#launchsites

I've been to a lot of different launches and heard lots of excellent LCOs (Neil, Ted, Greg, Terry, and yes, even you Tim) and lots of poor ones, too (no names here). a priori, the difference between “excellent” and “terrible” is often imperceptible. But when you're on the flight line waiting for your rocket to fly, the difference between smooth operation and torture rack (to borrow a term from the inimitable JI) is tremendous.

I've got a few ideas, but I'll also leave this post open with an ask at the bottom.

Here's what I think are the four most important attributes of the LCO job.

Safety

Timing

Knowledge

Assistance

I'll expand on these as time and research allows. This has been simmering for a while—it'll be nice to get it all in one spot.

I have always been fascinated with the way different launch sites sound — not the sound of people and cars and generators on the ground, but rather the way the site reflects and retransmits the sound of rockets launched from it.

This video from Alex is a great example of the sound of the Bonneville Salt Flats, home of UROC. Every flight from this site has the same unique audio signature: it's almost a filter sweep from high to low as the rocket leaves the ground. Listen to Earl Cagle's LDRS 17 video, for instance, and you'll immediately recognize it.