Andrewmas

International Launch Systems is launching a satellite tomorrow (May 19th). Presumably this is to coincide with the eighteenth anniversary of my liberation from the womb.

For those in the Cape Canaveral area, an appropriate activity during your celebration of Andrewmas would be to observe the launch of the AMC-11 satellite, to be hoisted into orbit atop its Atlas IIAS launcher at 5:25PM Eastern Daylight Time.

I like to think of it as a fitting fireworks display – it expresses satisfactory joviality whilst also performing neat stunts such as achieving escape velocity with delicate cargo. A fitting tribute.

For those interested, live coverage of the event is available online through streaming video. Coverage starts at 5:25PM EDT (2:25PM PDT) with an expected launch at 5:42PM EDT (2:42PM PDT). Enjoy!

For those interested in the specifications of the launch craft and its payload, you might find some interesting information here.