Author Topic: STS-128 Discovery: Viewing (Going to launch, etc.) (Read 62891 times)

badchap · « **Reply #20 on:** 08/09/2009 01:06 pm »

Quote from: Robwi on 08/09/2009 10:56 am

I was prepared at 9.00 am (hitting that refresh button on my browser) to buy a ticket to NASA Causeway, but it sold while I was typing in my order... Anyway, I got a ticket from Grayline/Gator tours to watch the launch from NASA Causeway. Have anyone here done that tour with them before

Hiya Robwi !
I did the NASA causeway tour with Gator tours back in May, to witness the Atlantis shuttle launch.. I was NOT happy with their treatment of us, as I purchased causeway tickets, and then phoned them (long distance from Australia) to confirm the booking and nominate a pick up point, ensure that I was sent a link via email to their information page etc.,
That launch date was brought forward a day, and as instructed by Gatortours, I confirmed via email that we would still be attending on the new launch date, got a reply from them acknowledging this - thought we were all set.. Got to the USA no worries, and the day before the launch I rang them again to confirm whether launch was going ahead.. they had our names right there on their list and reaffirmed the pick up point with me.
-continued-

badchap · « **Reply #21 on:** 08/09/2009 01:17 pm »

<cont.

Early on launch day, we were at the pick up point with all the other people, but the tour bus guide did not have our names on his list.
They put us on the bus to take us to the next pick up point saying that we must be on another's list..long story short, me, my husband and the two kids found ourselves in a minivan with about 10 other international tourists, still going to the space centre, but with no causeway ticket, they were not going to allow us onto the causeway bus.
We could have stayed inside the visitors' centre, but we didn't pay for that, and were psyched up to see the shuttle on the pad.
Eventually, after we made a fuss, they 'found' two tickets, so 2 adults could get on the causeway bus with our 2 children on our laps.
All's well that ends well, our little family got out onto the causeway after all , but it did put quite a damper on the whole experience.. (this is the first time I've been able to write about that part of the day)
To be fair to them, they went some ways to make up for it a few days later by giving us free transport back to KSC and a free NASA up close tour.
I don't know what happenned to the other tourists, but we noticed that all but 2 of the people that they had no tickets for were from overseas.

Robwi · « **Reply #22 on:** 08/09/2009 01:36 pm »

Quote from: badchap on 08/09/2009 01:17 pm

<cont.
All's well that ends well, our little family got out onto the causeway after all , but it did put quite a damper on the whole experience.. (this is the first time I've been able to write about that part of the day)
To be fair to them, they went some ways to make up for it a few days later by giving us free transport back to KSC and a free NASA up close tour.
I don't know what happenned to the other tourists, but we noticed that all but 2 of the people that they had no tickets for were from overseas.

Thank you for your review/story! I'm glad that it turned out well in the end for your family, that you could watch the launch from Causeway and also got a free tour. Though I'm getting a bit nervous, here... ;-) I will travel from Sweden to US, and now it's also a possibility that Discovery will have to roll back to VAB... I haven't booked my travel to US yet, as the launch date still hangs in the air. Hopefully we get a date in the middle of the week. Already the tickets to US are getting more expensive, as the cheapest ones are getting sold out. The ticket price for the flight I had planned to take just rose with over 700 dollars. But, nevermind the price. It will be an experience! :-)

Have a nice day!

TNCMAXQ · « **Reply #23 on:** 08/09/2009 02:43 pm »

I am a little discouraged at reading on the other thread that this week's FRR might have no real resolution. I hate to plan a whole trip and then find out it is not going to happen. They might still not know if a roll back is needed. Or they apparently will not set a firm target date. If they say "around Aug 24" I will be so frustrated.

I will either have to make 2 sets of refundable plane reservations, or just plan on heading down there the 23rd one way or the other.

Thanks to this uncertainty I guess my trip to Hutchinson KS for the 41D reunion probably will not work out.

Just my luck. Maybe shuttle mission managers will have good news for us this week though.

smith5se · « **Reply #24 on:** 08/09/2009 05:03 pm »

Quote from: Robwi on 08/09/2009 10:56 am

I was prepared at 9.00 am (hitting that refresh button on my browser) to buy a ticket to NASA Causeway, but it sold while I was typing in my order... Anyway, I got a ticket from Grayline/Gator tours to watch the launch from NASA Causeway. Have anyone here done that tour with them before?

When I went back this May for Atlantis, our trip went as smoothly as possibly (which was a shock to me), though it was crazy figuring out which bus you were on; 3 busses in one spot was a bit much. I guess your trip also depends on your tour guide, our was hillarious though some questions he could no answer.

There was a slide on the NASA tv yesterday that mentioned the 23rd so I have no idea of the day (attached a screen cap of said slide). Part of me is hoping it gets pushed because the person who was going to travel with me may not be able to go now, and I hate traveling alone.

Sorry to hear you may not get to attend the reunion TNCMAXQ.

TNCMAXQ · « **Reply #25 on:** 08/09/2009 05:49 pm »

Well that makes it even more confusing.

If they aim for the 23rd then the Kansas trip is almost certainly off. Another concern is if I forget the KS trip and then launch is called off anyway then I will have lost the chance to take the other trip.

Hard to believe their final FRR would conclude Aug 18 and launch would be set for the 23d. That would the shortest time between FRR and liftoff they've had, I think. Though if I do not make the Cosmosphere trip, I guess I would prefer to see 128 lift off on the 23d so it would be more of a weekend trip.

Smith5se, thanks for your comment. It is good to get some sympathy.

I am glad we have NSF and other sites nowadays to get up to date info and compare notes with other space enthusiasts. Wish we had these things when I was a kid during the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab days. And even during much of the shuttle program too.

Robwi · « **Reply #26 on:** 08/11/2009 06:43 pm »

Thank's for the info! The guides mean a lot for a good tour. We had a great guide this spring in Grand Canyon, and he new pretty much everything about Grand Canyon, ranging from local plants and vegetation to history and the surrounding areas. And, he was also hilarious :-) I didn't ask him about the Shuttle program, though... But I guess he knew pretty much about it, too! :-)

Hope it works out with your trip, too!

Cheers,

[/quote]

When I went back this May for Atlantis, our trip went as smoothly as possibly (which was a shock to me), though it was crazy figuring out which bus you were on; 3 busses in one spot was a bit much. I guess your trip also depends on your tour guide, our was hillarious though some questions he could no answer.

There was a slide on the NASA tv yesterday that mentioned the 23rd so I have no idea of the day (attached a screen cap of said slide). Part of me is hoping it gets pushed because the person who was going to travel with me may not be able to go now, and I hate traveling alone.

Sorry to hear you may not get to attend the reunion TNCMAXQ.
[/quote]

TNCMAXQ · « **Reply #27 on:** 08/12/2009 04:26 pm »

Sounds like good news over on the other thread. It is not official yet though. And I hope they will let us know if they are aiming for 8/24 or 25 when this phase of the FRR is done.

smith5se · « **Reply #28 on:** 08/12/2009 06:14 pm »

Quote from: TNCMAXQ on 08/12/2009 04:26 pm

Sounds like good news over on the other thread. It is not official yet though. And I hope they will let us know if they are aiming for 8/24 or 25 when this phase of the FRR is done.

And yet the jepardy music still plays as we wait for a definite answer. Man I have so much going on at the end of the month I'm beginning to think this was a bad idea... LOL And I still haven't found anyone to go with... YAY for spontaneous decisions.

But you know we may not get roll back but there's always mother nature too... would be just our luck!

TNCMAXQ · « **Reply #29 on:** 08/12/2009 06:53 pm »

Yes if that damn hurricane becomes a factor I will be so mad. But again I hope it is not something they wait til the last minute on. With luck a decision will be made before we have boarded our planes.

Now I must know if they are aiming for Monday or Tuesday. That will impact my Kansas trip, IF that comes off at all. $:-\$ A launch on the 24th probably would mean I would attempt to fly directly from KS to Orlando. If they wait til the 25th I would go home, spend a very brief night there, then take off for the airport the next day to head to the space coast! I am not used to all this jetting around.

smith5se · « **Reply #30 on:** 08/12/2009 07:03 pm »

Quote from: TNCMAXQ on 08/12/2009 06:53 pm

Yes if that damn hurricane becomes a factor I will be so mad. But again I hope it is not something they wait til the last minute on. With luck a decision will be made before we have boarded our planes.

Now I must know if they are aiming for Monday or Tuesday. That will impact my Kansas trip, IF that comes off at all. $:-\$ A launch on the 24th probably would mean I would attempt to fly directly from KS to Orlando. If they wait til the 25th I would go home, spend a very brief night there, then take off for the airport the next day to head to the space coast! I am not used to all this jetting around.

Ahhh just head straight to Orlando... an extra day in FL never hurt anyone. I know my original plans were we were going to drive down (I hate flying... go figure) there and stay the whole week, even if it does launch the 24th or 25th LOL

TNCMAXQ · « **Reply #31 on:** 08/12/2009 07:53 pm »

"Ahhh just head straight to Orlando... an extra day in FL never hurt anyone. I know my original plans were we were going to drive down (I hate flying... go figure) there and stay the whole week, even if it does launch the 24th or 25th LOL"
[/quote]

I figure it is better to leave home as late as possible so if the liftoff is delayed once I arrive I will have more time to extend the trip if need be.

FL Today is reporting that the Aug 25 target remains but officials say things are going so well they could decide on the 24th at the FRR *next week.* If we have to wait 6 more days for a firm target date then this just adds more frustration. But I guess the prudent thing to do would be to just go ahead and head down there on the 23d, even if it ends up being a day early.

Colds7ream · « **Reply #32 on:** 08/13/2009 05:34 pm »

I'm carting my entire university Astronomy Society over to catch this launch - we're flying out on 17/08, and fly back 01/09; couldn't get causeway tickets, so we're at the KSC VisCen, but never mind; it's the noise I'm after! :-D

smith5se · « **Reply #33 on:** 08/13/2009 06:30 pm »

Quote from: Colds7ream on 08/13/2009 05:34 pm

I'm carting my entire university Astronomy Society over to catch this launch - we're flying out on 17/08, and fly back 01/09; couldn't get causeway tickets, so we're at the KSC VisCen, but never mind; it's the noise I'm after! :-D

Yes, the noise, its quite lovely isn't it?

So, just under two weeks to go, shall we start the betting on mother nature? LOL (why do I have a feeling I'll get the book thrown at me for this one)

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #34 on:** 08/14/2009 03:36 am »

Quote from: TNCMAXQ on 08/12/2009 06:53 pm

Yes if that damn hurricane becomes a factor I will be so mad.

What hurricane? Seriously. Please... enlighten me.

astrobrian · « **Reply #35 on:** 08/14/2009 03:48 am »

Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 08/14/2009 03:36 am

Quote from: TNCMAXQ on 08/12/2009 06:53 pm
Yes if that damn hurricane becomes a factor I will be so mad.

What hurricane? Seriously. Please... enlighten me.

We have thunderstorms in Texas that get 4x bigger than what is out there right now

TNCMAXQ · « **Reply #36 on:** 08/14/2009 12:13 pm »

Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 08/14/2009 03:36 am

Quote from: TNCMAXQ on 08/12/2009 06:53 pm
Yes if that damn hurricane becomes a factor I will be so mad.

What hurricane? Seriously. Please... enlighten me.

Not a hurricane actually. I should have said "potential hurricane." But as they are saying over on the processing thread, it is not concern at all right now. There are a couple of storms off western Africa now that I guess could turn into hurricanes that aim towards the eastern US. But it will be some time before they could turn into a real threat apparently. So we can hope for the best.

smith5se · « **Reply #37 on:** 08/18/2009 09:27 pm »

So am I the only one going that has not ordered my plane tickets yet???

Also, I've never stayed in this area so could someone please share with me some decent hotels. Thank you. Debating on staying in this area or Orlando which I'm fairly familar with.

aquarius · « **Reply #38 on:** 08/18/2009 09:48 pm »

Quote from: smith5se on 08/18/2009 09:27 pm

Debating on staying in this area or Orlando which I'm fairly familar with.

So it´s like you´re conducting your own FRR before heading to Florida.

TNCMAXQ · « **Reply #39 on:** 08/18/2009 09:56 pm »

Finding space coast lodging might be difficult at this time since it is so late. You can check though. If not Orlando, maybe you can find a place to stay in Melbourne. That is a larger city, and I think the airport there is only 20-25 miles from the Cocoa Beach area. I think it is closer to KSC than Orlando.