Tag: Michael Stephen Wills

PeruRail to Macchu Picchu III

We boarded PeruRail at the Ollantaytambo station, destination Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu

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Copyright 2023 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

PeruRail to Macchu Picchu II

We boarded PeruRail at the Ollantaytambo station, destination Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu

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Chillca Village from PeruRail Train

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Andes above Chillca Village

Mountainside homes, Chillca Village

Leaving Chillca Village

Copyright 2023 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

PeruRail to Macchu Picchu I

We boarded PeruRail at the Ollantaytambo station, destination Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu

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“The line between Cusco and Machu Picchu – Ferrocarril Santa Ana – is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge line, which boasts a series of five switchbacks called locally ‘El Zig-Zag’, which enable the train to climb up the steep incline out of Cusco, before it can begin its descent to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and then continue down to Machu Picchu. However, this section of the route (between Cusco San Pedro station and Poroy) – which had been suspended – resumed by Inca Rail from May 2019. This is why we took a chartered bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo.“

“From Poroy, the narrow-gauge line goes northwest to Ollantaytambo, where the branch from Urubamba joins, then on to Machu Picchu station in Aguas Calientes. Tracks formerly continued into the jungle, but they were destroyed by recent flooding.“

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We boarded PeruRail at the Ollantaytambo station. These are my first photographs from the “VistaDome” carriage we enjoyed all the way to Aguas Calientes.

A terraced mountain slope in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

Reference: Wikipedia, “PeruRail.”

Copyright 2023 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, Peru

During the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti, who conquered the region, and built the town and a ceremonial center

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We crossed the Urubamab River for the first time on Urb. Virgin de Lourdes (street). Today, there is a new suspension bridge a hundred feet or so upstream of this crossing that still exists. Urubamba, Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Urubamba District, Peru

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Where we crossed the river at Urubamba the valley was wide compared to our route to Ollantaytambo and the train station there. Route 28B, the yellow ribbon in the following image from GoogleMaps, passed over the shoulder of a ridge and into a narrowing of the Sacred Valley.

Enroute to Machu Picchu and the PeruRail Ollantaytambo station. Peru, Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Ollantaytambo District

“Ollantaytambo is a town and an Inca archaeological site in southern Peru some 72 km (45 mi) by road northwest of the city of Cusco. It is located at an altitude of 2,792 m (9,160 ft) above sea level in the district of Ollantaytambo, province of Urubamba, Cusco region. During the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti, who conquered the region, and built the town and a ceremonial center. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Peru, it served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui, leader of the Inca resistance. Located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, it is now an important tourist attraction on account of its Inca ruins and its location enroute to one of the most common starting points for the four-day, three-night hike known as the Inca Trail.“

In the foreground is an example of Inca stonework.

“Ollantaytambo dates from the late 15th century and has some of the oldest continuously occupied dwellings in South America. Its layout and buildings have been altered to different degrees by later constructions; for instance, on the southern edge of the town, an Inca esplanade with the original entrance to the town was rebuilt as a Plaza de Armas surrounded by colonial and republican buildings. The plaza at the center of the town also disappeared, as several buildings were built over it in colonial times.”

Reference: Wikipedia, “Ollantaytambo.”

Copyright 2023 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

Falcon Heavy First Launch

February 6, 2018

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“Falcon Heavy is a partially reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle[a] that can carry cargo into Earth orbit, and beyond. It is designed, manufactured and launched by American aerospace company SpaceX.“

“The rocket consists of a center core on which two Falcon 9 boosters are attached, and a second stage on top of the center core. Falcon Heavy has the second highest payload capacity of any currently operational launch vehicle behind NASA’s Space Launch System, and the fourth-highest capacity of any rocket to reach orbit, trailing behind the SLS, Energia and the Saturn V.“

“SpaceX conducted Falcon Heavy’s maiden launch on 6 February 2018, at 20:45 UTC. As a dummy payload, the rocket carried a Tesla Roadster belonging to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, with a mannequin dubbed “Starman” in the driver’s seat. The second Falcon Heavy launch occurred on 11 April 2019, and all three booster rockets successfully returned to Earth. The third Falcon Heavy launch successfully occurred on 25 June 2019. Since then, Falcon Heavy has been certified for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program.“

February 6, 2018 fuel venting during fueling of the Space X Falcon Heavy 19 minutes 25 seconds prior to launch. The rocket hidden by the launch tower. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center looking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
Pam and Mike Wills in place at a prime spot for the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch. Kennedy Space Center, Apollo-Saturn V Center. February 6, 2018. 00:10:49 before launch.
February 6, 2018 fuel venting, fueling complete 1 minute 20 seconds prior to launch. The rocket hidden by the launch tower. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center looking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, 3 seconds prior to launch. The rocket hidden by the launch tower. The cloud is water released into the launch platform under pressure from the water tower. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center looking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch 2 seconds prior to launch. The rocket hidden by the launch tower. The cloud is water released into the launch platform under pressure from the water tower. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center loking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy engine ignition. The moment of engine ignition, the rocket hidden by the launch tower. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center loking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 1 second. Ignition visible, tower connections falling away. Rocket nose visible to right of tower lightening rod. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center loking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 2 seconds. Rocket lift-off fully underway. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center looking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 4 seconds. Rocket not yet clear of launch tower. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center looking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 5 seconds. A heron flies to the right of launch tower. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center looking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 6 seconds. Rocket is just clear of launch tower. At 230 feet in 6 seconds it is travelling at 26.1 miles per hour. A heron flies to right of launch tower. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center looking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 7 seconds. Rocket is clear of the launch tower. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center looking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 7 seconds. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center looking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 8 seconds. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center looking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 9 seconds. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center looking across the Banana River to Launch Complex 39A, 3.9 miles away.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 12 seconds. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 20 seconds. The rocket has rolled a few degrees, all boosters are visible. The Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 25 seconds. All boosters are visible. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 26 seconds. All boosters are visible. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 32 seconds. A boosters are visible. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 1 minute 11 seconds. The boosters have throttled back. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 1 minute 57 seconds. The cloud was formed from the throttled back boosters. The rocket is visible near center of frame. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 6 minutes 37 seconds. Firing thrusterrs of the two returning boosters are visible a bit above the center of frame. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 7 minutes 50 seconds. Both boosters visible firing thrusters between the SLS Launch Tower and NASA Vehicle Assembly Building. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center loking across the Banana River.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 8 minutes 2 seconds. Both boosters visible firing thrusters between the SLS Launch Tower and NASA Vehicle Assembly Building. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center loking across the Banana River.
February 6, 2018 Space X Falcon Heavy, launch plus 8 minutes 3 seconds. Both boosters visible firing thrusters between the SLS Launch Tower and NASA Vehicle Assembly Building. Taken from Kennedy Space Center Apollo-Saturn V Center loking across the Banana River.

“Falcon Heavy was designed to be able to carry humans into space beyond low Earth orbit, although as of February 2018, SpaceX does not intend to transport people on Falcon Heavy, nor pursue the human-rating certification process to transport NASA astronauts. Both Falcon Heavy and Falcon 9 are expected to eventually be superseded by the Starship launch system, currently being developed.“

“On 6 February 2018, after a delay of over two hours due to high winds, Falcon Heavy lifted off at 20:45 UTC. Its side boosters landed safely on Landing Zones 1 and 2 a few minutes later. However, only one of the three engines on the center booster that were intended to restart ignited during descent, causing the booster to be destroyed upon impacting the ocean at a speed of over 480 km/h (300 mph).“

“Initially, Elon Musk tweeted that the Roadster had overshot its planned heliocentric orbit, and would reach the asteroid belt. Later, observations by telescopes showed that the Roadster would only slightly exceed the orbit of Mars at aphelion.“

Reference: Wikipedia, “Falcon Heavy“

Copyright 2023 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights

Urubamba, Peru V

At an elevation around 9,300 feet the town is “low” compared to the surroundings.

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We are on our way to Machu Picchu on Route 28B to the Ollantaytambo PeruRail station.

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Copyright 2023 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

Urubamba, Peru IV

At an elevation around 9,300 feet the town is “low” compared to the surroundings.

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We are on our way to Machu Picchu on Route 28B to the Pachar PeruRail station.

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Copyright 2023 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

Urubamba, Peru III

At an elevation around 9,300 feet the town is “low” compared to the surroundings.

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We are on our way to Machu Picchu on Route 28B to the Pachar PeruRail station.

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Copyright 2023 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

Urubamba, Peru II

At an elevation around 9,300 feet the town is “low” compared to the surroundings.

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As we descend into Urubamba on Avenue Mariscal Castilla we are presented with this view of the road continuing straight through the city and deep into the valley in the slope of El Chicon peak where it ends beneath Andean glaciers.

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Here is a Google Earth view of Avenue Mariscal Castilla course into the Andean valley. Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Urubamba District

Google Earth

Copyright 2023 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

Urubamba, Peru I

At an elevation around 9,300 feet the town is “low” compared to the surroundings.

MichaelStephenWills

Avenue Mariscal Castilla descends 2815 feet to Urubamba and the floor of the Sacred Valley in 14 broad switchbacks. Here we look across the town toward andean ramparts that define the topography.

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The name “Urubamba” possibly derives from in the Quechua spelling Urubamba meaning “flat land of spiders.” The largest town of the Sacred Valley, deriving importance as the gateway to Machu Picchu and other Inca sites. Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Urubamba District

Copyright 2023 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved