This Cache:
When this cache was first placed, it took you to a plant that manufactured something that our activity relies on: Satellites! We had a satellite manufacturer right in our back yard. Lockheed Martin Space Systems was just outside of Newtown. However, the facility was sold and Lockheed Martin moved out in 2015.
Lockheed Martin is still an active company that produces satellites. It is making the upcoming GPS III series of spacecraft which will make GPS receivers even more accurate than they are now! Along with these, the company also produces communication satellites like the A2100.
This is an offset, two-stage cache as there wasn’t a good spot to put it near the actual plant. This was due to private property concerns and caches already at nearby Silver Lake Park. Originally you would first locate the sign that is at the listed coordinates for Stage 1. However, since the company moved the sign has been replaced! The new sign says KVK TECH, which won't help you much except for being a waymark to help you sight another sign.
To make sure you can still work the puzzle, I added a picture of the original blue Lockheed Martin sign in the photo gallery to help you out. You will use clues from that sign AND ALSO from another sign near the coordinates to calculate Stage 2. So you still need to go to the location of the original sign, which now says KVK TECH. Got all that?
To figure out Stage 2, find the sign at the listed coordinates (And refer to the Lockheed Martin sign in the photo gallery). We will call that the "Right" sign. If you sight along the top edge of the "Right" sign (Now the KVK TECH sign) with your back to the fence, you will see another sign about 125 feet away. We will call that the "Left" sign.
Clues are not case sensitive.
Start with this simple formula:
N 40° 1A.BC4 W 074° 5D.EF9
To find the numbers to enter into the coordinates:
A = How many complete triangles are on the logo on the "Right" sign?
B = How many letters are in the last word of the "Left" sign?
C = How many times does the letter "N" appear on both signs combined?
D = How many times does the letter "O" appear in both signs combined?
E = What is the total number of logos that appear on both signs combined? Divide this by TWO.
F = Where does the first letter of the second word of the "Left" sign appear numerically in the alphabet? (For example, A is 1, B is 2, etc.)
Stage 2 is a mile or two away from Stage 1 and you will want to drive to it. For Stage 2 you can park at or near N 40° 12.809 W 074° 53.958 but be careful not to block access to the mysterious U.S. Government antenna installation up on the hill. You can also park on the wide shoulder of Village Road. To get to the cache area from parking, walk along the edge of the field and into the woods. Some bushwhacking will be required but nothing extreme. Mosquitoes may be present.
This Series:
This cache is part of the SPACE 2081: A Geocaching Odyssey challenge.
This challenge contains one cache of each difficulty and terrain combination, plus a final cache which can be found only after finding all 81 caches that are part of the series. Each of those 81 caches will contain a code, which you will use as part of the puzzle to solve the FINAL CACHE.
All the members of the space team are actual cachers who are remaining anonymous for the moment. You can find more info on the series, as well as a complete list of released caches HERE. Please do not post hints or spoilers in your logs. Also, each cache must be signed by any individual cachers going for the final.
Good luck, may the force be with you, live long and prosper.
Space Online: