Author Topic: STS-124: Discovery Viewing (Read 35766 times)

James Lowe1 · « **on:** 03/27/2008 10:44 pm »

Thread for those going...

Orbiter · « **Reply #1 on:** 03/27/2008 10:48 pm »

I'm going, anyone know how to get free VIP Tickets?

nasaman21 · « **Reply #2 on:** 03/28/2008 01:45 pm »

Is it true that NASA will slip launch for STS-124 to May 31? Cause I already have my plane ticket and I don't want to change my ticket to august for the last hubble mission.

PaulyFirmbiz · « **Reply #3 on:** 03/28/2008 01:54 pm »

Not offical yet but read the threads from landing day.. i think its gonna be offical next week due to tank production slippage..

nasaman21 · « **Reply #4 on:** 03/28/2008 02:57 pm »

I really hope I can see a launch this year cause it always has been a dream of mine to see a space shuttle launch. Well then I guess I might not be able to see 124. Is it just spec or will it happen?

Flightstar · « **Reply #5 on:** 03/28/2008 03:29 pm »

Quote

nasaman21 - 27/3/2008 10:45 AM

Is it true that NASA will slip launch for STS-124 to May 31? Cause I already have my plane ticket and I don't want to change my ticket to august for the last hubble mission.

Did you even read this???
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5390

Maybe you're new round here, but this site always breaks the shuttle news.

nasaman21 · « **Reply #6 on:** 03/28/2008 03:32 pm »

Well then I have to push back my trip to august or september and see STS-125. What would happen to STS-125's launch date? would it slip a few days or would it stay the same?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #7 on:** 03/28/2008 03:35 pm »

Quote

nasaman21 - 28/3/2008 4:32 PM

Well then I have to push back my trip to august or september and see STS-125. What would happen to STS-125's launch date? would it slip a few days or would it stay the same?

May 25 for 124 is gone, officially. We work off L2 information, which is documented. As of right now, they will announce May 31 as the new NET for 124 on Monday. It could slip a bit more yet, and we'll report it as the flow continues. (They lost some time on ET lift overnight, but the new NET should give them a few contingency days).

STS-125 is likely to be in October, but they are still waiting a MAF report on the tank situation (next week) which will give us all a better idea.

We never speculate, and I would advise you read the article linked above, as we're not a forum, we're a news site that happens to have a forum attached. The news can get convoluted in the forum. The news articles are a solid reference.

nasaman21 · « **Reply #8 on:** 03/28/2008 03:58 pm »

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that 124 gets delayed a week or two more so I can see it launch. As the launch date right now, I won't be able to see launch because I have to be at home because my girlfriend is graduating and I have to see her graduate. I'm in no rush to see a launch. Just as long as I see one before the end of the program. What's this CSCS thing I have been reading about in the STS-124 processing thread? This is what I mean:

Quote

Chris Bergin - 21/3/2008 7:36 AM

Plus CSCS does come into play for 124 - but that is estimated right up to launch and it's guess work if they don't have a solid date on the LON tank. A fluid situation.

QUOTE]

Davie OPF · « **Reply #9 on:** 03/28/2008 04:07 pm »

Quote

nasaman21 - 28/3/2008 11:58 AM
What's this CSCS thing I have been reading about in the STS-124 processing thread? This is what I mean:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5388

"One major factor will be the CSCS (Contingency Shuttle Crew Support) levels - which are a timetable of consumable status on the ISS - used to support a stranded STS-124 crew ahead of the arrival of Endeavour on a rescue (LON) mission.

Every day the CSCS can be extended ahead of STS-124's launch is another day MAF will have in their back pockets on the delivery - and subsequent flow timetables at KSC - for ET-127.

With the soon-to-arrive ATV and an upcoming Russian Progress supply ship all boosting the ISS' consumable reserves, the hope is a lengthy CSCS of around three months would be possible - thus creating a buffer zone for the delayed delivery of ET-127, and ultimately allowing STS-124 to launch on schedule.

It becomes more complex ahead of STS-125, which is the mission ET-127 has a primary role with, due to the requirement of ET-129 also needing to make up some downstream schedule at MAF, ahead of being sat with Endeavour at Launch Pad 39B at the time Atlantis launches from Pad 39A.

CSCS plays no factor in that scenario, due to the lack of 'safe haven' ability during the Hubble mission. Both STS-124 and STS-125 targets will be clearer following the MAF meeting results next week."

nasaman21 · « **Reply #10 on:** 03/28/2008 04:12 pm »

Ok thanks for clarifying that for me.

nasaman21 · « **Reply #11 on:** 03/28/2008 04:18 pm »

So what you are saying is that every day that a contingency crew support level can be extended before Discovery launches, the more MAF will have time to catch up with the processing of the ET-127, and ultimately, deliver it to KSC and be able to make up lost time? Or do I have it wrong?

Davie OPF · « **Reply #12 on:** 03/28/2008 04:53 pm »

Quote

nasaman21 - 28/3/2008 5:18 PM

So what you are saying is that every day that a contingency crew support level can be extended before Discovery launches, the more MAF will have time to catch up with the processing of the ET-127, and ultimately, deliver it to KSC and be able to make up lost time? Or do I have it wrong?

This is all on the Shuttle Q&A sections. Please do a search!

To help.

(A) Primary Launch <==========CSCS=========>(B) LON Launch has to launch by.
(A) Emergancy <===ET arrives, rolled to pad====>LON launches.

You see that ET delays affect the time LON can launch, but the longer the CSCS, the better it can buffer.

You can work out why CSCS and ET arrivals are relevant.

TNCMAXQ · « **Reply #13 on:** 03/28/2008 05:13 pm »

If that May 31 date holds, liftoff will occur during the International Space Development Conference in DC. Good timing.

bernse · « **Reply #14 on:** 03/28/2008 05:34 pm »

I'm going on a cruise and we hit Port Canaveral on April 19th. I'm going to make it a certainty to book and go on the KSC tour.

I was wondering what the chances will be of seeing Discovery on the pad when we drop by?

As well, any other must-dos that are not included in the tour?

My wife will almost certainly be in a wheelchair (hurt her leg a while back, very slow to heal) so that may be a limiting factor.

PaulyFirmbiz · « **Reply #15 on:** 03/28/2008 05:38 pm »

Boy the one thing i miss about living in orlando was the launches... i lived there for college in late 01 thru early 03 (rite before columbia) and i never missed a launch.. always went to the cape..

im plannning one last trip down for the very last shuttle launch.. gonna plan a two week vaca starting one day before the NET so i can garuntee to see it go up..

Alpha Control · « **Reply #16 on:** 03/28/2008 07:06 pm »

Quote

bernse - 28/3/2008 2:34 PM

I'm going on a cruise and we hit Port Canaveral on April 19th. I'm going to make it a certainty to book and go on the KSC tour.

I was wondering what the chances will be of seeing Discovery on the pad when we drop by?

As well, any other must-dos that are not included in the tour?

My wife will almost certainly be in a wheelchair (hurt her leg a while back, very slow to heal) so that may be a limiting factor.

Hello,

After viewing the STS-123 launch, I spent Tues & Wed (Mar. 11 & 12) touring the KSC Visitor Complex & facilities. Basic admission was $38 adult (this includes standard bus tour). The 'NASA Up Close' tour costs an additional $20, I believe - I did not get to do that tour.

You won't get close to either 39A or 39B on the standard bus tour; only as far as the LC-39 Observation Gantry (I do not know if the 'Up Close' tour goes any closer). The Gantry is located where the crawlerway branches off to pad 39B. From the gantry you do have very good unobstructed views of the launch pads (remember that if Discovery is at the pad at that point - not sure - the RSS will be in place most of the time, blocking most of the orbiter from view). I brought my own binoculars, but they have coin-operated binoculars at the Gantry that you can use.

All the tour buses have wheel-chair access ramps, that lower to the ground so chairs can be moved on or off the bus. This does take a few minutes extra, though. And all of the multi-level buildings (SSPF, LC-39 Observation Gantry) have elevators.

The tour bus operator said you need more than one day to do KSC, and he was right. I spent six hours on Tues. & five hours on Wed., and still didn't see everything!

It can take that long because (1) the bus tours are approx 3 hours, and (2) each major exhibit has a short film or presentation to go with it. All of this takes time, especially if you're like me and you want to visit all the pavilions.

The Apollo/Saturn V pavilion is in its own visitor center, on the KSC property (you can only get there as part of the bus tour). I loved touring that facility. But bring $$. A hamburger & ice tea cost $11. Tip: take an outside table for lunch; you can see the LC-39 pads across the water, and it is a pretty view.

The KSC gift shop back at the main Visitor Complex has some great things, and an amazing variety of items. I spent a LOT of $$ in there....

Some presentation are timed events, so you need queue up in time. The Imax films have set start times, and they do NOT allow latecomers.

The Shuttle Launch experience was great!. Tip: Don't turn your head left or right in the first phase of launch - there's quite a lot of shaking!

Best part of the bus tour: the SSPF (Space Station Processing Facility). The building was built with a viewing gallery, so you actually get to see active space hardware. Many modules are now in space, so as the ISS steadily nears completion, the SSPF steadily empties out. But keep in mind that the tourist's loss is NASA's gain, as the modules reach their intended destination. Chat up the SSPF gallery guides; they are very knowledgeable and friendly.

Also at the SSPF is a museum building that you enter into first. They have a nice history of space stations from fiction to fact, plus full-scale mockups of several ISS modules. I had to bite my tongue while walking by the Habitation module, hearing folks chatting away about "so this is where they will live". I was so tempted to say "this'll never fly, folks!"

So now you're saying, Dave what's left that you didn't see after two days? I didn't get to do either the 'Cape Canaveral Then & Now' tour or the 'NASA Up Close' tour. I also did not get to visit the U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

The solution is clear - I'll just have to come back for another launch & sightseeing trip.

David

bernse · « **Reply #17 on:** 03/29/2008 12:27 am »

David, thanks for the great and detailed post, especially with info for wheelchair accessibility!

Unfortunately, I will only have 1 day there.. but I am planing on doing the "up close" tour. Might be tight to put anything else into the day though. Like you, I'll want to see everything I can.

Thanks again! I appreciate it.

Alpha Control · « **Reply #18 on:** 03/29/2008 01:18 am »

You're most welcome, Bernse! It's because of NSF folks like you that I found out about watching the STS-123 launch from Titusville in the first place, so I am happy to repay the favor in any way I can.

Since you're going to be there for just one day, you could skip the Imax films, if you have a science center/museum not too far from where you live, where you could see the same films.

On the wheelchair access, they will provide a wheelchair for you if you prefer, at the entrance to the visitor complex. Since 9/11, security is much tighter, so they will check your cameras and bags when you first arrive.

With just one day, I would focus on what's unique to KSC. I would do the standard tour, which hits three locations - the LC-39 Observation Gantry, the Apollo/Saturn V complex, and the SSPF building. But you will be doing the 'Up Close' tour, so I look forward to your report from that, as I hope to do that myself in the future.

I would also do the Rocket garden, at the Visitors Complex. That was a real treat. As far as the gift shop goes, you can order items from the gift shop on line, at www.thespaceshop.com.

David

bernse · « **Reply #19 on:** 04/02/2008 08:19 pm »

Well, as it turns out the wife won't be going, just me. Oh well. I wish I could share the fun with someone else but wasn't meant to be. The wife just doesn't think she'd be comfortable for the 6 hours the excursion is set to take.

Thanks for the advice. I'll likely skip the Imax films.