Falcon 9 Rocket Launch in California
Date: October 4, 2018 – October 8, 2018
Location: Redondo Beach, California
Arriving Back in the US
After leaving Cyprus we flew to the London Gatwick Airport. We got a hotel for a night before boarding a nonstop flight to the Los Angeles Airport in California. Even after being out of the country for six months, we were able to zip through customs since we have Global Entry. The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, that each of us have, has a benefit of a $100 credit for applying for Global Entry so getting Global Entry cost us nothing.
In Los Angeles, we were met by our friends Bryan and Diana. They have a Spaniel mix rescue dog named Chester. You can follow Chester on instagram @chestiemybestie
In Torrance, CA, our first stop of the day was The Dudes’ Brewing Company.
The Dudes’ Brewing Company has been around since 2013 and all four of us got a flight.
From The Dudes’ Brewing Company we then walked to Cosmic Brewery.
At Cosmic Brewery, the board for the flights were shaped like rockets.
Before taking an Uber back we walked to Smog City Brewery. We took some pictures but there was too much smog to see anything.
Just kidding. But I guess we didn’t actually take any pictures.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch
On the evening of October 7, 2018, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base. This would be the first successful landing of the re-usable SpaceX booster on the West Coast if they succeeded.
In the middle of the picture below, the small orange glow is the rocket as it took off from Vandenberg.
Near Redondo beach we were able to see the rocket quite easily.
The rocket was carrying an Argentine environmental satellite into orbit (so they say).
Once the Falcon 9 booster split apart from the satellite, it returned to the launch site. In the picture below, you can see the secondary stage burning as the smaller light, and the booster starting to return back to Earth, heading towards the bottom-right.
This was the first successful launch and re-landing on the west coast.
We enjoyed spending time with Bryan, Diana and Chester, and look forward to seeing them again soon (for Thanksgiving)!
Thank you Bryan and Diana (and Chester!) for an awesome time!
