-
#140
by
Andrewwski
on 13 Nov, 2009 19:19
-
It takes at least an hour to get to KSC from Disney. And you probably want to get there a tad early. I'd say give yourself two hours and you'll be fine. I wouldn't imagine there'd be any significant traffic at that time of morning, even with a launch later in the day.
-
#141
by
sts126
on 14 Nov, 2009 05:55
-
down us 1 from titusville to causeway that takes you to Merrit isl mall sears on a non shuttle day half hour max, and you will not be driving with flow so not much more time i'd think a little construction on us1 in cocoa. that said there are a few restraunts around mall denny's etc if you get there way early. having done the bus ,be there about 30 minutes before time they quote
-
#142
by
Aobrien
on 15 Nov, 2009 16:11
-
Me and my dad have decided to drive over to KSC tonight so we don't hit traffic in the morning on I-4.
Can any suggest a place to go see the stack tonight after RSS retract like 9? Is there any where that you can really see it clearly?
Thanks
-
#143
by
Aobrien
on 15 Nov, 2009 18:15
-
One more thing. What is the difference between the Causeway viewing site and the Causeway VIP viewing site for congressional tickets? Is there a difference?
Thanks
-
#144
by
jbirdav8r
on 15 Nov, 2009 20:07
-
Me and my dad have decided to drive over to KSC tonight so we don't hit traffic in the morning on I-4.
Can any suggest a place to go see the stack tonight after RSS retract like 9? Is there any where that you can really see it clearly?
Thanks
Spaceboy,
There's really not a good place to see the stack as it's still pretty much going to be hidden by the FSS from any good vantage point. Merritt Island NWR is closed by this point, so you can't venture down Playalinda Beach. I suggest heading to the little parking area on the Max Brewer Parkway causeway that heads out toward the center. You'll at least be able to see the pad with the xenons on and the VAB. I'm thinking of trekking out from MCO myself tonight to check it out from there.
Also there's generally no difference between "causeway" and "causeway VIP." Causeway is causeway, but it's still good. On somewhat rare occasions (usually for multiple scrubs in the tourist off-season) they'll bus the congressional visitors out to Banana Creek. But that's unlikely for tomorrow.
-
#145
by
Aobrien
on 15 Nov, 2009 20:35
-
Me and my dad have decided to drive over to KSC tonight so we don't hit traffic in the morning on I-4.
Can any suggest a place to go see the stack tonight after RSS retract like 9? Is there any where that you can really see it clearly?
Thanks
Spaceboy,
There's really not a good place to see the stack as it's still pretty much going to be hidden by the FSS from any good vantage point. Merritt Island NWR is closed by this point, so you can't venture down Playalinda Beach. I suggest heading to the little parking area on the Max Brewer Parkway causeway that heads out toward the center. You'll at least be able to see the pad with the xenons on and the VAB. I'm thinking of trekking out from MCO myself tonight to check it out from there.
Also there's generally no difference between "causeway" and "causeway VIP." Causeway is causeway, but it's still good. On somewhat rare occasions (usually for multiple scrubs in the tourist off-season) they'll bus the congressional visitors out to Banana Creek. But that's unlikely for tomorrow.
Thank you. Well I think I will be leaving with in the next hour or so. Looking forward to a great launch!
-
#146
by
LostInSpace
on 15 Nov, 2009 21:30
-
Me and my dad have decided to drive over to KSC tonight so we don't hit traffic in the morning on I-4.
Can any suggest a place to go see the stack tonight after RSS retract like 9? Is there any where that you can really see it clearly?
Thanks
Spaceboy,
There's really not a good place to see the stack as it's still pretty much going to be hidden by the FSS from any good vantage point. Merritt Island NWR is closed by this point, so you can't venture down Playalinda Beach. I suggest heading to the little parking area on the Max Brewer Parkway causeway that heads out toward the center. You'll at least be able to see the pad with the xenons on and the VAB. I'm thinking of trekking out from MCO myself tonight to check it out from there.
Also there's generally no difference between "causeway" and "causeway VIP." Causeway is causeway, but it's still good. On somewhat rare occasions (usually for multiple scrubs in the tourist off-season) they'll bus the congressional visitors out to Banana Creek. But that's unlikely for tomorrow.
Thank you. Well I think I will be leaving with in the next hour or so. Looking forward to a great launch!
I like the view from the port. Take the beeline, exit Port "A" where the cruise ships are, go over the drawbridge and head towards the airforce gate. There's a stop light on that road. Pull over on the north side by that light and check it out. Not sure if it's legal to pull over there but you're 11 miles from the pad and if the xenons are on and you have binoculars, it should be quite pretty.
-
#147
by
Aobrien
on 15 Nov, 2009 22:39
-
I have just signed up for 25 mb of data for my phone so I can have internet access while over there. Does anyone use internet on there phone and know roughly how much data this website pulls especially on launch day with all the pics?
Thanks
-
#148
by
rdale
on 15 Nov, 2009 22:41
-
Completely depends on how often you refresh. Many of the snapshots are quite small, so shouldn't be a big deal.
-
#149
by
Aobrien
on 15 Nov, 2009 22:43
-
Thanks Rdale.
I am about to leave to KSC now. Look forward to seeing the launch maybe I will see some fellow forum members.
-
#150
by
sts126
on 15 Nov, 2009 23:34
-
I was told earlier in summer all congressional guest would be at banana creek site (3.9 miles west of 39a) causeway does have a couple bleachers on west end a little closer to pad
-
#151
by
ChrisC
on 16 Nov, 2009 00:00
-
How long after launch do the SRB's come into port, and where's the best place to see them?
I'm driving down to Florida on Friday the 20th, so I'll miss the launch (even if it gets delayed to the 20th) but there's still a chance I could see the boats tow the SRBs in. I just checked the STS-125/127/128 threads and there was just one mention of them coming in about 2 days after launch. What is typical? 48 hours? Daytime only?
And where is the best place to see them? I know there's a lock somewhere that I've seen pictured here before. Where is that, and is it accessible to the public?
(and in case it hasn't already been mentioned here, Ben Cooper has
the best advice on launch viewing)
-
#152
by
Nick
on 16 Nov, 2009 00:43
-
How long after launch do the SRB's come into port, and where's the best place to see them?
I've been told that the best place to see them is the lock at Port Canaveral which I believe is the lock at 28.409169N, 80.638671W. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong).
However, I've not found any way of determining when the ships will come in. I've been told normally a day or two after launch, but it can be several days depending on the sea state at the recovery site, which affects their ability to recover the boosters.
The only advice I have received is to go down to the lock and ask the lock master when he is expecting the Freedom/Liberty Star in.
If anyone knows any other way of finding out, please, please share it!!!
-
#153
by
rdale
on 16 Nov, 2009 01:17
-
Due to rough water from all the offshore winds the past few days, it's possible that they won't recover them for a few days anyways.
-
#154
by
ChrisC
on 16 Nov, 2009 03:07
-
Thanks Nick for the good info! I guess you can drive down Mullet Road and get a view from the south side?
A few days delay will be fine with me. As it stands, I'm expecting a launch on Monday, and then only a day or two of SRB delay leading to them entering no later than Friday which means I'll likely miss them. But I'll be watching here for news ...
-
#155
by
Scorpius
on 16 Nov, 2009 19:08
-
Disappointed not to see Atlantis flying over the UK from launch tonight....would this be because she was submerged in Earth's shadow?
Nick
-
#156
by
mike robel
on 16 Nov, 2009 19:26
-
View from the SR 528 Causeway on Merritt Island.
-
#157
by
mike robel
on 16 Nov, 2009 19:28
-
-
#158
by
mike robel
on 16 Nov, 2009 19:28
-
-
#159
by
wjbarnett
on 16 Nov, 2009 21:27
-
Mike's pics are better than mine, but here's a couple!
This was my first launch viewing after years of just watching via NTV. The most impressive difference (at least for me) was the colors in the exhaust: both the SRBs which is much oranger and brighter than any camera image I've ever seen, plus after SRB sep, the SMEs are also bluer than I've seen in any image.
Great viewing today on the causeway! Weather was perfect (for viewing) with broken clouds to keep the sun from being too hot, and with a nice breeze off the river.
If you ever had any doubt! You must see a launch for real! But you'd better hurry to see a shuttle. Only 5 left!
