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

• #380 by Chris Bergin on 28 Apr, 2009 15:21
• Keep an eye on the processing thread, given the damage to Atlantis' radiator is more serious than first observed. We do not assume this will impact the launch date at this time, but they are still looking at what needs to be done.
• #381 by Andrewwski on 28 Apr, 2009 19:01
• No, they will not go to the pad until after Endeavour is moved from Pad B.  So up close tours won't go to the pads from now until then.
  
  Apollo/Saturn V center is included with the general tour, as are LC-39 Observation Gantry and SSPF.  Up Close Tour will make a stop at the causeway, a stop at the VAB (regular tour just drives you around it), and a trip to the SLF.
• #382 by ntschke on 28 Apr, 2009 19:30
• Quote from: Andrewwski on 28 Apr, 2009 19:01

  No, they will not go to the pad until after Endeavour is moved from Pad B.  So up close tours won't go to the pads from now until then.
  
  Apollo/Saturn V center is included with the general tour, as are LC-39 Observation Gantry and SSPF.  Up Close Tour will make a stop at the causeway, a stop at the VAB (regular tour just drives you around it), and a trip to the SLF.
  

  
  Hey Everyone! Long time no chat...been busy as hell the last (year) . 
  
  Andrew is that correct?  Up close tours will not get any closer to the pads than the standard tour until AFTER launch?
  
  I thought I read somewhere that up until launch day you could get the upclose tour and see the shuttles for the beach camera location as well?
  
  Thanks
  
  PS we'll down again for this launch, just got confirmation for Bananna Creek viewing.  Who's in charge of Happy Hour this time?
• #383 by LMSenus on 28 Apr, 2009 20:07
• Quote from: ntschke on 28 Apr, 2009 19:30

  PS we'll down again for this launch, just got confirmation for Bananna Creek viewing.  Who's in charge of Happy Hour this time?
  

  Chris Gebhardt is coordinating.  Send him a PM and join the gang!
  
• #384 by Ford Mustang on 28 Apr, 2009 20:14
• Quote from: ntschke on 28 Apr, 2009 19:30

  Andrew is that correct?  Up close tours will not get any closer to the pads than the standard tour until AFTER launch?
  
  I thought I read somewhere that up until launch day you could get the upclose tour and see the shuttles for the beach camera location as well?

  
  They usually do the up-close tour until the day prior to launch, but with Endeavour on LC-39B, the up-close tour will not go to the pads until Endeavour has rolled around to LC-39A.  This has been confirmed by asking at the KSC Visitors Complex.
• #385 by Andrewwski on 28 Apr, 2009 22:21
• Yes, that is correct.  According to my tour guide at KSC, as well as others on the forum, they will not go closer than the gantry when Pad 39B is occupied.
  
  He also said that the bus tours shut down for the rollouts, but for some reason when Endeavour rolled around from 39B to 39A a few months ago, they still ran the tours.  He was unsure whether that would be the case when it happens again.
  
  However, I highly recommend going to Playalinda Beach if you're there earlier than 3 days before launch.  You're a little over two and a half miles from Pad A, but only about a mile and a half from Pad B.  And that was surprising - I would have guessed less than a mile.
  
  Not quite the same as the Up Close tour, but a much improved view over the gantry.
• #386 by floron on 29 Apr, 2009 03:34
• how long do they wait before reopening the beach after the launch? Endeavour's still going to be on Pad B for while, i take it?
• #387 by Bubbinski on 29 Apr, 2009 03:41
• From what I heard during the HST SM press conference on NASA TV, Endeavour will be at L-7 days on STS-125 launch day.  They would continue processing to a point where she'd be at L-3 days until Atlantis' reentry and landing.  So I would expect the STS-127/400 stack to stay at Pad B until some time past mission end.
• #388 by jeff2space on 29 Apr, 2009 16:45
• Quote from: floron on 29 Apr, 2009 03:34

  how long do they wait before reopening the beach after the launch? Endeavour's still going to be on Pad B for while, i take it?
  

  
  I believe Playalinda Beach opens the day after the launch.
  
  According to the STS-127 KSC Milestone Interface Chart, Endeavour will move from Pad-B to Pad-A on May 28th.
• #389 by orbiterfan on 29 Apr, 2009 23:14
• If 3 days before launch playalinda beach closes, is that on Friday or on Saturday?   Does anyone know if they close it in the morning or at night?   We'll be there on Friday and I'd like to drive over and take some pictures if it's open.
• #390 by kermit on 30 Apr, 2009 00:03
• Quote from: orbiterfan on 29 Apr, 2009 23:14

  If 3 days before launch playalinda beach closes, is that on Friday or on Saturday?   Does anyone know if they close it in the morning or at night?   We'll be there on Friday and I'd like to drive over and take some pictures if it's open.
  

  
  It is always closed at night....8PM during DST. website:
  
  http://www.nbbd.com/godo/cns/
  
• #391 by Dr T on 30 Apr, 2009 06:40
• I just joined this site (L2 Membership pending) after lurking off and on for months.
  
  I'll be at the STS-125 launch courtesy of my Senator.  If we buy tickets for a tour, do we still have to buy admission to the Visitor Center even if we're already getting in courtesy of the Congressional Passes?  I'll try calling the phone number tomorrow they provided, but I wanted to ask here as well.
  
  Thanks!
• #392 by vipermaster on 30 Apr, 2009 19:30
• Hi,
  
  I've got 4 adult tickets  &  1 child ticket together with car plate.for viewing the launch from the KSC. Anybody intrested.
  
  Best regards,
  Mike
• #393 by momof3 on 30 Apr, 2009 20:25
• Hello everyone.  I just missed getting tickets to the launch at KSC visitors center.  Does anyone have 2 adults and three kids' tickets?  We wanted to take the kids through the tour that day as well. 
• #394 by emarkay on 30 Apr, 2009 22:10
• I recall a discussion that the Shuttle will reenter over the USA for this mission - one last time - if so, any preliminary ground tracks?
  
  Anyone going to attempt to get a hi-res video(s) of it?
   
  (I am amazed that NASA doesn't have assets to document the reentries as they do for launchs, btw...)
  
  Thanks,
  MRK
• #395 by Jorge on 30 Apr, 2009 22:41
• Quote from: emarkay on 30 Apr, 2009 22:10

  I recall a discussion that the Shuttle will reenter over the USA for this mission - one last time - if so, any preliminary ground tracks?

  
  This is not necessarily the last time. If an ISS flight shifts to a descending node landing (usually due to sleep shifting constraints), the groundtrack will pass over the US.
  
  

  Quote

  Anyone going to attempt to get a hi-res video(s) of it?
   
  (I am amazed that NASA doesn't have assets to document the reentries as they do for launchs, btw...)

  
  I am not amazed one bit. There is only one site that does shuttle launches so it is easy to permanently place assets there. Entry groundtracks vary widely due to multiple landing sites and crossrange, so it is utterly impractical to place assets at them all.
• #396 by Andrewwski on 30 Apr, 2009 23:56
• There is no tour on launch day.
• #397 by ChrisGebhardt on 30 Apr, 2009 23:58
• OKAY, everyone. Last chance! Aside from the people who have already PMed me and received word back from me that I know they're coming, anyone else who wants to join fellow NSF member on May 12 for dinner at 6pm in Titusville, PM me NOW!  I am calling the restaurant tomorrow to make reservations so I need a final head count by 12-noon EDT tomorrow!
  
  Only 10-days to go!!!!!!
• #398 by Jim on 01 May, 2009 01:27
• Quote from: emarkay on 30 Apr, 2009 22:10

  
  (I am amazed that NASA doesn't have assets to document the reentries as they do for launchs, btw...)
  
  

  
  Most aren't even NASA assets, they are the Eastern Range's
• #399 by glanmor05 on 01 May, 2009 16:16
• Taking this thread title in its widest sence, and given that there won't be views of the EVAs from station based cameras; how good can we expect the coverage of STS 125 to be?