STS-135 Atlantis: Viewing (Going to launch, tickets, events, landing, etc.)

[rdale]

You'll find info on the 134 landing in the 134 section already, and you can't determine whe. 135 will land before we know when it launches.

[Ronsmytheiii]

I have been told (rather brusquely, in fact) that the STS-134 landing cannot POSSIBLY be in daylight hours and WILL NOT be visible and WILL NOT be possible for anyone in the public to view, that no site near KSC will permit viewing. I need some kind of guidance as to why the attitude about this landing, and also want to know what the particulars are for 135. If I miss out on 134... there's only one left. What is the scheduling situation here?

Two factors, orbital mechanics and crew schedule prevent a daylight landing, so therefore Endeavour will be landing at night.  AS for landing, you will not really be able to see her at night since the shuttle does not have runing lights and also drops pretty quickly (hard to see it even dring the daytime)

Image is of the landing track of STS-130 in Google earth, and video is landing notice they use Infrared to track on NASA TV.

I would wait and hope too see the rollback

[Sarah]

Any chance July 10-12 would be a night launch? My life would be complete if I got to see a night launch.

[Orbiter]

Any chance July 10-12 would be a night launch? My life would be complete if I got to see a night launch.

A July 10 - 12 launch would be a similar time to STS-134.

Orbiter

[Walter S]

Here are a couple photos from this mornings rollover and a link to some others. The weather was perfect. Enjoy!






http://scriptunasimages.smugmug.com/Galleries/Nasa-Space-Shuttle-Program/STS-135/

[Orbiter]

There was talk of 135 being a descending node landing - which would have an late morning or afternoon landing. If not, then its probably at 4 am or so.

Orbiter

[moongator]

There was talk of 135 being a descending node landing - which would have an late morning or afternoon landing. If not, then its probably at 4 am or so.

Orbiter

Also, would a descending node landing mean an approach from the NW and a turn then to the "33" runway (over the KSCVC) rather than using the "15" runway? (I think I have those designated right, according to compass heading.)

I was at the STS-91 landing a few years ago and the runway was changed just before the entry began... it approached from the SW, made the bank like in the photo attached on this page and landed at the N end of the SLF. I was stuck at the KSCVC and saw very little, the shuttle banked high overhead.

 

[rdale]

Also, would a descending node landing mean an approach from the NW and a turn then to the "33" runway (over the KSCVC) rather than using the "15" runway? (I think I have those designated right, according to compass heading.)

No, the runway is determined by the wind speed & direction at landing time.

[moongator]

I would be prepared to find an alternative viewing site to the KSCVC if they made a switch in runways again. That part of the whole scenario I do understand. Other posters in other forums tell me that there is viewing available along the N causeway (the one going over to Playalinda Beach)  except for on NASA property under the immediate glide path, in the event of a "15" approach.

I know it's complicated. But this is never going to happen again so I would like to try to cover all bases.

I mean, people get on here about launch viewing and discuss tickets and locations and hotels and whys and wherefores and all of it in great detail... but very little info ever gets posted about what to me would be even a more spectacular sight, the Shuttle gliding in for a landing. I appreciate any info people can give.

[Sarah]

I would be prepared to find an alternative viewing site to the KSCVC if they made a switch in runways again. That part of the whole scenario I do understand. Other posters in other forums tell me that there is viewing available along the N causeway (the one going over to Playalinda Beach)  except for on NASA property under the immediate glide path, in the event of a "15" approach.

I know it's complicated. But this is never going to happen again so I would like to try to cover all bases.

I mean, people get on here about launch viewing and discuss tickets and locations and hotels and whys and wherefores and all of it in great detail... but very little info ever gets posted about what to me would be even a more spectacular sight, the Shuttle gliding in for a landing. I appreciate any info people can give.

I agree! I would love to see a landing but they don't have any public viewing like the causeway for a launch. I never really understood why.

[Rocket Science]

I would be prepared to find an alternative viewing site to the KSCVC if they made a switch in runways again. That part of the whole scenario I do understand. Other posters in other forums tell me that there is viewing available along the N causeway (the one going over to Playalinda Beach)  except for on NASA property under the immediate glide path, in the event of a "15" approach.

I know it's complicated. But this is never going to happen again so I would like to try to cover all bases.

I mean, people get on here about launch viewing and discuss tickets and locations and hotels and whys and wherefores and all of it in great detail... but very little info ever gets posted about what to me would be even a more spectacular sight, the Shuttle gliding in for a landing. I appreciate any info people can give.

I agree! I would love to see a landing but they don't have any public viewing like the causeway for a launch. I never really understood why.

Hi Sarah,
If it's dark you won't see anything. But I did hear Discovery fly overhead from the visitors parking lot which made that awesome double sonic boom that make you jump!! Pretty cool too....
Regards
Robert
P.S. You're doing a great job representing us educators:)

[Jim]

I agree! I would love to see a landing but they don't have any public viewing like the causeway for a launch. I never really understood why.

the causeway was not built for public viewing, it was a convenient after thought

[Sarah]

Is there a way to photograph the launch automatically? I don't take any photos because I just want to enjoy the launch. I do have a video camera recording on a tripod but I don't follow the shuttle ascent with it.

[FlightOne]

Is there a way to photograph the launch automatically? I don't take any photos because I just want to enjoy the launch. I do have a video camera recording on a tripod but I don't follow the shuttle ascent with it.

Depends on the type of camera. If you're shooting with a digital point and shoot, I'm not sure. But if you're shooting with a digital SLR, then you can buy remote controls (wired or wireless) that allow you to mount the camera on a tripod focused and zoomed onto the pad and then while you watch the launch with your eyes, just push and lock the button on the remote and let the camera fire on continuos mode or just keep pushing the button over and over in single-shot mode. You can't track the vehicle as it goes up, but you can get it as it's leaving the pad.

For STS-133, I shot with three cameras simultaneously from the Press Site. Handheld with my 100-400mm zoom for tight shots; a 70-200mm zoom on a tripod fired with a remote control cable locked on just prior to T-0 and the camera firing on continuous for a slightly wider view; and a third camera with a very wide angle fired with a radio trigger from the handheld camera (every time I took a shot with the handheld camera, a radio transmitter in the hot-shoe sent a signal to a receiver on the wide angle camera to fire a shot of it's own at the same time.)

Those three cameras, plus a fourth camera placed remotely a few hundred yards southeast of Pad A on a timer, gave me four separate perspectives on the 133 launch back in February. See below.

[shuttlefanatic]

I see Walter got some prime viewing for Atlantis' rollover.  Here's the view us mere mortals had from the tour buses this morning at KSC.  I exceeded the typical 2 photo per post rule to include front, side, and rear  

I had been debating whether to try to squeeze in a try at seeing Atlantis before my 1:30P flight home, and I'm glad I did:

Despite a little ticket fiasco, I was able to make the first tour bus out at 10AM - and what a treat that was.  The bus driver ("Tom") was an obvious enthusiast.  Instead of playing the standard narration video, he talked about the Apollo launches, shuttle program, and the Atlantis rollover.  He slowed up as much as possible passing the VAB, and exclaimed "There she is!" as her tail peeked around some buildings.  After dropping everyone off at the LC39 gantry, another NSFer and I chose to go right back to the VC with Tom, who gave us another good look.

When we got back to the VC, we hopped on the next bus so as to get in a look from the gantry-Saturn V center leg of the route.  This driver didn't seem to be aware at all about the rollover, played the standard video, and as we were going past the VAB, had folks looking out the other side of the bus at the empty press site!  (This is how folks go through KSC and never realize what they've missed, I suppose.)  We let him know the score at the gantry, and on the way to the Saturn V center, he had folks looking in the right direction.

I can only conclude that if you ever get a choice of tour bus drivers at KSC, you want Tom.

[NCC]

? ... I get the feeling I'm missing the boat.  Since the launch of STS-134, I've been eyeballing the NASA site watching for Causeway tickets to go on sale.  And, I haven't seen that happen.

Did I miss the boat already?

[robertross]

? ... I get the feeling I'm missing the boat.  Since the launch of STS-134, I've been eyeballing the NASA site watching for Causeway tickets to go on sale.  And, I haven't seen that happen.

Did I miss the boat already?

Nope. Not on sale yet.

[robertross]

I see Walter got some prime viewing for Atlantis' rollover.  Here's the view us mere mortals had from the tour buses this morning at KSC.  I exceeded the typical 2 photo per post rule to include front, side, and rear  

Hey, congrats! Great images.

[Keyman]

? ... I get the feeling I'm missing the boat.  Since the launch of STS-134, I've been eyeballing the NASA site watching for Causeway tickets to go on sale.  And, I haven't seen that happen.

Did I miss the boat already?

Nope. Not on sale yet.

New 'member', first post.  Great stuff from all. 

I've put my name on the e-list to be notified about tickets, but didn't get any acknowledgement.  Can somebody give me what I might expect, and when? 

[Sarah]

Is there a way to photograph the launch automatically? I don't take any photos because I just want to enjoy the launch. I do have a video camera recording on a tripod but I don't follow the shuttle ascent with it.

Depends on the type of camera. If you're shooting with a digital point and shoot, I'm not sure. But if you're shooting with a digital SLR, then you can buy remote controls (wired or wireless) that allow you to mount the camera on a tripod focused and zoomed onto the pad and then while you watch the launch with your eyes, just push and lock the button on the remote and let the camera fire on continuos mode or just keep pushing the button over and over in single-shot mode. You can't track the vehicle as it goes up, but you can get it as it's leaving the pad.

For STS-133, I shot with three cameras simultaneously from the Press Site. Handheld with my 100-400mm zoom for tight shots; a 70-200mm zoom on a tripod fired with a remote control cable locked on just prior to T-0 and the camera firing on continuous for a slightly wider view; and a third camera with a very wide angle fired with a radio trigger from the handheld camera (every time I took a shot with the handheld camera, a radio transmitter in the hot-shoe sent a signal to a receiver on the wide angle camera to fire a shot of it's own at the same time.)

Those three cameras, plus a fourth camera placed remotely a few hundred yards southeast of Pad A on a timer, gave me four separate perspectives on the 133 launch back in February. See below.

Thanks for the info. I just have an Olympus pocket camera which is next to worthless. I guess I'll go shopping for an SLR in case I do come down for 135. Any tips on what I should look for in camera features/lenses for causeway photography? Obviously one that I can control with a remote so I can still watch the launch.

I'm going to borrow an SLR for this weekend. Hopefully it's not too complicated to operate. It's got a lot of settings on it. I'm going to D.C. and I want to photograph Enterprise while I'm there and go see the Challenger memorial at Arlington National Cemetary.