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NASA Shuttle Specific Sections => Atlantis (Post STS-135, T&R) => Topic started by: stuart_wildcat on 07/09/2011 04:29 pm

Title: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/09/2011 04:29 pm
I decided to start a separate thread for those interested.  This helped tremendously for STS-134.  With a separate thread I got some last minute info that helped me view them which I might not have seen buried in a FD thread when trying to check on my phone, etc.

To start with the best place to view is Jetty Park.
www.jettypark.org

According to what I've gathered before (someone can correct me if this is wrong) they generally come into the port from the ocean in the evening, dock in the port overnight and then go through the locks at the West end of port early in the morning the next day.  You can sometimes get closer to the ships when they go through the locks but seeing them towed into the port seems to be the pictures most people like to get.  You can see example pictures people have taken in the STS-134 thread linked at the end.


Ship Tracking Info

There is a way online to get info on where the ships are.  In general though this does not give you much warning as they are within range of the tracking somewhere 5-7 miles out and they can come from there into the port in about 30 minutes.  Best bet is probably to go to the site below and see if you can sign up for an email that you will get on your phone for when the ships come in range.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=337942424&header=true
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=338990000&header=true


Timing of when this happens

In general this might be mentioned in a press conference.  Most people have said this happens 2 days after launch although for STS-134 it happened the day after launch because of the early launch and probably good seas.

Updates on the return of the ships will likely show up in a FD thread.  There has been a message in the FD 2 thread that apparently a "friend of a friend" heard that this might be Sunday evening but is not confirmed.  If anyone has confirmation of the day/time if you could cross-post in this thread as well as the FD thread that would be great.


You might also want to check the STS-134 thread on this for more info I haven't posted here:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=25171.0
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: racshot65 on 07/09/2011 04:34 pm
Page 10 of this document on L2 is probably useful ...

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=25838.0 (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=25838.0)
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/09/2011 04:42 pm
Just found out there are MarineTraffic apps for iPhone and Android.  I love having a smartphone!

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/services.aspx?level1=170
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Ford Mustang on 07/09/2011 08:23 pm
Figured this would be helpful.

Per NASA Kennedy on Twitter: NASA's Liberty Star now is expected to reach the Port Canaveral jetty Sunday about 12p EDT with Atlantis' right solid rocket booster
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: racshot65 on 07/09/2011 08:27 pm
From the post MMT briefing

Q: SRB retrieval status? (Philip!)

A: Boosters are in tow. Will be in port tonight, open assessment tomorrow
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/09/2011 09:27 pm
Figured this would be helpful.

Per NASA Kennedy on Twitter: NASA's Liberty Star now is expected to reach the Port Canaveral jetty Sunday about 12p EDT with Atlantis' right solid rocket booster

From the post MMT briefing

Q: SRB retrieval status? (Philip!)

A: Boosters are in tow. Will be in port tonight, open assessment tomorrow

Not sure if there is a mismatch between the info here?  I guess they could both say the same thing if we are talking midnight between Saturday and Sunday.

Would they even bring them in at midnight or is this not normally done?

Many thanks for posting in this thread.  Just trying to clarify to make sure I know when to head out.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: sts126 on 07/09/2011 11:04 pm
Any updates?
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Endeavour Forever on 07/09/2011 11:28 pm
We were just at Jetty Park (7:00pm EST).  The Park Ranger at the gate kiosk said, to the best of her knowledge, the SRBs will be arriving ~12:00pm noon tomorrow (Sunday).

PS - I said we'd heard they may arrive potentially tonight, but she said "no".
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/10/2011 12:02 am
We were just at Jetty Park (7:00pm EST).  The Park Ranger at the gate kiosk said, to the best of her knowledge, the SRBs will be arriving ~12:00pm noon tomorrow (Sunday).

PS - I said we'd heard they may arrive potentially tonight, but she said "no".

I think with that info (although not official) it does look like Noon Sunday is the target.

If you break down the NASA Kennedy tweet it mentions "now is expected" like initially the thought was they might be in earlier but now it is noon Sunday.

Perhaps the info from the post-MMT briefing was a little out of date.  I'm sure they have plenty of other things to worry about than making sure they know exactly when the SRB ships will return.  KSC would certainly know more detail as that is something that would impact work being done there.

Probably a moot point anyway since I know the park closes for entry at sunset I believe so if they did come in during the night there is no chance to see them anyway.

I guess we should all hope to look out there at noon and see them coming back!
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: solaria on 07/10/2011 12:46 am
Brilliant, thanks for starting this thread. I know some people who missed seeing them last time as info tricky to time. My friends were told the same at Jetty Park at 7pm (that the ships were expected in at 12:00), apparently a guy at the locks told them they were expected in the locks around 13:00.

Anyone up for lunch at Fishlips after? :-)
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: erichamion on 07/10/2011 01:37 am
Figured this would be helpful.

Per NASA Kennedy on Twitter: NASA's Liberty Star now is expected to reach the Port Canaveral jetty Sunday about 12p EDT with Atlantis' right solid rocket booster

To someone who knows nothing about ports, jetties, locks, capes, marine traffic, or Florida, what exactly does this mean for trying to see the SRBs?  Is this when we should be at Jetty Park (arriving earlier to give some leeway, of course), or does it mean something else?
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/10/2011 01:42 am
Figured this would be helpful.

Per NASA Kennedy on Twitter: NASA's Liberty Star now is expected to reach the Port Canaveral jetty Sunday about 12p EDT with Atlantis' right solid rocket booster

To someone who knows nothing about ports, jetties, locks, capes, marine traffic, or Florida, what exactly does this mean for trying to see the SRBs?  Is this when we should be at Jetty Park (arriving earlier to give some leeway, of course), or does it mean something else?

"Jetty" is just the name of the park.  It's $5 to get your car in there (or it was when I was there in May 2010).  There's a long pier that extends over the water at the east end of the park that's perfect for watching the ships arrive.  And yes - get there early.

As for the locks, they're a little ways west of Jetty Park.  Any nearby official will be able to give you directions.  The ships typically go through the locks the morning after they arrive in port.  The first ship goes through around 6 am, with the second following an hour or hour and a half later.  That's how it was for STS-132, anyway.  Definitely worth being there early!
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: erichamion on 07/10/2011 02:01 am
Thanks!

Just to make sure I have this right, if the KSC tweet is correct, if the schedule doesn't somehow change, and if things proceed as they normally have, then the ships towing the SRBs should be visible from the pier at Jetty Park around noon on Sunday, and then they would pass through the locks a bit farther inland early Monday morning.  Yes?

Also, parking may have gone up.  I just found http://www.portcanaveral.com/recreation/beaches.php , which says it's $10.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: solaria on 07/10/2011 02:30 am
The guy at the locks today implied they were expecting them through the locks at 1pm tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon, as they would be arriving in port at midday.

The 6am locks previously were perhaps because the boats arrived too late to get them through the locks easily the evening they arrived.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/10/2011 02:55 am
Thanks!

Just to make sure I have this right, if the KSC tweet is correct, if the schedule doesn't somehow change, and if things proceed as they normally have, then the ships towing the SRBs should be visible from the pier at Jetty Park around noon on Sunday, and then they would pass through the locks a bit farther inland early Monday morning.  Yes?

Also, parking may have gone up.  I just found http://www.portcanaveral.com/recreation/beaches.php , which says it's $10.

Correct.  I'll see if I can make a map for you from Google earth.  And take extra cash just in case.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/10/2011 03:01 am
Here's a quick graphic from Google maps of the viewing locations.  Both are accessible by the public.  Hope this helps.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/10/2011 03:16 am
The only time I've heard mention of going through the locks in the morning is when they do arrive late in the evening.  If they do arrive mid-day they might go right for the locks. 

Usually they tow the booster into the port and then tie it up to the side of the ship for going through the locks.  I assume they won't change this and will want the relative quiet of the port to switch how the booster is anchored to the ship so there may still be some time between seeing it at Jetty Park and going over to the locks.

I have attached a screenshot that shows how to get from Jetty Park over to where the locks are.  I have never been over to the locks but apparently there is an area at the end of Mullet Road that you can park and see them as they approach and go through the locks.

I'm assuming that everyone can use Google Maps or something to find details on how to get to Jetty Park and exactly how to get over to the locks.  The screenshot is just to make sure you are getting the right place to go.  Notice how you do not go back on 528/1A but go under the 401 bridge that goes over to the Air Force base.

Once you get to Jetty Park you want to go all the way to the NE corner that you can drive to and park.  Then follow the sidewalk that runs East along the port inlet if you want to go out that way.  Personally I might hang back towards the parking area a bit since we are assuming they will go straight to the locks after entering the port and tying the booster along the side of the ship.  Best to get there a little early to get an idea of the different vantage points and decide what you might want to do.

If they do happen to bring the booster into the port already tied to the side of the ship we may not have much time between seeing them at Jetty Park and when they are at the locks.

Thanks to everyone who has passed along some info on this.  Hopefully this will give everyone who is around and wants to try this enough to see the boosters.  It is cool to see up close rockets that are powerful enough to help the shuttle get from 0-3000 MPH in just over two minutes!

I see Nathan beat me with the map but hopefully both posts help...
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/10/2011 03:21 am
Thanks for that addition, Stuart.  I should have posted directions but I could have gotten them wrong :D  For STS-132, the boosters arrived around 4/5 pm or so.  I honestly can't remember the exact time.  They tied the SRBs up next to the ships overnight and went through the locks the next morning.  But it does vary from mission to mission.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Nick on 07/10/2011 03:23 am
Hi Folks,

Unfortunately, I can't be there tomorrow, because I've got to head north for the rest of my vacation.

I can't speak for the photo opportunities from Jetty Park, but I would seriously commend consideration of also watching the ship(s) go through the Canaveral lock at the west end. I did this for STS-129 and Freedom Star (I missed Liberty Star by an hour or so.) Photos are on my machine at home - sorry.

You can watch the ship coming in under the 401 bridge, deploy a Zodiac with a crew to tie her up, enter, hold, and pass through the lock, from as little as about 15-20 feet away. Especially if the booster is on the port side of the ship, you will be amazingly close to flown hardware.

Oh, and it's free... And loads of manatees and pelicans when I was there as well!

Whatever you decide to do, have fun...

Nick
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/10/2011 03:30 am
We'll have LOTS of HD footage of SRB return events in our Press to MECO documentary.  Great fun!
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: yorky10 on 07/10/2011 11:39 am
Leaving Orlando about 10am. Any updates and are we saying the south side of the lock?
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Chris Bergin on 07/10/2011 12:37 pm
I've e-mailed a few booster guys to see if they know. If anyone does, instructions are to post in this thread, no where else.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: solaria on 07/10/2011 01:23 pm
Thanks v much Chris! :-) We're heading to Jetty Park shortly and I'll post if we see/hear any updates down there. 
I've e-mailed a few booster guys to see if they know. If anyone does, instructions are to post in this thread, no where else.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/10/2011 01:40 pm
Anyone going to Jetty Park today needs to take lots of sunscreen.  We waited four hours for the boosters to show up last year with about two hours' worth of sunblock.  We were all pretty burned by the end of the day.  Worth it, but we wanted to let everyone know how to prevent it in the future :D
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/10/2011 01:43 pm
Leaving Orlando about 10am. Any updates and are we saying the south side of the lock?

If we assume they are going to go past Jetty Park and then straight to the locks you might have to pick which area you want to stake out.  Personally I might go to Jetty Park first and then head over to the locks after seeing at least one sail by Jetty Park.

Having the mobile MarineTraffic apps I mentioned in the third post or so will help figure out how close together they might be.

Good tip on the sunscreen too!  Hadn't thought of that but my wife would kill me because she fries easy.

Off we go!
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Harold KSC on 07/10/2011 02:45 pm
Around noon I heard. Can be either side, so I'd get down there now and you should be good to see arrival into port.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: AnalogMan on 07/10/2011 02:54 pm
Liberty Star seems to be loitering around 5.5 nm away from the entrance to the port according to MarineTraffic.com (speed shown as only 0.2 knots).
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: erichamion on 07/10/2011 02:57 pm
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=337942424&header=true shows data receive " 0d 0h 0min 32s ago"
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: AnalogMan on 07/10/2011 03:18 pm
Liberty Star on the move close to 5 knots, will be at the port entrance in about 50 mins if she maintains this speed.

Edit: Freedom Star not showing on tracking map yet.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Astro_yyz on 07/10/2011 03:46 pm
Anyone streaming any kind of video from the port?  I would love to see the SRB's come in!

Thanks,
Katrina
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/10/2011 03:51 pm
No video streaming.  But Liberty Star is almost at the port mouth.  One of the tugs went out on the water and gave her and the SRB a water cannon salute!
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: robertross on 07/10/2011 03:52 pm
No video streaming.  But Liberty Star is almost at the port mouth.  One of the tugs went out on the water and gave her and the SRB a water cannon salute!

:)

Get a good picture for me  ;)
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/10/2011 03:54 pm
No video streaming.  But Liberty Star is almost at the port mouth.  One of the tugs went out on the water and gave her and the SRB a water cannon salute!

:)

Get a good picture for me  ;)

Hehe I'm not there but some people on Twitter are getting photos!
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: antimorris on 07/10/2011 03:56 pm
Any idea on the 2nd one's arrival time? I heard ~6pm but has anyone else heard the same? I couldnt make the 1st one's arrival.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: LostInSpace on 07/10/2011 03:56 pm
http://www.cocoabeachsurf.com/BeachCam1.htm
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: robertross on 07/10/2011 04:01 pm
http://www.cocoabeachsurf.com/BeachCam1.htm


Right on! Thanks, I finally got to see them come in live  :)
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: LostInSpace on 07/10/2011 04:02 pm
Here's a really bad web capture
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/10/2011 04:03 pm
Any idea on the 2nd one's arrival time? I heard ~6pm but has anyone else heard the same? I couldnt make the 1st one's arrival.

If you can, go to the locks.  You might be able to be there in time to see the first one CLOSE.  It'll take them a while to tie up the booster alongside the ship and head for the lock.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: solaria on 07/10/2011 04:39 pm
Man at locks seems to be saying they will go through locks tomorrow per phone call to kennedy. Estimates on second ship seem to be 6pm-midnight - perhaps they want to take both through straight after each other?
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: LostInSpace on 07/10/2011 04:49 pm
Man at locks seems to be saying they will go through locks tomorrow per phone call to kennedy. Estimates on second ship seem to be 6pm-midnight - perhaps they want to take both through straight after each other?

Bummer.  I just left and they told me 3pm for ship #1 thru the locks.  I'm listening to my marine radio for any hints.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/10/2011 05:10 pm
Lock through tomorrow for both according to lock official.  Low tide and sand bar issue.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: LostInSpace on 07/10/2011 05:47 pm
Liberty Star just called the 401 bridge and the locks announcing their intentions to pass.  They are leaving the dock now!
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: solaria on 07/10/2011 05:58 pm
liberty star passing through past fishlips, heading for lock right now. booster tied on far side.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: shuttlefanatic on 07/10/2011 06:15 pm
Enjoy and post photos!  Wish I was there, but got back home late last night.  The exodus from Orlando had pretty much all flights sold out through midday Monday!
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: LostInSpace on 07/10/2011 06:47 pm
Taken with my EVO set on auto   ;-)
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: LostInSpace on 07/10/2011 06:49 pm
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: LostInSpace on 07/10/2011 06:50 pm
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: LostInSpace on 07/10/2011 06:51 pm
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: erichamion on 07/10/2011 06:53 pm
Hm.  Had I stayed another 20-30 minutes or so, I'd have gotten the word that it would go through.  Instead, I'm back at the hotel now.  Not to worry - there's still Freedom Star.

Incidentally, I have a couple of photos of people posing for other people to take their picture in front of the SRB.  I wasn't asked to take these photos, but with the crowded space and the angles available, I ended up with  them.  I was near the very end of the Jetty Park pier.  I know there are photos of one man with a white backwards ballcap and blue KSC shirt, as well as of another man with a beige or khaki hat and vertically striped shirt.  If you think I might have your photo and want to see it, PM me.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: shuttlefanatic on 07/10/2011 06:55 pm
Thanks LostInSpace!  Now I'm really wishing I was there.  Nice view of the business end of the SRM.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Chris Bergin on 07/10/2011 08:13 pm
LH Booster in tonight around midnight, per Mr Cain.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Chris Bergin on 07/10/2011 08:13 pm
Great photos too!
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: holgar5 on 07/10/2011 08:49 pm
No video streaming.  But Liberty Star is almost at the port mouth.  One of the tugs went out on the water and gave her and the SRB a water cannon salute!

... and it was looking this way  ;D
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/10/2011 09:28 pm
LH Booster in tonight around midnight, per Mr Cain.

Thanks for the update Chris.  We went out for the Liberty Star but are now back home.  While we were out there we were hearing anything from 3-5PM to 6PM-midnight for the arrival of Freedom Star.  Sounds like you have more reliable info that it will be after dark.  The notification from MarineTraffic.com worked really well and if I get the same for Freedom Star coming in before dark I'll try to post here.

One of the photographers had a scanner while we were watching Liberty Star go under the bridge and he said he overhead the captain of the Liberty Star likely telling the locks that Freedom Star would be through the locks tomorrow morning.

Overall there were LOTS of people at Jetty Park.  I'd like to think most saw info on this thread but I bet it had something to do with KSC tweeting about the booster ship yesterday with a time that ended up being about right on.  The Liberty Star got a big welcome as it came past the pier and then again going under the 401 bridge and through the locks.

I got some good pictures and even found a spot to see them offload the parachute reels at a dock by the Air Force Station side of the port before they came over to the locks.  If Freedom Star wasn't coming in the dark I'd post the location.  It was a boat slip park just East of Fishslips.  Even saw the ET boat (forget the name) moored there when someone pointed it out.

Many thanks to those that have contributed to the thread!  Cool that somebody even found that web cam close to the port mouth that hopefully let people see it live online.

I'll post a few pictures later.  Most will probably be in an album in my wife's Photostream so I will link from here.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Oystein on 07/10/2011 11:26 pm
Hi everybody.

Thank you for the info in this threat, enabled me to see my first SRB recovery in my life. Here is some of the pictures I took.
The crew seems to be happy about all people welcoming them....

--
Oystein
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: subisnack on 07/10/2011 11:30 pm
Did not make it down to FL... but we were at Jetty Park for 132 and there were pretty good numbers there too at that time. I think there are just a ton more of us out there than sometimes we give credit to! :)

Thanks all for covering and documenting this. Great pics! And glad some of you all made it out!
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: MATTBLAK on 07/10/2011 11:47 pm
How long do they remain in the water at the dock? my wife and I already planned to go down to the press center Monday morning, but can't bear the thought of another late night; meaning going out there late tonight. Would it be better to go tonight or wait until dawn tomorrow morning?
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: jeff2space on 07/11/2011 12:03 am
How long do they remain in the water at the dock? my wife and I already planned to go down to the press center Monday morning, but can't bear the thought of another late night; meaning going out there late tonight. Would it be better to go tonight or wait until dawn tomorrow morning?

You won't see the SRBs at KSC press site. They go to CCAFS.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: MATTBLAK on 07/11/2011 12:06 am
Sorry: didn't phrase my question right - what I should have asked was can you get to there from near the driveway that leads you into KSC? forgive the ignorance, but I've not been to CCAFs before. Or the 'Jetty Park' isn't it? EDIT: okay - just seen the link on post number one of this thread.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: mahannd on 07/11/2011 12:19 am
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/11/2011 12:25 am
Sorry: didn't phrase my question right - what I should have asked was can you get to there from near the driveway that leads you into KSC? forgive the ignorance, but I've not been to CCAFs before. Or the 'Jetty Park' isn't it? EDIT: okay - just seen the link on post number one of this thread.

Since it is closing in on sunset and Freedom Star is not within range of the MarineTraffic.com tracking I don't think there is any way to see them tonight.  Chris found out that Freedom Star should come in around midnight and there are no lights around the entrance to the port at Jetty Park to see when it comes in.  I don't even know if you can get into Jetty Park after sunset.

Best bet is to go early morning to the locks on the West side of the Port Canaveral area.  There are good graphics that show this on the start of page 2 of this thread.  Today we found that another good place to be is in the little boat ramp park on Mullet road where it goes under the 401 bridge.  You can see it pass by there and get lots of angles and then go over to the locks as it waits in the locks for a little bit.

Basically to get to the Port Canaveral locks you go on 528.  If you are coming from Orlando you do not head toward KSC.  You want to stay on 528 all the way until the SECOND Port Canaveral exit and then find Mullet road which backtracks along the port channel.  Again, better graphics on page 2 of the thread.

And by the way, early morning means EARLY.  People in the past had said they showed up at 6AM only to have one gone through the lock already.  That was when both were docked overnight in the port and could only go one at a time.  This time only one will be docked waiting until the morning so who knows when it might go through.

Best bet is to find out how to track it on marinetraffic.com.  There is info on this in the very first post of the thread.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/11/2011 12:55 am
A better screenshot of the route coming straight from 528 Eastbound to the locks for those that might try tomorrow morning.

This afternoon some people were also on the north side of the locks although I don't know how you get over there besides walking from 401 all the way over to the locks.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: MATTBLAK on 07/11/2011 01:24 am
Thanks guys! :)
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Skywalker2011 on 07/11/2011 03:04 am
This afternoon some people were also on the north side of the locks although I don't know how you get over there besides walking from 401 all the way over to the locks.

We walked over the bridge while it was still down. That worked pretty well, apart from some stress that was created for the bridge man :-) Parking was on Mullet almost under the bridge.

Good luck watching the left SRB tomorrow.

Br,
Oliver
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/11/2011 03:22 am
Freedom Star is just coming into Port Canaveral (11:30PM).  Here is the marinetraffic.com link to track it.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=337942424&header=true

I think the assumption is it will dock tonight in the middle of the port and head to the locks early in the morning.  Exactly what time is an unknown.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/11/2011 03:24 am
I think you might be able to see the lights from the ship for a few minutes!  Seems to be passing the port mouth on the following web cam.

http://www.cocoabeachsurf.com/BeachCam1.htm
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: solaria on 07/11/2011 10:49 am
6:50am Standing by, under the bridge, no sign of Freedom Star waking up yet...
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Oystein on 07/11/2011 12:01 pm
6:50am Standing by, under the bridge, no sign of Freedom Star waking up yet...

Hi!
8:30am  a guy with a radio here says.

Oystein
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Bryan365 on 07/11/2011 12:04 pm
Sitting in parking lot of boat ramp directly across from freedom star. Great view. No movement
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Oystein on 07/11/2011 12:10 pm
Sitting in parking lot of boat ramp directly across from freedom star. Great view. No movement

Great. Sitting here at the 401 bridge.

Oystein
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Bryan365 on 07/11/2011 12:13 pm
We have movement
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: solaria on 07/11/2011 01:21 pm
So Freedom entered the dock c8:40, they detached the booster and are towing it up to Liberty star, waiting through the lock. Freedom still in lock.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: norm103 on 07/11/2011 02:41 pm
Anyone noices that freedom star didnt have the nose cone today
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/11/2011 02:48 pm
Anyone noices that freedom star didnt have the nose cone today

If Freedom Star didn't have the nose cone (frustrum) they may have unloaded it while docked in the port.  Yesterday we saw them unload the parachute reels to a truck from the same vantage Bryan365 mentioned.  I have some pictures of that I can post later.

Glad to see it wasn't quite so early to move and people were able to see it.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: jmcgauley on 07/11/2011 02:52 pm
Our USA tour guide at the Causeway on Friday told us the frustrums and the parachute reels were going to be offloaded before the booster came through the lock because of a issue with how low the ships could ride in the water.  A river level issue or maybe they need to dredge?  Didn't catch the "why."
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/11/2011 03:28 pm
So Freedom entered the dock c8:40, they detached the booster and are towing it up to Liberty star, waiting through the lock. Freedom still in lock.

If anybody has pictures of this handoff that can post them it would be great.  Looking at the Marinetraffic.com tracks for the ships shows some strange tracks.

I remember at one time there was some mention of issues they might have with the locks way back in the processing thread.  Forgot about it until now when people mention the water levels, etc.  I guess we were lucky yesterday as Liberty Star came through with frustrum and booster.  Maybe it was the highest tide at that point and caused no trouble.

Looks like Freedom Star is now headed back out the East end of the locks, back under the 401 bridge and into the port area again.  They usually tie up in the same port area that Freedom Star had the booster overnight at so maybe she is going to dock after the end of the mission, having handed off the booster to Liberty Star.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: LostInSpace on 07/11/2011 04:54 pm
I don't think there is any issue currently with the locks.  There are no advisories on the Army Corp of Engineer's website.

The locks WERE closed from Dec-April for installation of a manatee protection system.  That is complete.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: erichamion on 07/11/2011 04:57 pm
If anybody has pictures of this handoff that can post them it would be great.  Looking at the Marinetraffic.com tracks for the ships shows some strange tracks.

I'm no photographer, and I was just using a phone.  Still, I can post these to give a look until somebody puts up something better.  The locks employees opened up the walkways on top of the gates, so these are from behind Freedom Star and a bit to her port.

Liberty Star stayed out of the locks.  The SRB released from Freedom, swam up to Liberty, and was attached to her.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/11/2011 06:01 pm
If anybody has pictures of this handoff that can post them it would be great.  Looking at the Marinetraffic.com tracks for the ships shows some strange tracks.

I'm no photographer, and I was just using a phone.  Still, I can post these to give a look until somebody puts up something better.  The locks employees opened up the walkways on top of the gates, so these are from behind Freedom Star and a bit to her port.

Liberty Star stayed out of the locks.  The SRB released from Freedom, swam up to Liberty, and was attached to her.

I'm so jealous that you got to go on the lock walkways!  That is a truly unique perspective of something that probably doesn't happen very often.

Very funny to see a rocket that just helped push the shuttle "uphill" being moved by a small 4 person boat!

Hearing everything that happened and that it wasn't quite as early as I expected I wish I had got up early and gone out.  Oh well, back to the work I've been behind on for the last week...
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/11/2011 10:01 pm
Finally got a few pictures off our camera.  Figure I'd post a few that are different than what others have shown.

Both of these are from when Liberty Star was docked Sunday in the middle of the port.  The first shows the crane removing the third parachute reel and loading it onto a truck.  The other two reels are already on the truck and covered in white.  This is the same thing done overnight with Freedom Star although she had the frustrum removed also.

The second picture shows Liberty Star pulling out from the dock where she unloaded the parachutes and going over to the locks.  Behind her is the ship Pegasus which does the ET transport.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: spork3000 on 07/12/2011 06:06 am
Here are a few more pics of Liberty Star on Sunday after leaving the locks - I stuck around on the 401 to get a shot of the ship with the VAB in the background. Thanks to the folks on this thread for making it possible for me to see the SRB recovery - it was a nice close to an amazing (and historic) launch.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/12/2011 04:02 pm
Here are a few more pics of Liberty Star on Sunday after leaving the locks - I stuck around on the 401 to get a shot of the ship with the VAB in the background. Thanks to the folks on this thread for making it possible for me to see the SRB recovery - it was a nice close to an amazing (and historic) launch.

The second picture is definitely one to frame the end of the day.

We saw Liberty Star going under the bridge and into the locks but didn't go over to the locks.  Since we thought it might be in the locks for a while we started driving back.  As we were passing over the first bridge on 528 we saw that she had left the locks and thought about taking a picture like that.  It was too late to safely stop though.

Glad you posted the picture to share with everybody. 

Let me echo the thanks to everyone who contributed to the thread.  I mainly started it to collect info people would want to know about viewing them so they didn't have to dig through the "viewing" thread to gets bits of info.  Glad so many people found it useful.

This was only our second trip out to see the recovery ships.  Since it sounds like SLS will have a similar (but bigger) booster we look forward to doing this in the future also!  Years ago I also taught a software training class at ATK so it is neat to see the beginning and end of the booster process.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: stuart_wildcat on 07/13/2011 02:44 am
For those that didn't see it in the FD 5 thread and have been following this thread for all things SRB there is a great video on YouTube from NASA.

Great video showing a lot of the processing none of the public ever sees.  Up close for things like removing the parachute reels, unloading the frustrum, and lifting the booster itself out of the water once it is over at the Air Force Station dock.

I think the video also answers the question of why Freedom Star went to the locks relatively "late" in the morning Monday.  It looks like the first booster was tied to Liberty Star until Monday morning when they transfered it to the area they use to lift it out of the water.  No sense for Freedom Star to go over to the locks to hand off the booster to Liberty Star if she was still doing that.

Also makes sense why there isn't video of Freedom Star in the locks.  They were busy filming the lifting of the booster out of the water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5cXp5ZZiZA

Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: TTim on 07/14/2011 06:02 pm
Sorry for being off topic here but has anyone ever heard the SRB's coming back down before splashdown?  I realize the range restrictions would probably prevent this from happening but have any of the recovery ships possibly heard anything?  The intertank videos have audio so I am wondering if their "songs" make it to the surface.

Have any of the SRB's bumped while on the way back down?  Their similar migrations away from the shuttle have always been interesting.

Thanks for all of the great tow in pics and video.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Jim on 07/14/2011 06:05 pm
Sorry for being off topic here but has anyone ever heard the SRB's coming back down before splashdown? 

Some of the videos have sound
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: rdale on 07/14/2011 06:45 pm
Sorry for being off topic here but has anyone ever heard the SRB's coming back down before splashdown? 

Some of the videos have sound

I've never watched video of the SRB's falling that have audio. I think you might be thinking of the video from the actual SRB itself?
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Jim on 07/14/2011 07:30 pm
That's what I meant
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: rdale on 07/14/2011 07:32 pm
Gotcha. That's not what he was looking for, he already notes that he's heard it on the SRB videos. He was wondering if the sound could be heard from the ground, my guess is that's not a very loud process let alone one that could ever be heard from any sort of distance.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: JayP on 07/16/2011 01:38 am
The SRBs have to be traveling above mach 1 for some portion of the rentry. In some of the videos taken of them falling, you can see the condensation effects of them slowing below the speed of sound. If that happens after the boosters overfly the recovery ships, the crews should hear a sonic boom. I've never heard of anyone reporting that though.
Title: Re: STS-135: SRB Recovery Ship Viewing
Post by: Davidgojr on 07/16/2011 06:06 pm
The SRBs have to be traveling above mach 1 for some portion of the rentry. In some of the videos taken of them falling, you can see the condensation effects of them slowing below the speed of sound. If that happens after the boosters overfly the recovery ships, the crews should hear a sonic boom. I've never heard of anyone reporting that though.

There is a video on the NASA TV Youtube channel where you can hear the sonic booms as they fly overhead the recovery ships.