The NASA Wallops Island installation from which rockets are launched is due east from our neighborhood, across the Chesapeake Bay on the Virginia-Maryland-Delaware Eastern Shore. When a rocket is launched from Wallops Island, the launch is clearly visible from our neighborhood — best viewing location is on the deck over the Potomac River in the picnic area.
Here is a tentative schedule of launches from Wallops Island.
Mission: RockOn! (RockOn! and RockSat-C student missions)
Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion sounding rocket
Date: June 20, 2024
Time: Morning, TBA
Location: Wallops Island, Virginia
Visitor Center Viewing Area: Open, time TBA
Livestream: Link to be provided
Mission: RockSat-X
Vehicle: Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket
Date: No earlier than August 13, 2024
Time: TBA
Location: Wallops Island, Virginia
Visitor Center Viewing Area: Open, time TBA
Livestream: Link to be provided
Here is a link to the Wallops Island schedule website — notice that this site also lists launches NOT FROM WALLOPS ISLAND — be careful — look at the LOCATION listed for each launch. Also note that each launch is LIVESTREAMED — take a smartphone with you, connect to the Internet through cell service, and watch the livestream, which includes countdown, etc.
Here is a link to the video of a launch on January 24, 2023, made by one of our neighbors.
Notes on viewing launches from Wallops Island.
Most major launches from Wallops Flight Facility are streamed live on NASA TV at (https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv) . Use your cell phone, or, if you have an iPad Air that connects to the local cell phone network, take it with you so you can watch and listen to the NASA live broadcast. You will hear status updates; notices of delays; and the countdown.
Take your video camera and make a video of the launch.
Nighttime launches are spectacular — the whole Eastern sky lights up, you can hear the roar of the rocket engines, and follow the path of the rocket until it disappears from view, miles above the Earth.
From time to time a launch is scrubbed and rescheduled. Don’t be disappointed if the launch is scrubbed — it will happen, watch the Wallops Island site for the new date and time.
NASA Wallops Island is not the only source of launch info. Do an Internet search for “Wallops Island launches” where you will find other sites with launch info.
The Wallops Island installation is on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, near Chincoteague. It’s a 4- to 5-hour drive from our neighborhood. There are two routes: (1) From our neighborhood, cross the Nice Bridge over the Potomac into Maryland; go to Annapolis; Hwy 50 onto the Eastern Shore; to Chincoteague; Wallops Island is before you get to Chincotgeague; or, (2) South to Newport News, pick up I-64 East to Hwy 13 North, across the Bay Bridge, continue on Hwy 13 to Wallops.