Pictures from AeroPAC's XPRS 2002 launch
September 27-29, 2002
Black Rock Desert, Nevada

Pictures from Sunday's Wind Storm and Travel Home

Sunday morning began completely calm, until 8:30AM. The wind began so abruptly, I had to turn off my propane camping stove on which I was boiling water for some hot chocolate. I quickly put everything away in the tent or my plastic crates that I use for desert trips, and eventually even those went into the tent. Some people got kites out while others battled collapsing tents. Eventually just about everyone was packing to leave.

Owen had stayed at Bruno's Motel in Gerlach while I camped at the launch site. It wasn't until nearly 10:30 that he got there, taking over an hour to travel what should have taken 20 minutes if not for the near-zero visibility in blowing sand and dust. I had to wait until he got there before I could take down my tent (my only shelter from the steadily-increasing wind.) But my tent held fine the whole time.

In order to exit the lakebed, everyone was "driving on instruments" following their GPS. Owen and I thought many were driving way too fast for the conditions. Driving by GPS in near-zero visibility on the playa may appear similar to flying by instruments. But Owen and I both knew the huge difference is that there is no radar controller ensuring safe distance from other vehicles! You don't know if someone else is in the cloud with you. And you definitely can't pass them at a different altitude. It's more dangerous than people seemed to treat it as.

For the drive back, Owen was curious to see the scenic route that a group of us tried about 3 weeks earlier via the Smoke Creek Desert to Susanville and then via Chico to the Bay Area. It's only about 30 miles longer in distance and it certainly isn't shorter in time. But it's a more enjoyable drive... but with some risks since it's definitely the less-travelled route.

(1536x1024 1980K) (500x333 18K)	Sunday morning's windstorm briefly had some people getting out their kites, before the wind got worse.
(1536x1024 1868K) (500x333 20K)	Flags are fully extended during Sunday morning's wind storm.
(1536x1024 1974K) (500x333 25K)	More and more dust is getting picked up as the speed of the wind increases. By this point, even the brave ones have put away their kites. Most people are packing up, giving up on any launches this day and opting to get home a little earlier.
(1536x1024 2033K) (500x333 28K)	My tent is holding fine while I wait for Owen to arrive. But one group of neighbors have already departed from between my campsite and the trailer now visible behind it.
(1536x1024 2166K) (500x333 33K)	The wind speed continues to increase. My tent is only holding because I used much heavier-duty stakes than came provided with it and I have a lot of gear inside it to weigh it down.
(1536x1024 2069K) (500x333 34K)	On the drive back home, Owen and I decided to take the Smoke Creek Desert route via Susanville and Chico. At this point, we're between the Smoke Creek Desert and the California border. We've stopped where a sign points out the 1840's emigrant trail covered wagon ruts still visible on the hill in the background. (In the photo, they're just "above" Owen's vehicle.)
(1536x1024 2172K) (500x333 32K)	This is not what you want to happen when you're in the middle of nowhere on a road nobody else uses. Owen's left front tire blew out. There was no sign of puncture on the face of the tire so we think it blew out the side. Even California's dirt roads pale in comparison to Nevada's. One of Owen's nearly-new tires may have been defective. But the rough condition of the road on the California side of the border couldn't have helped. A word of warning for anyone trying this road - be prepared. We didn't need to call for help. But if we had needed to, there is no cell phone coverage here. But both of us are Ham Radio operators with Extra Class licenses. And Owen's vehicle is equipped with voice and digital Ham Radio in the HF, VHF, UHF and microwave bands. Even in the unlikely event that no one else could hear us, we could have relayed a message through an amateur satellite during any upcoming pass if needed, including the Ham Radio station on the International Space Station.
(1536x1024 2284K) (500x333 37K)	With a bit of teamwork, we had the spare on and the vehicle ready to go again 35 minutes after the blowout occurred. (Note: in case you're comparing with times for another vehicle, this one weighs 3 US tons so it shouldn't be done too hastily.) Owen stands by the completed repairs for the photo.
(1024x1536 2373K) (500x750 57K)	Back in San Jose, the "One Two Punch" is now in my office ready to be put on display.

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Copyright (c) 2002 Ian Kluft

Some pictures are from others where noted - all are used with permission. Original owners retain their own copyrights.