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#60
by
apollo13
on 19 Nov, 2007 18:56
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I just called the senator's office, (Orlando, where I live) Mel Martinez, one of his secretaries asked how many tickets, I told him 4, he said, give me the people who will attend, an email, and a phone number. I gave him that, I told him the STS-124 launch, and he told mehe will contact me when the launch date gets closer. w00t!
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#61
by
trlstyle
on 20 Nov, 2007 02:23
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apollo13 - 19/11/2007 2:56 PM
I just called the senator's office, (Orlando, where I live) Mel Martinez, one of his secretaries asked how many tickets, I told him 4, he said, give me the people who will attend, an email, and a phone number. I gave him that, I told him the STS-124 launch, and he told mehe will contact me when the launch date gets closer. w00t!
Yea i got the OK for a future launch. Since i live kinda close and am dedicated, i think ill try and make the trip for STS-124. Its kinda a shame though because I will be in the Orlando area December 6th through that Sunday. Ill still try to get into Kennedy fot STS-122, even though it is not the causeway.
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#62
by
Andrewwski
on 20 Nov, 2007 03:13
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You're better in Titusville than at the Visitor's Center.
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#63
by
trlstyle
on 20 Nov, 2007 03:41
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Does anyone want to give me a google/google earth/mapquest address to go and watch? Im not from the area and specifics would really help in my planning.
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#64
by
on 20 Nov, 2007 16:52
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here's the city of Titusville home web page. on the right menu they have a link for for shuttle viewing. click this and it will list seven location in titusville. A map of each location can be printed out.
http://www.titusville.com/index.aspthis is all text direction from a person on CollectSpace for location of viewing.
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#65
by
on 20 Nov, 2007 16:53
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#66
by
on 20 Nov, 2007 17:07
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I read on KSC visitor page for touring the grounds of what not to bring.
I would like to bring a few 20 oz plastic bottle of drinks and sealed wrap small food packages stored inside a hand carry cooler lining container. Would this be allow? more suitable would be the ones who view the launches regularly.
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#67
by
trlstyle
on 20 Nov, 2007 18:47
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lunarrv15 - 20/11/2007 12:52 PM
here's the city of Titusville home web page. on the right menu they have a link for for shuttle viewing. click this and it will list seven location in titusville. A map of each location can be printed out.
http://www.titusville.com/index.asp
this is all text direction from a person on CollectSpace for location of viewing.
Of these seven does anyone have any suggestions? From looking at the list it appears that Space View Park, Kennedy Point Park, and Municipal Marina all have a nice close view. Which park will get me as close as possible? Which park (if any) will not get me stuck in traffic to the point it will take me 5 hours to get to Orlando (thanks, STS-118)?
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#68
by
Andrewwski
on 20 Nov, 2007 21:16
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The difference in distance between all those locations in Titusville is pretty much insignificant unless you go so far south you're going away from the pads.
Space View park is crazy (too many people) and will certainly get you stuck in traffic.
Matter of fact, everywhere else in Titusville was crammed too. We had a GPS in the car and navigated through side streets, and managed to get out onto I-95 within 30 minutes. You might want to print out some detailed maps of Titusville, as US1 doesn't even seem to move.
We weren't going back to Orlando, but I'd assume the Beeline was packed too. You might want to find a different way back.
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#69
by
John2375
on 20 Nov, 2007 22:28
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I went to Space View Park for STS-120 = lots of people but it wasn't really that bad as far as traffic goes - probably about an hour to get to I-95..
That's really the best view so it's worth it. Nothing obstructing your view and you'll hear a good rumble too
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#70
by
Andrewwski
on 20 Nov, 2007 23:33
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Lots of places elsewhere in Titusville have a nice view too. Pretty much any place on the water, it seems. A lot of places will charge you $10 or so per car, but in my experience, it was worth it to escape the commotion. Yes, it was still crowded where I was, but not terrible.
It was nice to have space to set up a few lawn chairs and a table, along with a beach umbrella (August in Florida is hot!) to relax by before launch. It was also a restaurant's parking lot, so we could go in the restaurant at any time (half my family got a table and sat there for three hours) for food, bathrooms, or to simply cool off.
We went up there on A1A (Hutchinson Island) into Cocoa, and there was barely any traffic at all four hours prior to launch until we got right into Titusville. Getting home we were going to try and go that way but all routes towards 528 were packed. We zipped accross to I-95, and there was no stop-and-go traffic from that point forward.
We watched from a place called Paul's Smokehouse (3665 S Washington Ave, according to Google Earth). It was $10 to park there but the place and view was fantastic. Many other riverside properties were charging a small fee to park there and watch alongside the river.
Then there were people who were climbing through the woods to be on the edge of the river...sounds fine if you don't have a problem with snakes or alligators.
Either way, once she takes off, it's impossible to miss.
Here's a picture of the launch from our viewing point - not zoomed, so this is actually what it looks like when you're there. It was a bit hazy that day.
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#71
by
on 24 Nov, 2007 01:17
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for those who have view launchs with passes from their congressperson. Would like to verify information. On the instructions it say meet at Meritt Shopping Center. Is this the same as Meritt Square Shopping Mall/Center on route 520 and the meeting place?
I have a map of Meritt Island and there is another Meritt Crossing Shopping Center on Route 3
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#72
by
ChrisC
on 26 Nov, 2007 22:01
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Hi guys, it's official, after 26 years of following the program I'm finally going to see my first launch. I will be extremely close
I have a few questions for you veterans:
1. Alas, my wife won't have the close access that I will, so I'm going to send her to one of the places mentioned here and on Ben's page. I may buy a ticket for her to go to the KSC Visitor's Center and watch from there. If I read the KSC launch FAQ correctly, it says that she will continue to be able to get in if the launch is delayed, as long as it's still in that early Dec window. Correct? She can get in on delayed launch days on the same ticket?
2. Does the Up-Close tour run on launch day? I understand that we wouldn't get close to the pads, but does the rest of it run?
3. What happens if I buy tickets for an Up-Close tour on a day that BECOMES a launch day due to delays? Do I get a rain check?
4. Does the Up-Close tour have phased start times? Or is there just one daily run of it? Obviously I do not want to be stuck in the tour come 4:30pm, if I decide to do it on launch day.
5. I'm not driving down (from Atlanta) until December 5th at the earliest. I will be watching the launch status closely for delays, and if it gets delayed early in the count (or even before the count starts next Monday) then I will delay my drive down accordingly. All to say that I don't want to buy the Up-Close tickets until I have to. When do the Up-Close tour tickets usually sell out?
Thanks!
[Q3 revised to be more relevant]
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#73
by
Andrewwski
on 26 Nov, 2007 23:34
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No Up Close tour...matter of fact no bus tours at all...on launch day.
If you're getting it for a non-launch day, I'd reccomend getting them at least a day or two ahead of time, as they sell out soon after the Visitor's Center opens (actually, they may sell out a lot earlier when there's extra people around because of the proximity to the launch, so you may want to get them even earlier).
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#74
by
trlstyle
on 27 Nov, 2007 12:44
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Andrewwski - 26/11/2007 7:34 PM
No Up Close tour...matter of fact no bus tours at all...on launch day.
I was able to take the tour bus on launch day, it just completely skipped the trip to the pads. It still traveled around the campus though.
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#75
by
CTdave
on 27 Nov, 2007 13:22
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I just had to respectfully decline my 6 causeway vip passes from my congressman.....My other request came through! BANANNA CREEK, HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!
We fly down next Wednesday & will be staying on Cocoa Beach.
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#76
by
ChrisC
on 27 Nov, 2007 16:20
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Andrewwski - 26/11/2007 7:34 PM
No Up Close tour...matter of fact no bus tours at all...on launch day.
trlstyle - 27/11/2007 8:44 AM
I was able to take the tour bus on launch day, it just completely skipped the trip to the pads. It still traveled around the campus though.
Okay, that's conflicting information. Anyone else with experience on taking the Up-Close tour on a launch attempt day?
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#77
by
trlstyle
on 27 Nov, 2007 18:40
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ChrisC - 27/11/2007 12:20 PM
Andrewwski - 26/11/2007 7:34 PM
No Up Close tour...matter of fact no bus tours at all...on launch day.
trlstyle - 27/11/2007 8:44 AM
I was able to take the tour bus on launch day, it just completely skipped the trip to the pads. It still traveled around the campus though.
Okay, that's conflicting information. Anyone else with experience on taking the Up-Close tour on a launch attempt day?
So we are on the same plane, you are talking about the tour where you board a bus and it takes you to the VAB, landing strip, wildlife preserve, ect...correct?
BTW i just found out i have a set of tickets. As soon as they sold out i posted a craigslist ad and someone emailed me trying to dump a set for what they paid - as i expected plans change and this person was unable to make the dates.
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#78
by
mceddiemac
on 27 Nov, 2007 19:37
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ChrisC - 27/11/2007 12:20 PM
Andrewwski - 26/11/2007 7:34 PM
No Up Close tour...matter of fact no bus tours at all...on launch day.
trlstyle - 27/11/2007 8:44 AM
I was able to take the tour bus on launch day, it just completely skipped the trip to the pads. It still traveled around the campus though.
Okay, that's conflicting information. Anyone else with experience on taking the Up-Close tour on a launch attempt day?
It’s been my experience that the Visitors Complex does not run the guided tours (NASA Up Close, Cape Canaveral, Then & Now) on launch day. Typically the general tour (Saturn V Center, ISS Complex) does run on launch day but is dependent on the launch time. I have never seen them go out to the LC-39 Gantry stop on the general tour on launch day mostly due to safety and security reasons. For the STS-122 launch, I’m guessing they will have the general tour with 2 stops (Saturn V and ISS) for half the day. Just guessing on that one.
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#79
by
Andrewwski
on 27 Nov, 2007 21:00
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CTdave - 27/11/2007 9:22 AM
I just had to respectfully decline my 6 causeway vip passes from my congressman.....My other request came through! BANANNA CREEK, HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!
We fly down next Wednesday & will be staying on Cocoa Beach.
How'd you manage Banana Creek? Another congressman, or contacts within NASA?
