I'm curious about places to stake out for the ferry flight arrival on the 17th. Most airports have some kind of parking near the end of the runways, observation decks, etc...can you guys with local knowledge help out here? I guess I'm looking for the DC equivalent of Playalinda Beach...
[The NASM Udvar-Hazy Center has an observation tower, although it is enclosed. See http://www.nasm.si.edu/visit/concessions/tower.cfm I would check with the local planespotting group. Their website sponsors a guide, and I wouldn't be surprised if they are planning a special event: http://www.washbaltspotters.net/spotting.shtml
Welcome, Discovery!Discovery is expected to land at Washington Dulles International Airport on April 17 and transfer to the Udvar-Hazy Center on April 19. Join us to launch Space Shuttle Discovery on its new mission to educate & inspire! Activities related to the arrival of Discovery — including a fly-over — have not been finalized at this time. Information on arrival activities, including public events and opportunities, will be released at a later date. Discovery, the champion of the space shuttle fleet, associated with major historic, scientific and technological achievements, will be the first of the flown space shuttles to go on display. Exact details will become available in the next few weeks. Check back here for updates. You can also subscribe to the Museum's e-newsletter, What's Up, fan our Facebook page, or follow @airandspace on Twitter for the latest news. Please note that arrival activities are weather contingent and will be rescheduled in the event of inclement conditions. For those participating from a distance, many of the activities will be available for viewing on TV or the web. Details coming soon. Find out more about Space Shuttle Discovery
Quote from: scotty125 on 02/02/2012 01:58 amI'm curious about places to stake out for the ferry flight arrival on the 17th. Most airports have some kind of parking near the end of the runways, observation decks, etc...can you guys with local knowledge help out here? I guess I'm looking for the DC equivalent of Playalinda Beach...The NASM Udvar-Hazy Center has an observation tower, although it is enclosed. See http://www.nasm.si.edu/visit/concessions/tower.cfm I would check with the local planespotting group. Their website sponsors a guide, and I wouldn't be surprised if they are planning a special event: http://www.washbaltspotters.net/spotting.shtml
Max-Q is offering apparel in our shop to commemorate the event for anyone who is interested http://www.maxqent.spreadshirt.com
I'm trying to book a trip out there to see Discovery fly in to NASM, I've been waiting probably almost 15 years for this. However, this coincides with the 70th (and probably the last) Doolittle Raider reunion in Dayton, OH. I happen to volunteer with one of the 25 B-25s that will be attending so of course I want to be there for as much of the event as possible. Does anyone have any idea roughly what time of day Discovery is expected to arrive at Dulles? I would imagine sometime between noon and 3 or 4pm, or do you think they will wait for some of the nice light around sunset time say 7pm?-Liz
Welcome Discovery! Presentation of Arrival PlansDiscovery Launches on Final Flight STS-133Space Shuttle Discovery Flies Atop 747Welcome Discovery! Poster WHAT: Welcome Discovery! Presentation of arrival plans.WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m.WHERE: National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Parkway, Chantilly, Va.WHO: Valerie Neal, space shuttle curator Claire Brown, director of communications Isabel Lara, media relations manager Brian Mullen, media projects manager Frank McNally, tourism industry liaison Doug Baldwin, chief of education at the Udvar-Hazy CenterThe Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum communications and education staff will share details about Discovery's arrival, including public events, media opportunities and opportunities for promotion and publicity.Refreshments, posters and DVDs will be available.Interested media must RSVP to [email protected] or [email protected]
Space Shuttle Discovery Fly-In DayTuesday, April 17 8:00 amSteven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VAAdmission: Free, Parking $15Discovery will depart NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a modified Boeing 747, in the early morning of Tuesday, April 17. It is expected to arrive in the Washington, D.C. area around midmorning and will land at Washington Dulles International Airport.When Discovery enters the D.C. area, it will fly over parts of the metropolitan area. The exact path will not be publicized in advance. Depending on weather and other circumstances, it may be possible for media organizations to identify viewing locations that day. As Discovery approaches, the Museum will update its web site constantly and make the information available to radio stations.FLY-OVER ACTIVITIESSpot the Shuttle. People in the D.C. area, from students to office workers, are invited to participate in Spot the Shuttle activities:Coffee Break. Forget the employee lounge and take your morning cup outside to watch for Discovery. Spot the Shuttle gatherings are being planned at outdoor restaurants, businesses, schools, and private homes. Follow #SpotTheShuttle on Twitter to find a gathering or invite others to join yours.Snap a Shot. Take a photo of Discovery and share it in the Museum's Flickr group, on Twitter with #SpotTheShuttle, or on our Facebook page. If you take a video, share it on YouTube and tag it with #SpotTheShuttle. We might feature your photo or video!Register Your Name. If you spot Discovery, register your name with the Museum and you could win one of five chances to sit in the VIP section at the Welcome Discovery Transfer Ceremony on April 19. Watch this website on April 17 for instructions on how to participate.Park and View. Follow the media coverage to find out if you should pull over and look up! Check-In on Facebook or Foursquare. Share where you saw Discovery fly over and include #SpotTheShuttle with your check-in.A terrific location. The best place to view the orbiter as it approaches Dulles International Airport is the parking lot of the Udvar-Hazy Center. Visitors are invited to BYOB -- bring your own breakfast and join fellow shuttle spotters in the lot. The parking lot will open early at 8:00 a.m. and the McDonald's inside the Center will also be open. Parking fee: $15. Don't forget your binoculars!The actual touchdown at the airport will not be visible but arrangements are being made to broadcast the arrival on NASA-TV, the web, and through media coverage. After the shuttle arrives, it will be taken to another area of the airport, where it will be de-mated from the 747 and made ready for towing to the Museum. This process will take two days.Date is weather dependent.
Welcome Discovery CelebrationThursday, April 19 8:00 am - 6:30 pmSteven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VAAdmission: Free, Parking $15Space Shuttle Discovery will be transferred to the Smithsonian and placed on permanent display.Get there early. Gates open at 8:00 am.11:00 am Discovery on ParadeU.S. Marine Drum and Bugle CorpsDiscovery crew membersNose-to-nose meeting of Space Shuttles Discovery and Enterprise11:30 am CeremonyNational Anthem by mezzo soprano Denyce GravesSpeakers: Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough and National Air and Space Museum Director Gen. J.R. "Jack" Dailey Presentation of the orbiter's achievementsFormal signing of document transferring Discovery from NASA to the SmithsonianGrand finale symbolizing the "launch" of Discovery's new career -- from champion of the shuttle fleet to American icon and educational treasure.Noon - 4:00 pm You are invited to view both Discovery and Enterprise and take photographs all afternoon.Noon - 6:30 pm ActivitiesOutdoors, presented by NASA:Our Future in SpaceScience demonstrations on the stageIndoors:Mars Science Laboratory, Curiosity, on displayTalks by Discovery astronautsSpacesuit displays and photo opportunitiesSpace-themed book signingsShuttle-inspired moviesEducational demonstrations and hands-on activities for all agesSign a commemorative Discovery banner that will be kept by the Museum as a memento of the day4:00 pm Watch the shuttles as they are movedEnterprise is moved into position beside the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar. Enterprise, which has been on view at the Udvar-Hazy Center since it opened in 2003, will be moved to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York, on a date soon to be announced.Discovery is moved into the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar for permanent display.The Welcome Discovery festival is presented in cooperation with NASA. Support for the Welcome Discovery ceremony is generously provided by The Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin Corporation.
The Smithsonian Institution has released a patch for the April 2012 departure of space shuttle Enterprise and arrival of space shuttle Discovery at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center:http://www.collectspace.com/nasm_ov101_ov103patch