Apr. 2, 2018 – 2:45 pm – If you missed it, here’s my home recording of the first 6 minutes of the launch. Our little “cajita” was in there. Read more about it below.

This is a huge week for Costa Rica. Today Sunday, April 1, 2018, Ticos are choosing their next President, and tomorrow Monday, April 2, the first Costa Rican satellite will be launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. In both instances, Costa Ricans around the world will be watching closely, and in both instances… there’s a possibility of disaster.

But since we believe in science and progress, let’s talk about Irazú, which is the name of the Costa Rican satellite. It’s very small – just four inches on each side, and it weighs one kilogram. It is traveling on the Falcon 9 rocket, as part of Space X’s CRS-14 Mission. Its purpose is to monitor forest growth, carbon sequestration, and weather variables. In other words, measurements related to climate change. If you want to learn details, visit this page.

The scheduled launch time on April 2 is 1:30 pm PST. SpaceX will start a webcast of the launch starting at 1:10 pm PST on this page. Were anything to go array, a second launch opportunity is scheduled for Tuesday, April 3, at 1:08 pm PST.

This is a huge deal for Costa Rica, as Irazú is the first satellite ever to be launched by the country and by the entire Central American area. So use your lunch hour tomorrow to watch this! By that time, we’ll most likely know who the new Costa Rican President is, and (depending on who you are) you can take it as fireworks of victory… or as a step forward towards the possibility of flying away from this crazy world.

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Apr. 1, 2018, 7:45 pm, update:  

Costa Ricans are a smart bunch and have said yes to progress. Carlos Alvarado is the new President. As far as I’m concerned, Irazú goes up to the sky in celebration!

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