mercredi 10 avril 2019

L’attente d’un dĂ©collage : mĂŞme les alligators s’habituent aux vigiles

Voyez-vous la grandeur des voitures.
Do you see the size of the cars ?
- Photo : rke
[Cape Canaveral, April 10, 2019, rke. English below] – Mis Ă  part un alligator qui s’est immiscĂ© aux abords du VAB (voir photo), rien de neuf sous les cocotiers. Si ce n’est qu’une deuxième grosse fusĂ©e est parĂ©e au dĂ©collage. Lors de l’installation de nos camĂ©ras Ă  distance, on a eu l’occasion de voir la fusĂ©e se dresser sur son pas de tir. Et comme pour le premier vol de Falcon Heavy, je fais partie du contingent des reporters Ă©trangers, mis Ă  part et surveillĂ© avec un vigile par journaliste. Je ne vais pas vous raconter la mĂŞme rengaine qu’auparavant (cliquez ici), car on est plutĂ´t tendu du fait que le dĂ©collage a Ă©tĂ© dĂ©calĂ© de deux heures Ă  20h32 (heure locale) ou 2h32 (heure suisse, jeudi 11 avril), Ă  la fin de la fenĂŞtre de tir. Et ce en raison de vents forts en altitude, ce qui va faire un lancement de nuit, s’il a lieu. 
An alligator under the VAB. - Photo : rke
Le problème est que j’ai dĂ» laisser (pas le choix) ma fille Laura Ă  l’hĂ´tel Ă  Coco Beach (en bord de plage) ce qui me tracasse de la laisser seule. Mais elle est bien lotie et bien placĂ©e pour assister au lancement. Autre problème, demain nous devons partir en voiture pour le Texas et si le lancement est dĂ©calĂ© d’un jour, on le loupe. Ma foi, qui vivra verra. En attendant, voici des images sur place, histoire de vous faire un peu envie…

L'endroit oĂą j'ai posĂ© ma camĂ©ra. The place where I put my camera. – Photo . rke
Waiting for a takeoff:
even alligators get used to the guards
Back view. - Photo : rke
Me voilĂ . - Photos by : Gerard van de Haar
[Cape Canaveral, April 10, 2019] – Except an alligator that has intruded into the vicinity of the VAB (see photo), there is nothing new under the coconut trees. Only a second large rocket is ready for takeoff. During the facility of our remote cameras, we had the opportunity to see the rocket stand on its launch pad. And as for the first Falcon Heavy flight, I am part of the foreign journalists' contingent, set aside and watched with one security guard per journalist. I'm not going to tell you the same story as before (click here), because we're pretty tense because the takeoff was delayed by two hours to 20:32 (local time) or 2:32 (Swiss time, Thursday, April 11), at the end of the shooting window. This is due to strong winds at high altitudes, which will make a night launch, if necessary. 
The problem is that I had to leave (no choice) my daughter Laura at the hotel in Coco Beach (on the beach) which bothers me to leave her alone. But she is well off and well placed to attend the launch. Another problem is that tomorrow Thursday we have to drive to Texas and if the launch is delayed by a day, we miss it. My faith, whoever lives will see. In the meantime, here are some pictures on the spot, just to make you a little envious...
Almost standing up. – Photo : rke
See the alligator (arrow). Photo : rke