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danduc
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« on: 02/11/2010 01:26 AM » |
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Hi All,
I'm new on this forum. I'm flying to FL on March17 and either will go to KSC with Causeway ticket or Gator Tour. I have set aside 6 days for my stay in Fl. Do you think that is enough time just in case of a scrub or postponment?
Thanks
danduc
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« on: 02/11/2010 01:26 AM » |
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Orbiter
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« Reply #1 on: 02/11/2010 01:37 AM » |
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If its a weather scrub: yes, defiantly you'll have time as usually those tend to be a 24-48 hour scrub situation. However technical.. those can go up to a month delay. Lets pray that doesn't happen.
Orbiter
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TNCMAXQ
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« Reply #2 on: 02/11/2010 02:09 PM » |
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Trying to buy a ticket just in case I want to go. I figure if I do not I can give the ticket to a friend. Looks like I will not be getting one anyway. Can't get out of the "virtual waiting room" so I figure they are sold out by now already.
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shuttlefanatic
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« Reply #3 on: 02/11/2010 02:59 PM » |
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Not a very good experience with the virtual waiting room lottery. There's a group of 10 of us trying to go, and this morning 6 of us all waited. The first of us got in at about 2.5 minutes past the hour, and could not get any quantity of Causeway tickets. I got in about 3.5 minutes past, with the same (un)result.
The interesting thing was for visitor center viewing, tickets were available for quite a bit longer, but while I could consistently get in for 2 tickets, 6 were never successful. Considering 2 VC tickets were available as late as 30 minutes past, I don't see why I could never get a block of 6. The system kept saying there aren't that many seats together, like that matters for the VC. It's almost like the system has a preference for smaller orders, or the ticket pool gets fragmented in non-sensical ways.
Oh well. At least I can watch the SDO launch now... (Yawn)
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danduc
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« Reply #4 on: 02/11/2010 05:42 PM » |
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Well,
3 of my friends tried to help me get the Causeway tickets online but failed. However, I was able to get a Visitor Centre tickets.
I then went to Gator Tour and bought a VIP ticket. If the launch is scrubbed or cancelled, I'll just take my Visitor Centre ticket instead on the next attempt.
I'm spending a bunch of $$$ for this trip (from Ottawa, Canada). I have a back-up plan - go fly with Warbird Adventure in Kissimmee.
danduc
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whiterock
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« Reply #5 on: 02/12/2010 12:21 AM » |
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I then went to Gator Tour and bought a VIP ticket. If the launch is scrubbed or cancelled, I'll just take my Visitor Centre ticket instead on the next attempt.
I took Gator Tours last year for STS-128. Just so you're aware, Gator includes a KSC ticket with the causeway ticket. You don't need an additional one through KSC. I am trying to get out there to see another launch before the end but after my experience with KSC's "virtual waiting room," I'm really doubting that will be possible. For me, viewing from the causeway is the only way. The ticket lottery they have, though, is really screwed up. A couple friends and I were invited in from the waiting room about 9:00am EST to 9:02am EST, but we all encountered the same errors that kept us from completing the sale before it sold out. While I don't doubt the demand for this, I have a REALLY hard time believing that enough people got through in the first few minutes. Maybe scalpers hacked it. Anybody aware of this happening with the previous launch? I am definitely going to be on the look out for tickets. Mike
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uri_ba
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« Reply #6 on: 02/12/2010 09:54 PM » |
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another question, this one is a tricky one.
assuming I can get tickets for the causeway view area,
I have a Nikon DSLR (x1.5 crop factor) I'm gonna mount a 300/4 lens with a 1.7TC on it. that would give me 510mm in the optics and combined focal length of 765mm. would that be enough to get a decent shot? (assuming the visibility is good).
what about space view park? how would it look from there?
10x,
Uri
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ChrisGebhardt
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« Reply #8 on: 02/13/2010 12:08 AM » |
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Hi All,
I'm new on this forum. I'm flying to FL on March17 and either will go to KSC with Causeway ticket or Gator Tour. I have set aside 6 days for my stay in Fl. Do you think that is enough time just in case of a scrub or postponment?
Thanks
danduc
Well, it looks like the opening launch attempt will NOT occur until March 22 per a note that Chris B posted in the STS-131 public processing thread. If my math is correct, that's Day #6 for you.
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danduc
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« Reply #9 on: 02/13/2010 03:15 PM » |
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Bummer.
I will have to call work to reschedule my vacation. Oh well....
danduc
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jabe
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« Reply #10 on: 02/14/2010 02:24 PM » |
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I'm hoping to take my wife and kids, 3 & 6, down to see the STS-134 the launch in July. Love to do some camping...any thoughts on where...I figure it will be packed so thinking of booking early...any rumblings on delays for that launch? Besides the obvious any MUST sees while don there?  cheers jb
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glanmor05
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« Reply #11 on: 02/14/2010 07:11 PM » |
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I'm planning to fly over from England for my first ever launch (very excited!).
Any tips from anyone would be gratefully received.
My current plan is to fly Virgin Atlantic into Orlando (03/21/10), get hire car, stay at Econo Lodge Space Centre and get a Gator Tour VIP ticket. Any of that sound like a bad idea?
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danduc
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« Reply #12 on: 02/14/2010 09:07 PM » |
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They MAY launch about March 22. I haven't seen anything on this site that CONFIRMS it.
I do not know if Gator Tour takes guest in Cocoa Beach or Titusville.
I might change my arrival date if they change the launch ($$$). I am staying (will stay I should say) at the Comfort Inn in Lake Buena Vista. Gator Tour make a stop there. We had our family vacation at the hotel next door. It is a quiet area even if near Hwy 4. I was fortunate enough to see a shuttle landing at KSC (at Spaceview park in Titusville). Got reasonnable photos considering the distance.
Danduc
Canada
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stephenv
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« Reply #13 on: 02/14/2010 09:39 PM » |
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Am flying from California with my family (2 kids (4 and 6 yrs old), wife, me). Was about to book airline tickets but saw the possible delay. I currently have visitor center (not causeway) tickets.
I previously saw a launch in 1996 (night launch) from the causeway, but my family hasn't.
Two questions for folks--would appreciate any thoughts/answers.
1) Is Gator Tours worth doing for the causeway tickets? I have two young kids (4 & 6 yrs), so I'm tempted to stick with the visitor center tickets I have, save some money. But if folks thought the causeway was fine for the kids, I know the view is better and would foot the extra $$$ for Gator Tours.
2) I was 5 seconds away from buying plane tickets, when I saw that the launch may be delayed (to the 22nd?). Anyone have a guess or know when we will know when the official date is rescheduled to? Monday? mid-next week? longer? I ask because, of course, I'm trying to figure out plane tickets. (Know this is a common problem, of course.)
Thanks in advance for your thoughts & consideration.
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danduc
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« Reply #14 on: 02/14/2010 10:51 PM » |
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I am flying alone this time so the extra $ to reschedule my flight is not too-too bad. I would not have done it if the whole family was coming.
I got the causeway ticket with Gator. If the launch is scrubbed AFTER taking the Nasa bus to the causeway, Gator is said to have done his part of the contract and will not bring you back to the causeway. However, you have a second ticket for the Visitor Centre when you get the Gator VIP package. That permits you to come back with that ticket to view the launch from the Visitor Centre. I also bought a Visitor Centre ticket online just to be on the safe side.
Danduc
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