Booked some affordable flights from London, UK, so everything now crossed for April launch. Just wondered if anyone has any spare hotel reservations they don't want(?!) - availability now difficult and prices obviously high, which, I would scrape up for, but tripadvisor reviews seem to label them full of cockroaches/termites/blood/dirt.Will probably hire a car so wondering whether to stay further out, but didn't really want to be as far as Orlando. Any suggestions gratefully received, I've spent about 9 hours straight trying to research everything about the launch (fantastic forum here!), and mostly hitting blanks with accommodation. Just need 18th-19th (have booked 20th-21st fine, guess a lot of people are relying on it going up on time). What are the regulations/penalties in USA of sleeping in a car? Just get told to drive on? Not really an option but might be preferrable to paying $277 to sleep with cockroaches for one night....
One question for all you viewing veterans....Regarding Causeway tickets, KSC are quite clear on the tickets following the launch if delayed, but that they are "spent" once you actually board the bus driving you out there...Now, the obvious question, and which I for the life of me cannot find anywhere, is how you go about it if the launch is scrubbed after you have been bussed out to the causeway... Which isn't all that unlikely when you think about it.I would assume CW ticket holders having priority on going again for a second or third launch attempt, but I can find no information on that point at all, nor any info on how it is solved practically.
Both of these are Facebook posts:Florida Dolphin Tours, Inc.wonders if anyone has any interest in some updated info on STS-134?Gray Line Orlando / Gator ToursHave some updates on STS 134 that I will share with you soon! Watch this space Hmmm, what do they know that we don't? Edit: Could the rumored NET to the 23rd be true?
Quote from: janmb on 03/09/2011 07:26 pmOne question for all you viewing veterans....Regarding Causeway tickets, KSC are quite clear on the tickets following the launch if delayed, but that they are "spent" once you actually board the bus driving you out there...Now, the obvious question, and which I for the life of me cannot find anywhere, is how you go about it if the launch is scrubbed after you have been bussed out to the causeway... Which isn't all that unlikely when you think about it.I would assume CW ticket holders having priority on going again for a second or third launch attempt, but I can find no information on that point at all, nor any info on how it is solved practically.Went through two causeway scrubs with STS-127. When the busses returned to KSC we were provided with "vouchers" that enabled us to go out front to the KSC ticket booths (well actually 2 of them) and buy LTT tickets for the next attempt. If I recall the cost was $20 plus tax = $21.20? Actually for the second attempt they handed us the vouchers as we boarded the busses in anticipation of a scrub.As others have said throughout the STS-133 thread, the tour companies apparently do NOT offer this option - you do not go back to the VC and therefore have no opportunity to buy again.
Apparently things are still go for the 19th as of now, at least that's my understanding. Then again I get all my info on goings on from this site, I'm a couple thousand miles away from the OPF and VAB. I wonder when we'll hear who "won the lottery"....I've got my eyes peeled for emails from the KSC VC in my inbox.
Quote from: Bubbinski on 03/10/2011 01:05 amApparently things are still go for the 19th as of now, at least that's my understanding. Then again I get all my info on goings on from this site, I'm a couple thousand miles away from the OPF and VAB. I wonder when we'll hear who "won the lottery"....I've got my eyes peeled for emails from the KSC VC in my inbox.Checking my files. It looks like last time it was 5 days between the end of registration and when I got my "sorry to say you weren't picked" letter.
Quote from: st3v3 on 03/09/2011 08:51 pmBoth of these are Facebook posts:Florida Dolphin Tours, Inc.wonders if anyone has any interest in some updated info on STS-134?Gray Line Orlando / Gator ToursHave some updates on STS 134 that I will share with you soon! Watch this space Hmmm, what do they know that we don't? Edit: Could the rumored NET to the 23rd be true?We would know if it was the 23rd by now. All things are currently pointing to the 19th. There's still a lot of time between now and then, though, so things *could* change, but everything as of right now says the 19th. Chris wouldn't withhold information like that.
Quote from: ysuindy on 03/09/2011 08:19 pmQuote from: janmb on 03/09/2011 07:26 pmOne question for all you viewing veterans....Regarding Causeway tickets, KSC are quite clear on the tickets following the launch if delayed, but that they are "spent" once you actually board the bus driving you out there...Now, the obvious question, and which I for the life of me cannot find anywhere, is how you go about it if the launch is scrubbed after you have been bussed out to the causeway... Which isn't all that unlikely when you think about it.I would assume CW ticket holders having priority on going again for a second or third launch attempt, but I can find no information on that point at all, nor any info on how it is solved practically.Went through two causeway scrubs with STS-127. When the busses returned to KSC we were provided with "vouchers" that enabled us to go out front to the KSC ticket booths (well actually 2 of them) and buy LTT tickets for the next attempt. If I recall the cost was $20 plus tax = $21.20? Actually for the second attempt they handed us the vouchers as we boarded the busses in anticipation of a scrub.As others have said throughout the STS-133 thread, the tour companies apparently do NOT offer this option - you do not go back to the VC and therefore have no opportunity to buy again.Actually the tour companies do. It's $55 to return. $20 for the LTT and $35 for the transportation.
Quote from: Sarah on 03/10/2011 06:28 pmQuote from: ysuindy on 03/09/2011 08:19 pmQuote from: janmb on 03/09/2011 07:26 pmOne question for all you viewing veterans....Regarding Causeway tickets, KSC are quite clear on the tickets following the launch if delayed, but that they are "spent" once you actually board the bus driving you out there...Now, the obvious question, and which I for the life of me cannot find anywhere, is how you go about it if the launch is scrubbed after you have been bussed out to the causeway... Which isn't all that unlikely when you think about it.I would assume CW ticket holders having priority on going again for a second or third launch attempt, but I can find no information on that point at all, nor any info on how it is solved practically.Went through two causeway scrubs with STS-127. When the busses returned to KSC we were provided with "vouchers" that enabled us to go out front to the KSC ticket booths (well actually 2 of them) and buy LTT tickets for the next attempt. If I recall the cost was $20 plus tax = $21.20? Actually for the second attempt they handed us the vouchers as we boarded the busses in anticipation of a scrub.As others have said throughout the STS-133 thread, the tour companies apparently do NOT offer this option - you do not go back to the VC and therefore have no opportunity to buy again.Actually the tour companies do. It's $55 to return. $20 for the LTT and $35 for the transportation.I just went with Dolphin to the Causeway for STS-133. In the event of a scrub ONCE YOU ARE ON THE CAUSEWAY, Dolphin does not return to KSC and they will not re-sell you Causeway tickets (LTT). For $25 you can re-schedule and view the launch from the Visitor's Center. If they scrub anytime BEFORE THEY COLLECT YOUR CAUSEWAY ticket(LTT), then you can reschedule for $25 for the next launch attempt and your Causeway ticket (LTT) is still good.It's a gamble, I know, I just lived through it! And there are no guarantees. For me, just for the chance that I might possibly be able to see it from the causeway was worth the cost.
