Author Topic: STS-134 Endeavour: Viewing (Going to launch, landing etc.) (Read 604987 times)

ShuttleShel · « **Reply #80 on:** 12/03/2010 09:00 pm »

Well looks like Endeavour got moved to April 1st. Spent the day canceling reservations. On the plus side it will now be a night launch!!

robertross · « **Reply #81 on:** 12/03/2010 10:30 pm »

Quote from: ShuttleShel on 12/03/2010 09:00 pm

Well looks like Endeavour got moved to April 1st. Spent the day canceling reservations. On the plus side it will now be a night launch!!

I simply kept my hotel reservation for the same Feb 27th launch date, in case Discovery takes it. I made new ones, at a different hotel, for April 1st launch.

I'll wait for the flight changes until it's MUCH CLOSER to launch. Ugh. Oh well, I'm just taking this in stride. It happens.

Gemini63 · « **Reply #82 on:** 12/13/2010 08:26 pm »

Quote from: danduc on 11/24/2010 03:31 pm

Anybody knows the time for liftoff?

I cannot make it for STS-133 in Dec. (was there for the first attempt) but my kids have their Spring Break week-off starting Feb. 28. That would give us at least 8 days in Florida for the launch. And of course, does anybody knows if that flight will be public (Causeway, Gator, etc)?

Thanks

Danduc

Why would it not be public? Its not a DoD mission that I know of

shuttlefanatic · « **Reply #83 on:** 12/13/2010 11:41 pm »

Quote from: Gemini63 on 12/13/2010 08:26 pm

Quote from: danduc on 11/24/2010 03:31 pm
...
And of course, does anybody knows if that flight will be public (Causeway, Gator, etc)?
Why would it not be public? Its not a DoD mission that I know of

I think he's referring to various unsubstantiated rumors that KSC viewing for the final shuttle flight may be invitation only. I believe it's been formally debunked, but don't have a reference handy.

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #84 on:** 12/14/2010 10:39 pm »

Quote from: shuttlefanatic on 12/13/2010 11:41 pm

I think he's referring to various unsubstantiated rumors that KSC viewing for the final shuttle flight may be invitation only. I believe it's been formally debunked, but don't have a reference handy.

That's not the case. Congressional VIP tickets were offered for both STS-133 and STS-134. That's straight from several Congressional offices.

beef5stew · « **Reply #85 on:** 12/16/2010 12:42 pm »

NOt entirely true. THere are a certain number of spots available for VIPs (about 9 busloads worth). VIPs are given first dibs, then friends of NASA brass, then people on the Congressional list fill in what's left.

I expect that the last 2 launches will have enough VIPs to fill the busses.

Furner · « **Reply #86 on:** 01/04/2011 04:07 pm »

Does anyone know what will happen to congressional invitations for 134? My wife and I were contacted by our Senator last July and were confirmed for STS-134 tickets. Will those continue to be good with the push to NET April 1? With nothing in-hand I guess I just get nervous.

cycleroadie · « **Reply #87 on:** 01/04/2011 04:24 pm »

Quote from: Furner on 01/04/2011 04:07 pm

Does anyone know what will happen to congressional invitations for 134? My wife and I were contacted by our Senator last July and were confirmed for STS-134 tickets. Will those continue to be good with the push to NET April 1? With nothing in-hand I guess I just get nervous.

All your congressman can do is submit your name to NASA. That does not in itself guarantee you a spot, NASA decides on who gets spots out of those submitted. I know, I have gone this route myself before. NASA should contact you about a month prior to STS-134 launch with their decision either way, and instructions on how to proceed if you were selected. Hope this helps.

Lloyd

ShuttleShel · « **Reply #88 on:** 01/07/2011 06:21 am »

Quote from: cycleroadie on 01/04/2011 04:24 pm

Quote from: Furner on 01/04/2011 04:07 pm
Does anyone know what will happen to congressional invitations for 134? My wife and I were contacted by our Senator last July and were confirmed for STS-134 tickets. Will those continue to be good with the push to NET April 1? With nothing in-hand I guess I just get nervous.

All your congressman can do is submit your name to NASA. That does not in itself guarantee you a spot, NASA decides on who gets spots out of those submitted. I know, I have gone this route myself before. NASA should contact you about a month prior to STS-134 launch with their decision either way, and instructions on how to proceed if you were selected. Hope this helps.

Lloyd

I contacted my senator a year ago (January 2010) for tickets to 134. As Llyod said my name was submitted to NASA but I will not get a guarantee until approximately a month beforehand. She did tell me NASA told her I was getting in early and I had a good chance but nothing more than that can be promised. It is all first come, first serve she was told. I have contacted her several times since just so I don't get forgotten about due to all the date changes and she's confirmed I'm still on the list but won't know for sure until app. a month before.

I did talk with Astronaut Clay Anderson at a museum appearance last fall and told him I was worried about getting bumped since 134 would be the last launch (it wasn't supposed to be when I originally signed up) and he told me that he thinks they will open up a lot more spots than normal for launch tickets just because it is the last launch and told me not to lose hope!

Hope he's right!

Nick · « **Reply #89 on:** 01/14/2011 10:29 am »

Hi All,

Does anyone know how long the launch window extends for a NET 19th April? Whether there are constraints from other ISS ops or the range? And especially when any beta angle cutout comes into play?

I'm thinking of making a (last??) launch pilgrimage from the UK and previously I've tried to plan on staying to cover the window.

Nick

dsmillman · « **Reply #90 on:** 01/14/2011 11:31 am »

The launch period for STS-134 probably extends into the second week of May.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #91 on:** 01/14/2011 12:15 pm »

Quote from: dsmillman on 01/14/2011 11:31 am

The launch period for STS-134 probably extends into the second week of May.

Sorry, but there is a Soyuz Progress 42P launch from Russia scheduled for April 27 that will constrain STS-134 launch attempts as you cannot have Progress and Shuttle docking on the same day (or potentially within a day of each other given specific orbital phasing requirements, expected docking times, and DDO requirements). Of course, Russia could agree to move Progress 42P to a later date; to my knowledge (unless I missed this somewhere along the way this week), that has not happened yet.

Nick · « **Reply #92 on:** 01/14/2011 10:25 pm »

Thanks, that's useful.

It looks as though I probably can't stay beyond April 27th anyway, for personal reasons, but knowing there are no earlier constraints is very useful. Very convenient!

Much appreciated,

Nick

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #93 on:** 01/18/2011 12:30 pm »

STS-134's current April window, as stated in this morning's NTD report, is 19 April - 2 May.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #94 on:** 02/05/2011 01:22 am »

Well I just got the time off from my boss, so I'm arranging a launch viewing trip to FL for this flight.

Not sure where I'll view this from, if I can't get a launch ticket I'll try and figure out what the best spot to view from Titusville is. I've seen launches from the causeway, KSCVC, and AHOF, wonder what other good spots there are I may not be immediately aware of.

Edit: I checked on Google and it jogged my memory about Space View Park. I'm thinking that'll be where I end up if I don't get lucky with obtaining a Causeway launch ticket. I've also seen notes about people camping out there....is camping allowed in that park? If so, that might be a way to save on motel bucks at least until the launch.

texasmomof2 · « **Reply #95 on:** 02/05/2011 05:02 pm »

No camping in park. We went 2 years ago to the park and it was great. Too bad the clouds rolled in, and it was scrubbed. Did not see it that time. We went in Feb of last year and were lucky enough to get KSC tickets. That too got delayed at last minute and we could not go back next morning as we had to get back on road. But we did drive to Titusville and stop in a grocery store parking lot about a minute away from park. Got to see it go up. Not from the launchpad, but you knew it was going because the sky just turned orange and you are about 10 miles away. So it was a great time. Before we drove to KSC, we stopped at this park so my girls could take binoculars and see it sitting on launchpad in distance.We got there and there were people there already. Launch was at 4 am, and this was about noon. So go early. We are going to try for April tickets and if not, will go to park. Really try to go, as it really is a once in a lifetime thing to see.I will admit I stood in that parking lot with tears running down my face.What can I say. I am a sensitive mom and it was just amazing.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #96 on:** 02/06/2011 01:06 am »

I wish I'd been there to see that, the first shuttle launch I saw (Jul 2001) was a night launch (5 AM) and it sure turned night into day. This one should be a couple of min before sunset, should be most spectacular.

Like you, I'm going to try for causeway tickets, but if not I'll go to Space View Park. I've got my plane, car, motel room all booked now

skygazingal · « **Reply #97 on:** 02/22/2011 05:18 am »

Hi all, I apologize in advance if my questions were already answered in this thread or another (there is a lot of information on here, lol!). I'm in Canada, and really really wanting to come down and see one of the final launches as it's on my bucket list (too bad it took the shuttle program ending to make me get my butt in gear, d'oh!) but I have a few questions.

First, viewing locations... I'd really like to get in on the tickets for the causeway viewing, but it really seems like a lot of hassle. I'm thinking they are worth it, however, so any tips on how to get them?

Second, hotels... I'd really like to delay booking as long as possible, because if I have everything booked and they postpone the date I will be devastated if I can't adjust my itinerary. How crazy are the hotels around there in terms of vacancies for these events? Have I delayed too long already?

Anyhoo, any thoughts and ideas appreciated, I'm really hoping this trip will come together for me. I'm not looking forward to the crowds at all, but this would be a dream come true, so I guess we'll just suck it up.

Thanks all!

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #98 on:** 02/22/2011 04:23 pm »

Quote from: skygazingal on 02/22/2011 05:18 am

First, viewing locations... I'd really like to get in on the tickets for the causeway viewing, but it really seems like a lot of hassle. I'm thinking they are worth it, however, so any tips on how to get them?

Second, hotels... I'd really like to delay booking as long as possible, because if I have everything booked and they postpone the date I will be devastated if I can't adjust my itinerary. How crazy are the hotels around there in terms of vacancies for these events? Have I delayed too long already?

Anyhoo, any thoughts and ideas appreciated, I'm really hoping this trip will come together for me. I'm not looking forward to the crowds at all, but this would be a dream come true, so I guess we'll just suck it up.

Thanks all!

Welcome to the site! You'll find many seasoned veterans of launch experiences here to help!

1. Dolphin and Gator Tours will be helpful with causeway viewing. They're both reputable tour companies so start there. Getting tickets for the VC is something you might look into as well.

2. Titusville hotels will spike their rates for the days around launch so try to find something cheap if you can. If they haven't spiked the rates for those days, reserve enough days to give you three or four attempts. That way if they scrub you're not left high and dry. But make sure you can cancel your reservations without charge as long you do so at least 24 hours in advance (in case you leave early or switch hotels).

Staying in a nearby city doesn't hurt either. I stayed at the Best Western in Edgewater for STS-132. It's about 30 minutes (maybe a bit more) north of the space center. No traffic or congestion in the city and the hotel was nice and quiet. Made for an easy drive to the space center on launch day (go early though!).

3. Hop over to the STS-133 viewing thread for extra advice. LOTS of information there. Hope this helps and that the trip works out!

Slopey · « **Reply #99 on:** 02/22/2011 11:58 pm »

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!

Always wanted to see the shuttle fly, looking forward to it immensely!

And can't believe it took me so long to find these forums/site - awesome amount of information! Simply wonderful!

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?