STS-134 Endeavour: Viewing (Going to launch, landing etc.)

[nathan.moeller]

Hi All,

I'm planning on heading over for Endeavour from sunny (not) Scotland - booked a hotel in Titusville to cover the launch and if can't get causeway tickets (betting that I won't) I think my plan will be SVP.

If anyone has any other hints and tips - much appreciated!  Leaving the flights until later just in case there's any major schedule changes early on as they tend not to be refundable!

Gator/Dophin Tours look like a great option.  Do those tickets go on sale at the same time as the normal causeway tickets or some time before/after?

Welcome to the wonderful world of NSF!  For what it's worth, I booked my plane tickets the same day the preceding mission launched (STS-131 in this case).  Hotels came right after.

I couldn't tell you when the tickets go on sale but check their websites (as well as www.kennedyspacecenter.com) often.  With STS-134 being the penultimate flight, lots of people will be going to be ready to pounce as soon as they go on sale.  Best of luck!

[texasmomof2]

http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/space-shuttle-launch-viewing-tickets.aspx

I have this link on my desktop and check it often. It will tell when the lottery registration starts for the causeway tickets,and that may give you some idea of when to look at gator tours.

[MadameConcorde]

http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/space-shuttle-launch-viewing-tickets.aspx

I have this link on my desktop and check it often. It will tell when the lottery registration starts for the causeway tickets,and that may give you some idea of when to look at gator tours.

I also want to go for STS-134 launch. I have bookmarked the link. There are causeway viewing packages starting to show up on ebay only that the cost is generally steep. I will keep looking. Never know.

We can all keep each other informed as to the latest developments.
Thank you.

[ysuindy]

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110225/NEWS01/102250316/Long-after-liftoff-traffic-tie-ups-linger?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|p

Above is a link to a story about traffic back-ups after STS-133. 

[forrestc]

So, I happen to be in the 'area' (launch yesterday from the causeway was SPECTACULAR), and realize that Endeavor is due to roll over to the VAB on the 28th...

I looked in the processing thread and I think I probably missed this, but is there a time this typically occurs, and what is the typical duration, and I guess, is this still on schedule?  I'm thinking of going out to Kennedy on that day, with the idea of being on the right bus at the right time... or whatever option I need to take to perhaps catch a glimpse of one more of our retiring shuttles.

Hints, ideas, times, tour recommendations, etc?

-forrest

[nathan.moeller]

So, I happen to be in the 'area' (launch yesterday from the causeway was SPECTACULAR), and realize that Endeavor is due to roll over to the VAB on the 28th...

I looked in the processing thread and I think I probably missed this, but is there a time this typically occurs, and what is the typical duration, and I guess, is this still on schedule?  I'm thinking of going out to Kennedy on that day, with the idea of being on the right bus at the right time... or whatever option I need to take to perhaps catch a glimpse of one more of our retiring shuttles.

Hints, ideas, times, tour recommendations, etc?

-forrest

It's typically early morning so I doubt tours will be running at that point.  But then again, for the last two rollovers (the first last for Atlantis and last for Discovery), they've paused for a couple of hours to let people get pictures.

As for the tours, I have no idea if they'll take the normal route during this event.  I'd call the VC to find out.  If they're running normally, try to be on the first tour out if you want a chance.

[texasmomof2]

Someone once said that Playalinda Beach,i think is what it is called, has a good veiw of it when it is sitting on the launch pad.The beach is closed during launch and a few days before, but if it is open, this may be another veiw to see.  And how lucky you are. I was watching it on TV and for a few minutes thought back to what they did in Feb to us and postponed.. Thank goodness it got up and you got to see it. Truly a sight beyond words.

[AnalogMan]

So, I happen to be in the 'area' (launch yesterday from the causeway was SPECTACULAR), and realize that Endeavor is due to roll over to the VAB on the 28th...

I looked in the processing thread and I think I probably missed this, but is there a time this typically occurs, and what is the typical duration, and I guess, is this still on schedule?  I'm thinking of going out to Kennedy on that day, with the idea of being on the right bus at the right time... or whatever option I need to take to perhaps catch a glimpse of one more of our retiring shuttles.

Hints, ideas, times, tour recommendations, etc?

-forrest

It's typically early morning so I doubt tours will be running at that point.  But then again, for the last two rollovers (the first last for Atlantis and last for Discovery), they've paused for a couple of hours to let people get pictures.

As for the tours, I have no idea if they'll take the normal route during this event.  I'd call the VC to find out.  If they're running normally, try to be on the first tour out if you want a chance.

This is noted in a Friday status report:

Endeavour on OTS.  Rollover scheduled for Monday, 2/28 at 0700E – with a three hour stop in front of OPF 3 for photos. 

[robertross]

This is noted in a Friday status report:

Endeavour on OTS.  Rollover scheduled for Monday, 2/28 at 0700E – with a three hour stop in front of OPF 3 for photos. 

Thank-you Sir!
I think I'm going for another bus ride

[MikeA]

This is noted in a Friday status report:

Endeavour on OTS.  Rollover scheduled for Monday, 2/28 at 0700E – with a three hour stop in front of OPF 3 for photos. 

Thank-you Sir!
I think I'm going for another bus ride

If you go to the visitor center can you get out there to see it?

Thanks

[robertross]

This is noted in a Friday status report:

Endeavour on OTS.  Rollover scheduled for Monday, 2/28 at 0700E – with a three hour stop in front of OPF 3 for photos. 

Thank-you Sir!
I think I'm going for another bus ride

If you go to the visitor center can you get out there to see it?

Thanks

Actually, I won't be able to, now that you mention it. The bus tours start at 10am, so that would be too late    Darn

[robertross]

Oh, and to add insult to injury, they stopped providing bus tours through the ISS space processing facility, so I couldn't even get to see the AMS (or the potential Node 4 again) in there.  NOT FAIR! 

(It used to be one of two buses coming back from the Saturn V center). I might ask them at the VC if there was a way around it, but I have my doubts. I really wanted to see it.

[Ford Mustang]

We asked today about the SSPF tours.  They just stopped doing them period.  No way around it.

I expect Endeavour to be in the VAB by 11, so I would take the regular tour just to take it (free with the CDR club card).  Even if you don't, you still get a great view of 39A and potentially the crawler with the MLP on it.

[robertross]

We asked today about the SSPF tours.  They just stopped doing them period.  No way around it.

(miffed)

I expect Endeavour to be in the VAB by 11, so I would take the regular tour just to take it (free with the CDR club card).  Even if you don't, you still get a great view of 39A and potentially the crawler with the MLP on it.

Cool. Well I wanted one more day around KSC, so I'll do that. I might take in another Then & Now tour (second this time, third overall...just love it, though wished it was longer).

Gotta get the most out of that Card! (It's priceless to me: The photo has me wearing my Direct t-shirt) hehe

[nathan.moeller]

Someone once said that Playalinda Beach,i think is what it is called, has a good veiw of it when it is sitting on the launch pad.The beach is closed during launch and a few days before, but if it is open, this may be another veiw to see.  And how lucky you are. I was watching it on TV and for a few minutes thought back to what they did in Feb to us and postponed.. Thank goodness it got up and you got to see it. Truly a sight beyond words.

Playalinda is indeed a good viewing location.  They close it down either on L-2 or L-1 and through launch but it's open the rest of the time.  Definitely something to check out.

[lsullivan411]

Someone once said that Playalinda Beach,i think is what it is called, has a good veiw of it when it is sitting on the launch pad.The beach is closed during launch and a few days before, but if it is open, this may be another veiw to see.  And how lucky you are. I was watching it on TV and for a few minutes thought back to what they did in Feb to us and postponed.. Thank goodness it got up and you got to see it. Truly a sight beyond words.

Playalinda is indeed a good viewing location.  They close it down either on L-2 or L-1 and through launch but it's open the rest of the time.  Definitely something to check out.

Playalinda is closed at 6pm L-4, normally and reopens the day after launch (or same day if launch is early in the day).

[shuckiduck]

We asked today about the SSPF tours.  They just stopped doing them period.  No way around it.

(miffed)

I expect Endeavour to be in the VAB by 11, so I would take the regular tour just to take it (free with the CDR club card).  Even if you don't, you still get a great view of 39A and potentially the crawler with the MLP on it.

Cool. Well I wanted one more day around KSC, so I'll do that. I might take in another Then & Now tour (second this time, third overall...just love it, though wished it was longer).

Gotta get the most out of that Card! (It's priceless to me: The photo has me wearing my Direct t-shirt) hehe

So what's the verdict? Is there a chance of seeing the move from the OPF to the VAB? Last time I went on a tour at KSC, I went on the extended (aka pay a few more $$) tour that took us to the A/B Camera Stop, so we didn't go to the Observation Gantry, and I don't know if it would take us the right way (let alone at the right time to see Endeavour)

[Ford Mustang]

Again, Endeavour will be rolling in the VAB by 11am.  If you can time it to come back from the Saturn 5 building (on the regular tour) on he first bus back, you should drive right behind the OPFs and VAB - you may see her.

See if you can get on the regular tour, stay on the bus (or get off and go right back on) to the Apollo building, and then try to get the first bus back to the VC.

It's a slim chance, but it's worth it if you have a Commander's Club card and can just take the tour again right after to see the view from the gantry and see the Apollo building.

[shuckiduck]

Again, Endeavour will be rolling in the VAB by 11am.  If you can time it to come back from the Saturn 5 building (on the regular tour) on he first bus back, you should drive right behind the OPFs and VAB - you may see her.

See if you can get on the regular tour, stay on the bus (or get off and go right back on) to the Apollo building, and then try to get the first bus back to the VC.

It's a slim chance, but it's worth it if you have a Commander's Club card and can just take the tour again right after to see the view from the gantry and see the Apollo building.

SO! It worked, sort of. The Visitor Complex opens at 9; line for first tour is at 9:45, tour boards at 10. Thing is no one tells you the Apollo/Saturn V center doesn't open until 11 - so the buses won't run you down there (one worker even suggested NOT to take the first tour; to see an IMAX movie instead of being at the Observation Gantry for longer than 20 minutes, which is what she thought it would take to see the whole thing).

The tour bus drivers had NO idea what was going on, which is really too bad - if they had, who knows, they might have been able to swap around the order of the Discover KSC tour so that it was at the VAB when Endeavour was. Our driver had no idea - when we made the right turn towards the Observation Gantry, passing the VAB we were on the lookout for Endeavour and caught a glimpse of the rear (to which I "woohoo-ed" and THEN driver then knew what was going on, ha).  We made the turn around the back and saw the whole orbiter in the shadow of the VAB.

We asked to take the bus straight back to the Visitor Complex from the Observation Gantry and the driver was nice enough to slow down (he couldn't stop) so we could take another look.  In hindsight we could have waited for the first bus to the Apollo/Saturn V center but I was worried that if we had, Endeavour would have been moved in the VAB by then. We got directly back in the tour line when we returned but missed another viewing at the VAB by about 10 minutes, from what I could tell from the NASA tweets.

Good gamble that paid off... will post photos once I process them! Thanks for the intel 

[K466]

Again, Endeavour will be rolling in the VAB by 11am.  If you can time it to come back from the Saturn 5 building (on the regular tour) on he first bus back, you should drive right behind the OPFs and VAB - you may see her.

See if you can get on the regular tour, stay on the bus (or get off and go right back on) to the Apollo building, and then try to get the first bus back to the VC.

It's a slim chance, but it's worth it if you have a Commander's Club card and can just take the tour again right after to see the view from the gantry and see the Apollo building.

SO! It worked, sort of. The Visitor Complex opens at 9; line for first tour is at 9:45, tour boards at 10. Thing is no one tells you the Apollo/Saturn V center doesn't open until 11 - so the buses won't run you down there (one worker even suggested NOT to take the first tour; to see an IMAX movie instead of being at the Observation Gantry for longer than 20 minutes, which is what she thought it would take to see the whole thing).

The tour bus drivers had NO idea what was going on, which is really too bad - if they had, who knows, they might have been able to swap around the order of the Discover KSC tour so that it was at the VAB when Endeavour was. Our driver had no idea - when we made the right turn towards the Observation Gantry, passing the VAB we were on the lookout for Endeavour and caught a glimpse of the rear (to which I "woohoo-ed" and THEN driver then knew what was going on, ha).  We made the turn around the back and saw the whole orbiter in the shadow of the VAB.

We asked to take the bus straight back to the Visitor Complex from the Observation Gantry and the driver was nice enough to slow down (he couldn't stop) so we could take another look.  In hindsight we could have waited for the first bus to the Apollo/Saturn V center but I was worried that if we had, Endeavour would have been moved in the VAB by then. We got directly back in the tour line when we returned but missed another viewing at the VAB by about 10 minutes, from what I could tell from the NASA tweets.

Good gamble that paid off... will post photos once I process them! Thanks for the intel 

Please do post them! I'd so love to have that opportunity, seeing the orbiters up close while they are still active would be better than waiting till they get in a museum.