Thanks to all here for the great information on the various STS-133 forums. We got to see a great launch.Can anyone tell me if you can visit the gift shop at the visitors center without having to buy a ticket for a tour. I would like to pick up a STS-130 patch. Also if that does not work, do they have any of them at the Orlando airport NASA gift shop?
Quote from: ashimp on 02/27/2011 02:53 amQuote from: Hodapp on 02/26/2011 02:57 amThis was my first in-person launch, I thank everyone for their prayers to get the old gal off the pad! She certainly was stubborn to the end! SRO & a nicked tile in the white room!!! She loves drama!!! I can't really put into words the emotions! It was indescribable ! The SRB flame color is nothing like on TV...its blindingly brilliant...like plasma energy...pure white to varying shades of yellow orange tinged with laser red! The sound concussions...rolling thunder mixed with sonic booms and crystal clear crackling!Everyone should experience a launch!One special treat on the way to the NASA causeway, we got to see the Astronaut Van on its way out to the Pad!What bus where you on? I was on Bus 18 saw the Astro Van go by but I wasn't quick enough with the camera?Hey, I was on bus 18 too! I caught it - the one with the bus alongside us is a little blown out, but I caught all of it. I have one on the approach towards the bus too. I'll post them once I process them, I'm leaving Florida tomorrow I think. I liked our driver and how she said that the entourage following the Astro Van was in case "any of them chicken out" ...ha!
Quote from: Hodapp on 02/26/2011 02:57 amThis was my first in-person launch, I thank everyone for their prayers to get the old gal off the pad! She certainly was stubborn to the end! SRO & a nicked tile in the white room!!! She loves drama!!! I can't really put into words the emotions! It was indescribable ! The SRB flame color is nothing like on TV...its blindingly brilliant...like plasma energy...pure white to varying shades of yellow orange tinged with laser red! The sound concussions...rolling thunder mixed with sonic booms and crystal clear crackling!Everyone should experience a launch!One special treat on the way to the NASA causeway, we got to see the Astronaut Van on its way out to the Pad!What bus where you on? I was on Bus 18 saw the Astro Van go by but I wasn't quick enough with the camera?
This was my first in-person launch, I thank everyone for their prayers to get the old gal off the pad! She certainly was stubborn to the end! SRO & a nicked tile in the white room!!! She loves drama!!! I can't really put into words the emotions! It was indescribable ! The SRB flame color is nothing like on TV...its blindingly brilliant...like plasma energy...pure white to varying shades of yellow orange tinged with laser red! The sound concussions...rolling thunder mixed with sonic booms and crystal clear crackling!Everyone should experience a launch!One special treat on the way to the NASA causeway, we got to see the Astronaut Van on its way out to the Pad!
Hey, just thought some of you might find this interesting.A buddy of mine came down with me for the launch attempt in November. He was unable to make it back in Feb, but he'd dug out some old pictures his grandfather took while working at Vandenberg AFB in the 70's and 80's. Unfortunately there were no dates on the original pictures, and my buddy was working off memory for almost 30 years ago. And his grandfather past several years ago.I did some checking and -think- I have it pegged as to a visit by Discovery. She visited Vanedenberg for some testing of the mate-demate equipment at Vandenberg according to this link. However, this says this pictures was taken Nov 1, 1984, but she was launched on Nov 8th, so I think the date the picture was taken is incorrect by the Air Force.But, this was sometime in 1983 or 1984 I would imagine.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Space_Shuttle_Discovery_and_SCA_over_Vandenberg_AFB_SLC-6_-_DF-SC-85-09923.jpgThe name on the Shuttle looks like "Discovery", although you can't really read it. Looks like there's a "y" at the end. It's for sure not Enterprise or Columbia, the markings for Columbia were unique, and Enterprise had her name behind the cabin on the payload bay doors. Probably too old of a picture to be Endevour, and the name doesn't look right to be Atlantis.Anyway, these pictures sort of convey just how old Discovery really is. Truely from another era (gotta like the shirts and haircuts in the background.) And really gives a better idea of her lifespan than pictures of her all by herself. It's just sometimes it's hard to imagine these gals have been around for 30 years! But here she was, sitting around in the era of feathered hair and shag carpets, American Bandstand and The Jeffersons. Long before the first version of "Windows" was ever released, when no one knew who Bill Gates was, or the internet, or cell phones, or even TV's that didn't weigh 500 lbs.You see an old photo like this and you don't expect to see something like the Space Shuttle in it.Anyway, thought I'd share. The gentleman in the photos is my buddy's grandfather, Andrew Tate who worked at Vandenberg.
Probably November 1983. I found this post by Philip: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=18127.msg567246#msg567246, which states that Discovery was flown to Vandenberg while making a detour on her delivery flight, which means that it was taken between November 5 and November 9, 1983.http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/discovery-info.html Hope this helps.
Quote from: TTim on 03/02/2011 09:16 pmThanks to all here for the great information on the various STS-133 forums. We got to see a great launch.Can anyone tell me if you can visit the gift shop at the visitors center without having to buy a ticket for a tour. I would like to pick up a STS-130 patch. Also if that does not work, do they have any of them at the Orlando airport NASA gift shop?You don't have to pay for a tour ticket but you do have to pay for admission. If all you need is a patch, I recommend buying from one of the following places -www.thespacestore.com ($4.95 each + shipping)www.thespaceshop.com ($5.99 each + shipping)www.spaceflightnowstore.com ($5.99 each with FREE shipping)
It'd be okay if a mod wants to make this a separate thread http://astrosurf.com/legault/STS-133.htmlIncredible ground imagery of the stack. Who needs a Soyuz flyaround
Quote from: rdale on 03/03/2011 02:48 amIt'd be okay if a mod wants to make this a separate thread http://astrosurf.com/legault/STS-133.htmlIncredible ground imagery of the stack. Who needs a Soyuz flyaround That 3-D effect is amazing. Took me a few tries to get the squinting cross-eyed perfected but finally saw the effect Nice find, thanks for posting.
First time I think we've seen an astronaut from the ground? Another pic from Ralf Vandebergh...
I cannot believe that I got to see the shuttle launch....it was one of the most impressive things I have ever seen....Thank you to NASA for giving the thumbs up in the last ferw seconds and thank you to all those on the causeway that made the hours of waiting so much more fun.I still cannot get over how fast she goes once she has left the pad!! What a ride that must be :-)I managed to take some photos and despite the oppressive heat haze between the causeway and the pad, they came out reasonably okay. Thought I would share a couple with you. Hope you like.A few more are on my blog (p.s. mods, hope it is okay to link, site is non-commercial just a very keen amateur wanting to share his story of photography!!)www.pumaknight.co.uk/blog
Mike,Your photos are superb! Would you be willing to share a larger version of the first image (actually 4 of 14 on your blog page) in which Discovery is seen rising above the steam and smoke? I would love to set that as my new desk-top image.Thanks,Paul
Is this the place we discuss viewing the landing at KSC? They've got the ground tracks out and I'm trying to figure out where I should set up to watch it (since I don't have access to the runway!!!)
Is this the place we discuss viewing the landing at KSC? They've got the ground tracks out and I'm trying to figure out where I should set up to watch it (since I don't have access to the runway!!!)http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/news/landing.html