The Gorn visited Vandenberg AFB in Lompoc, CA to cover the launch of the SMAP Satellite.
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The Gorn visits Vandenberg AFB to cover the launch of SMAP. Josh and the Gorn were part of a #NASASocial event at the base.
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The Gorn gets ready to ask some tough questions at the press conference
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The Gorn gets in position to ask questions
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Josh and the Gorn posing with an artist rendering of SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive)
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While at Space Launch Complex 10 (SLC-10), The Gorn poses with the Mobile Service Tower of Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) and the Delta II rocket and SMAP awaiting launch
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SLC-10 is a historic landmark and the only Thor Missile launch site left in the entire world
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Looking at SLC-10 from the marker - the hangar in the background is home to an actual Thor missile remnant
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A little closer to SLC-2 and the Delta II and SMAP awaiting launch, you can see the boosters of the Delta II rocket inside the Mobile Service Tower at the bottom.
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The Gorn investigates if this would be a good place to protect in place during launch
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Josh and the Gorn pose with the Delta II Rocket and SMAP awaiting rollback of the Mobile Service Tower in anticipation of launch the next morning.
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The Gorn awaits launch of SMAP on Thursday Morning 1/29/15. The attempt was scrubbed due to winds at higher elevation and re-scheduled for Friday morning 1/30. That attempt was also scrubbed and SMAP successfully launched into space on Saturday morning 1/31. While visible from Southern California, the Gorn was unable to get a photo with the rocket in flight.
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On the first scrub day, the Gorn decides to take some glamor shots at Surf Beach
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The Gorn loves an isolated beach
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Close up of the Gorn as of 1/29/15. His gold suit has seen better days.
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Posing on some driftwood, the Gorn poses with the Mobile Service Tower of SLC-2 and the Delta II rocket with SMAP onboard.