STS-125 Atlantis: Viewing (Going to the Launch etc.)

• #20 by shuttlepilot on 16 May, 2008 19:46
• I have the visa Had no problems, but this red tape is outrageous... Will reserve plane tickets and acommodation soon. And my question is: is it possible to watch shuttle launch from place better than Titusville or KSC Visitors Complex if I don't get Causeway tickets? 11 miles from the pad is okay, but it's probably the only time I visit the KSC in my life, and would like to be as close as possible
• #21 by TJL on 16 May, 2008 22:38
• Without tickets to the Causeway, the next best choices for viewing the shuttle launch are Titusville and the Visitors Center at KSC. The only other way of getting closer than that would be on a boat in the Indain River.
• #22 by mainengine on 17 May, 2008 19:57
• Quote

  jacqmans - 22/2/2008  2:48 PM
   how long before launch (days) do bus tours at KSC that go to pad 39A and 39B stop...
  
  As I understand it there are two bus tours (??) one that goes to pad A and one tat goes to pad B  (Is that right?) Do you have a good view of the Shuttle on the launch pad while taking the bus tour ??
  
  Thanks

  
  As I know the bus tours go to the LC39 Observation Gantry (regular tour) or to the observation point between Pad A and B (up close tour) until start of cryogenic reactants loading at T - 27 hrs. So you should take the tour well in advance. I'm sure tickets will be going to run short (need to buy separate ticket for the up close tour).
  
  Shuttle's ET upper tip is visible from LC39 Obs. Gantry.
  The whole ET may be seen on the up close tour.
  (STS-123   Feb 20 2008 and Feb 21 2008)
  
  

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• #23 by ntschke on 23 May, 2008 15:57
• another early morning (night) launch?!  Plus it's got a 60 minute window I belive?  Does anyone know why there is more flexibility in reach the HST as opposed to the ISS
• #24 by psloss on 23 May, 2008 16:11
• Quote

  ntschke - 23/5/2008  11:57 AM
  
  

  Quote

  Ray Todd - 10/4/2008 12:08 PM Has a launch window been designated for this flight yet? Even an approximate one?

  Yet another early morning (night) launch?!  Plus it's got a 60 minute window I belive?  Does anyone know why there is more flexibility in reach the HST as opposed to the ISS?

  I'm sure Jorge does and I'm pretty sure he's answered here before, but I can't find the posts...no matter -- he's answered this before on Usenet (JimO is in there, too):
  http://groups.google.com/group/sci.space.shuttle/browse_thread/thread/9a041c3456e62735/59b00812e06b9781?hl=en
  
• #25 by astrobrian on 24 May, 2008 04:07

• Quote

  ntschke - 23/5/2008  10:57 AM

  Yet another early morning (night) launch?!  Plus it's got a 60 minute window I belive?  Does anyone know why there is more flexibility in reach the HST as opposed to the ISS?

   

  My only guess for that would be the higher orbit that the HST is in.  

• #26 by Jorge on 24 May, 2008 05:06
• Quote

  astrobrian - 23/5/2008  11:07 PM
  
  

  Quote

  ntschke - 23/5/2008  10:57 AM

  Yet another early morning (night) launch?!  Plus it's got a 60 minute window I belive?  Does anyone know why there is more flexibility in reach the HST as opposed to the ISS?

  My only guess for that would be the higher orbit that the HST is in.  

  
  Umm, no.
• #27 by rdale on 24 May, 2008 13:26
• Quote

  astrobrian - 23/5/2008  12:07 AM
  My only guess for that would be the higher orbit that the HST is in.  

  
  If you click the link right above your post - you'll have the correct answer...
• #28 by shuttlepilot on 09 Jun, 2008 10:03
• Quote from: TJL on 16 May, 2008 22:38

  Without tickets to the Causeway, the next best choices for viewing the shuttle launch are Titusville and the Visitors Center at KSC. The only other way of getting closer than that would be on a boat in the Indain River.
  

  Is Indian River fully available for boaters during launch? Or just part of it?
• #29 by Andrewwski on 12 Jun, 2008 22:55
• If I recall correctly from the STS-118 viewing thread, you can go in the western portion of the Indian offshore from Titusville.  Parts of the eastern side are restricted from the NASA causeway to the Haulover canal.
• #30 by Astromattical on 18 Jun, 2008 12:33
• I'm in the process of *hopefully* acquiring some "VIP Passes" for my wife and I.  If all goes well, we'll be on the causeway for my first shuttle launch.  She has lived in Orlando and seen many launches (from far away).  I'd plan to arrive on Tuesday (the 7th) and leave the following Saturday, allowing a couple of days for additional launch attempts if necessary.
• #31 by paul68 on 30 Jul, 2008 12:46
• With the new launchdate for Atlantis I'm afraid you've got the same problem as we have, we'll arrive october 5 in the afternoon!
  
  Only option is to change tickets to arrive earlier.
  We can''t take the risc and "hope" for one or two days delay because of the weather or something...
  
• #32 by Chris Bergin on 30 Jul, 2008 13:20
• Welcome to the site's forum Paul.
  
  Don't count on Oct 5 as a set in stone date.
  
  It's a CR for NET (Change request for NO Earlier Than) and not even approved yet - that CR goes to the PRCB in mid August.
  
  Flows for LON and even 125 elements make this all real tight. I'd be very surprised if they can make it to Oct 5 at this stage.
• #33 by paul68 on 30 Jul, 2008 18:07
• Thanks Chris
  
  We're from the Netherlands and very interested in everything about the Shuttle.
  
  We already wanted to wait for aug 14 if we decide to change our arrivaldate
  
  I based our info at the Floridatoday news, were they mentioned the rescheduling to october 5.
• #34 by yorky10 on 31 Jul, 2008 00:38
• Flying over from UK (again) for STS-125. Anyone know if the observation gantry is open during and beyond RSS retract or does the loading of the cryo's mean that they close up?? (especially with it begin Atlantis with her extended life tanks)
• #35 by shuttlepilot on 31 Jul, 2008 17:21
• Thank you for bringing me hope, Chris It's exactly as I thought, chances for October 5 launch are very small. My situation would be catastrophic, because I will arrive in Orlando around 6 p.m. on October 6.
• #36 by psloss on 31 Jul, 2008 17:46
• Quote from: shuttlepilot on 31 Jul, 2008 17:21

  Thank you for bringing me hope, Chris It's exactly as I thought, chances for October 5 launch are very small. My situation would be catastrophic, because I will arrive in Orlando around 6 p.m. on October 6.
  

  We're probably going to have to wait and see how things progress...wouldn't be surprised if the programs want to take advantage of any days they can get to increase the margins for 126 in November (which is affected by the 125 date).  It may not be a case of either the 8th or the 5th -- the 6th or 7th may be other possibilities.
  
• #37 by billmeco on 01 Aug, 2008 00:03
• Quote from: yorky10 on 31 Jul, 2008 00:38

  Flying over from UK (again) for STS-125. Anyone know if the observation gantry is open during and beyond RSS retract or does the loading of the cryo's mean that they close up?? (especially with it begin Atlantis with her extended life tanks)
  

  
  No, I've setup remotes there for STS-122 & STS124. The tours stop about 4pm the day before launch and before RSS rollback. Even for the scrubs back in Dec. 07 they did not allow tour buses back out there.
  For STS-125 remote setups will be two days before launch and I'm sure the tours will end that afternoon long before RSS roll.
  Also, you can see in my photo's that the RSS blocks the view of the Shuttle on the pad whether its back or around the vehicle.
  http://www.ktb.net/~billmeco/index.html

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• #38 by Orbiter on 01 Aug, 2008 01:32
• I got a very good viewing place from The Astronaut Hall of Fame, had NASA TV so we can watch, then 5 minutes before launch we took out Radio and went down between a lot of trees and near water, to was STS-124 launch. 12 Miles away, it was pretty good. Sound came before the Go at Throttle up call came.
• #39 by Chris Bergin on 01 Aug, 2008 03:52
• Welcome to the site's forum Bill!