party started.  Cloudy but always good to go through all the station checks to be sure everyone is on the same page.

For those of you interested in the science, there's a Facebook page "MTeX 2015" with information about the two rockets we are launching with.  One of theirs followed by one of ours, a half hour apart.  In addition, there's an article on the NASA website that may be of interest.   Alaskan Sounding Rocket Campaign Study Role of Solar Wind on Earth’s Atmosphere and Meteorology 

 
 

11 January 2015

The temps have certainly improved.  Amazing what a difference 50 degrees makes.  It's in the 20's during the day and we've shed the parkas and long underwear.  Unfortunately, it makes the roads slipperier.  You learn to wait a bit after the light turns green after watching a few cars go sliding through after their light turns red.

We're ready for the launch window to begin and have been trying to keep busy.  Well, Miguel's always busy.  His online Physics of Weather course has just begun and there's always a lot of work associated with that.  My version of keeping busy is hitting the stores, to see what's new and interesting in cold weather wear.

Went to a couple Jazzercise classes on Friday morning.  That helped a lot.  It's been too cold to run.  Not only cold but the air quality has been pretty poor as well.  Not ideal conditions.

There was a very vocal raven outside our apartment, this afternoon.  I like that I got a picture of him in flight.  They are HUGE birds!

On Saturday night, we went to an Ice Dogs hockey game.  That's always fun.  Especially when they win.

Tonight, Lucas and I had dinner at the Chatanika Lodge.  Fried chicken night!!  There was also live music and dancing. 

They do love their Christmas lights.  It's the only restaurant I've ever been to where there was a dog sitting on the bar.

Now, we're sitting at the Science Center waiting for some clear skies.  We're hoping to run the cameras for a bit to compare exposure times and ISO settings.  Completely cloudy, of course.  If we don't get some images tonight, we'll just come back out tomorrow night.  We're enjoying listening to Serial so won't mind the extra drive :)

8 January 2015

We had a nice, cold day off yesterday.  Topped it off with a trip to the movies followed by our favorite Korean Restaurant.  Interstellar is perhaps not the best movie to see with a Physicist :(
Lucas had already seen it so decided to see the 3D Hobbit, instead.  Here he is sporting his stylish Hobbit frames.

Today, Lucas and I will head back out to the Range to finish the camera site setup.  We've got the tripods and cables in place but now have to get the camera shelves ready and tested.  We're hoping that the trip over the mountain is not too slippery.  It's warmed up to a balmy -13, warmer than the East coast!  Time to get out the flip flops.

Successful setup today.  A beautiful day for a drive in the mountains.  Once you get outside Fairbanks, the sky is very clear.  We've started listening to Serial on the drive.  I'd already listened to the first four episodes but we're starting back at episode one, since Lucas hadn't heard any of it yet.  Our plan is to listen to that on the nightly drive out then Coast to Coast on the drive back.  It's important to have a plan :)

6 January 2015

Ugh.  -31 this morning.  Not looking forward to getting into that cold car.  Unfortunately, I have to take Jon and Andrew to the University so that they can catch a ride with the truck heading up the Dalton Hwy to Coldfoot and Toolik.  It's a week before the launch window opens but the truck only goes once a week.  Gives a few extra days in case of bad weather.  Atigun Pass is sometimes closed for a couple days.  For all you Ice Road Trucker fans, you will recognize the name and recall that it is a very steep mountain they drive over.  On the way, they stop at the only truck stop between here and the Arctic Ocean.  That's one of our camera sites, Coldfoot Truckstop.  I've spent several weeks there, over the years.  On one of the trips, one of the employees took me out on his dog sled.  He drove it, to begin with, so that the dogs would get some of the energy out of their systems.  I sat in the sled for that part.  Unfortunately, in addition to getting energy out of their systems, they also got a lot of gas out of their systems.  I was at gas level.  I personally think that THAT is why he drove the sled to begin with.  Much better once I was up above their level.  Fun!

The truck departed on schedule with only one minor hitch.  When I got back to the Wedgewood, I noticed a WALLET on the passenger seat.  After a quick call, I was able to meet them before they left town.  Disaster averted!  Both arrived safely and will now proceed with site setup.

One of my favorite places to be here is the Barnes and Noble.  A warm spot with Starbucks coffee :)  Love to sit in front of the fireplace.

5 January 2015

The view from our apartment at the Wedgewood.  -20's today.  The car is slow to respond.

For dinner, we all went to the Silver Gulch.  Tomorrow, Andrew and Jon head off to the remote sites.

There were two moose in the parking lot of the Wedgewood, when we were leaving for dinner.  Lots of ravens around town, as well. 

Saw some aurora, on the way back from dinner.  It's been extremely active, since we arrived.  Probably good that the launch window doesn't open for a week, since we are wanting aurora to the north of us when we launch. 

ALASKA - 4 January 2015

Well, here I am in a cold place.  Again.  Being in Fairbanks is like coming home, we've been here so many times.

I arrived on Friday night, around midnight.  Picked up a rental car that had obviously not been used in awhile.  There was a layer of ice that had to be chipped off and it took forever to warm up.  Glad that it is a Kia Sorento, just like the car I had in Norway.  Again, the front and rear seat warmers :)  Miguel has a Ford Explorer with NO seat warmers.  Guess which car I prefer.  Time to get back in to the habit of plugging in your car.

We headed out to Poker Flat Research Range on Sunday morning, to begin setting up the camera site.  Nice to be able to set up in light.  

 Lucas, Jon, and Andrew setting up the tripods. 

 The finished product.

Lamar watching from the aurora viewing room :)

After setting up, we headed to Chatanika Lodge for lunch.  It's the only place to eat for around 20 miles, so they see us a lot.  It's always decorated for Christmas so a nice oasis of light.

Home of the infamous Dredge Burger.