STS-131 Discovery: Viewing (Going to launch, etc.)

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 ... 14 Next
Author Topic: STS-131 Discovery: Viewing (Going to launch, etc.)  (Read 32397 times)
lsullivan411
NASASpaceflight KSC Photographer
Full Member
*****
Offline

Posts: 1427



WWW
« Reply #15 on: 02/15/2010 03:16 AM »



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.

Welcome to the site!

We should know better sometime during the week --probably by Tuesday as Monday is a Federal holiday.   Keep your eye on the rollover, that is the key item right now.  If they can rollover early this week then the 22nd would probably work out.  There are memos on L2 indicating the various options they are looking at.
stephenv
Full Member
**
Offline

Posts: 5


« Reply #16 on: 02/15/2010 04:57 AM »

Anyone have a guess or know when we will know when the official date is rescheduled to?
We should know better sometime during the week --probably by Tuesday as Monday is a Federal holiday.   Keep your eye on the rollover, that is the key item right now.  If they can rollover early this week then the 22nd would probably work out.  There are memos on L2 indicating the various options they are looking at.
Thank you.  Happy I didn't buy my tickets yet. :>
glanmor05
BWFC Fan
Full Member
****
Offline

Posts: 425
Location: Blackpool, England


It's not all tea and medals!


« Reply #17 on: 02/15/2010 11:38 AM »

Chris has hinted on the STS 135 discussion thread that a slip to April is possible.

As stated above, we could do with rollover today or tomorrow, Endeavour safely home and possibly even roll out before booking is sensible.  Its like threading a needle!!
TNCMAXQ
Full Member
***
Offline

Posts: 147
Location: CT


« Reply #18 on: 02/15/2010 02:21 PM »

If 131 slips to April then is it possible we would be looking at yet another night launch? Interesting.

It is unlikely I will want to go to 131 but I guess a delay would help me out if I did since as of now I am scheduled for jury duty March 9. The farther away launch is from that date the better, I suppose.
LostInSpace
Full Member
***
Offline

Posts: 244
Location: Cape Canaveral



« Reply #19 on: 02/15/2010 10:54 PM »

Found a cool site and looked up sunrise for April 4th in Orlando:

http://www.sunrisesunset.com/custom_srss_calendar.asp

Twi Astronomical: 5:52am
Twi Nautical: 6:21am
Twi: 6:48am
Sunrise: 7:12am
Orbiter
Member
Full Member
*****
Offline

Posts: 1236



« Reply #20 on: 02/15/2010 10:56 PM »

What time would an April 4th launch date be anyways?

Orbiter
dsmillman
Member
Full Member
*****
Offline

Posts: 1081


« Reply #21 on: 02/15/2010 10:58 PM »

What time would an April 4th launch date be anyways?

Orbiter
About 6:50 AM EDT.
rdale
Assistant to the Chief Meteorologist
Full Member
*****
Offline

Posts: 9396
Location: Lansing MI



WWW
« Reply #22 on: 02/15/2010 11:01 PM »

April 4th is Easter, so I'd lay odds against that being the final launch date.

That spells trouble for later launch dates, and every media source called STS-130 the last night flight so apparently there is something preventing future launches from happening outside of daylight hours ;)
cd-slam
Full Member
*****
Offline

Posts: 557
Location: Singapore



« Reply #23 on: 02/15/2010 11:30 PM »

April 4th is Easter, so I'd lay odds against that being the final launch date.

That spells trouble for later launch dates, and every media source called STS-130 the last night flight so apparently there is something preventing future launches from happening outside of daylight hours ;)
We'd better hope not, because every launch date from April 5 until the beta cutout on April 15 will be a night launch. Unless you want to push STS-131 into May...
rdale
Assistant to the Chief Meteorologist
Full Member
*****
Offline

Posts: 9396
Location: Lansing MI



WWW
« Reply #24 on: 02/15/2010 11:32 PM »

I was making fun of those media outlets. They assumed the rest of the schedule was never going to change. I emailed a few and then gave up.
Orbiter
Member
Full Member
*****
Offline

Posts: 1236



« Reply #25 on: 02/16/2010 01:54 AM »

April 4th is Easter, so I'd lay odds against that being the final launch date.

That spells trouble for later launch dates, and every media source called STS-130 the last night flight so apparently there is something preventing future launches from happening outside of daylight hours ;)

They launched July 4th and landed July 4th which is a federal holiday. Although not absolutely sure about easter, but I'm sure they would have put that into account earlier and ruled out April 4th. In fact launching on Easter day brings to me IMO a symbolic meaning. Also, a 6:50 a.m launch attempt? That will be one of those rare STS-119 type launches, seeing as the sun rises at 7:17 a.m

Also, STS-131's delay might delay STS-134, making that a Night launch as well.

Orbiter
ggerickson
Full Member
**
Offline

Posts: 3


« Reply #26 on: 02/17/2010 04:11 AM »

Hopefully somebody can help me out with some planning here.

My wife and I originally had tickets to arrive in FL on march 14th -- now with STS-131's NET being pushed back to April 5, we're looking at changing our plans.

I know technical issues are impossible to predict, but how long should we plan to stay beyond April 6th in order to maximize our chance of seeing the launch?  Assuming it's "little" stuff like weather, cloud cover, delaying the launch, will they keep trying every day?  Or is there a point where they'll take a few days off before trying again?

Just figured I'd ask for thoughts since by having to change the arrival date, I've got some flexibility in how long we stay.

Suggestions? 
Jorge
Full Member
*****
Offline

Posts: 6763


« Reply #27 on: 02/17/2010 04:20 AM »

Hopefully somebody can help me out with some planning here.

My wife and I originally had tickets to arrive in FL on march 14th -- now with STS-131's NET being pushed back to April 5, we're looking at changing our plans.

I know technical issues are impossible to predict, but how long should we plan to stay beyond April 6th in order to maximize our chance of seeing the launch?  Assuming it's "little" stuff like weather, cloud cover, delaying the launch, will they keep trying every day?  Or is there a point where they'll take a few days off before trying again?

Just figured I'd ask for thoughts since by having to change the arrival date, I've got some flexibility in how long we stay.

Suggestions? 

For repeated weather delays, cryo (FC reactant) boiloff can become a limiting factor. Typically 2-3 attempts, then 1 day off to top off the cryo. But the standdown shouldn't be more than a day. Of course, non-weather issues can cause longer delays.

You're going to hear this from many different people, but I'll go ahead and say it: don't think of this as a trip to see a shuttle launch, think of it as a Florida vacation that happens to coincide with a shuttle launch. Best to have backup activities that you can fall back on, and the Orlando area offers plenty of them.
SpaceInformer
Full Member
***
Offline

Posts: 52
Location: Vienna - AUSTRIA



« Reply #28 on: 02/17/2010 05:04 PM »

Received today from Gator tours the information that the launch will be at 6.27 a.m on April 5th.

Pick Up time will be at around 10pm on April 4th.

Ticket I have and room reservation is done - will wait to buy my flight ticket.

I hope that I will see a 1s attempt launch. STS-127 made me crazy :-)
Furner
Full Member
****
Offline

Posts: 263
Location: Grand Rapids, MI


WWW
« Reply #29 on: 02/17/2010 05:55 PM »

April 4th is Easter, so I'd lay odds against that being the final launch date.

That spells trouble for later launch dates, and every media source called STS-130 the last night flight so apparently there is something preventing future launches from happening outside of daylight hours ;)


Also, STS-131's delay might delay STS-134, making that a Night launch as well.

Orbiter

I really really really hope not.  Already have my tickets for that launch!!!
Tags:
Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 ... 14 Next
 

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 2.0 Beta 3.1 Public | SMF © 2006–2008, Simple Machines LLC
All content © 2005-2011 NASASpaceFlight.com
Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
Page created in 0.233 seconds with 23 queries.