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#80
by
Aobrien
on 22 Oct, 2009 23:40
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I had the distinct pleasure of seeing the STS-125 launch from the Causeway .... an awesome experience - if you have any chance in doing so, DO IT!
I'm actually happy that the date slipped to the 16th for this launch ... I'm going to be in Orlando at a conference for work.... I won't be able to get over to the Cape, but will I be able to at least see it fly from Orlando?
Thanks - and good luck!!
How zoomed in is this pic?
Just wondering.
I am confirmed for my congressional tickets so this will be my first adn I couldn't be more excited!
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#81
by
dmurphy
on 23 Oct, 2009 11:40
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I had the distinct pleasure of seeing the STS-125 launch from the Causeway .... an awesome experience - if you have any chance in doing so, DO IT!
I'm actually happy that the date slipped to the 16th for this launch ... I'm going to be in Orlando at a conference for work.... I won't be able to get over to the Cape, but will I be able to at least see it fly from Orlando?
Thanks - and good luck!!
How zoomed in is this pic?
Just wondering.
I am confirmed for my congressional tickets so this will be my first adn I couldn't be more excited!
First and foremost, CONGRATULATIONS!!! You're going to be absolutely blown away by the launch ... I know I was!!
I didn't zoom in at all on the computer side; what you see is what the camera took as far as size goes. I just cropped the picture and did some color adjustments.
I took this picture with a
Sigma 50-500mm lens (zoomed in to 500mm) on a Canon Digital Rebel XT.
I rented the lens - send me a private message here if you want to know where I rented it from online (they were excellent!)
Unfortunately, I wish I had a better camera body. The Rebel XT shoots 3 frames per second in JPEG mode, but only about 1 in RAW mode. So I made a decision to shoot JPEG, and my results just weren't as crisp as I would've liked. I know better now - I would've had no problem shooting in RAW, but I would've gotten less pictures of her leaping off the pad. That's a sacrifice I'd make next time. Live and learn.
I was on the Causeway, about 7 miles away or so, and it was quite a hot & hazy day.
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#82
by
dmurphy
on 23 Oct, 2009 11:43
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I won't be able to get over to the Cape, but will I be able to at least see it fly from Orlando?
Oh my goodness, YES! You'll be able to see it (as long as there are relatively clear skies).
Outstanding!! I'm in a 3-day meeting in Orlando that week, and so I imagine I can slip outside for a few minutes to catch the launch, but getting to the Cape just isn't really an option ...
So close - yet so far!!
Now I have to figure out how to get into the 3.5 mile press area for Atlantis' last launch... I saw STS-125; now I'll see STS-129. Just makes sense that NASA should pamper me for STS-132, right? ;-)
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#83
by
Alberto J.
on 23 Oct, 2009 11:51
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Does anyone know for how many days before and after the launch Playalinda is closed to public? Thank you.
I have seen several pictures of the launch pads taken from Playalinda and it is a great view.
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#84
by
yorky10
on 23 Oct, 2009 12:11
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Does anyone know for how many days before and after the launch Playalinda is closed to public? Thank you.
I have seen several pictures of the launch pads taken from Playalinda and it is a great view.
Usually 3 days.
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#85
by
jeff2space
on 23 Oct, 2009 23:47
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#86
by
yorky10
on 25 Oct, 2009 10:36
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I've got a spare (maybe 2) LTT tickets if anyone is interested
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#87
by
pvmeistrel
on 25 Oct, 2009 16:56
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Can anyone tell me what to expect once we're out on the causeway? Is there any place to sit? Do we bring a blanket to sit on? Is there any food or water that can be purchased? What are you allowed to bring?
Thanks.
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#88
by
Nick
on 25 Oct, 2009 21:01
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The Causeway is an open grass area. No seating is provided. You can bring folding seating with you - the "umbrella" type only. (These are on sale in the Visitor Centre beforehand for a few dollars if you haven't got them.) A blanket would be fine.
There are some stalls set up for basic refreshments, and souvenirs. Also portable toilets, IIRC.
You can bring whatever gets through the initial KSC security. No sharp objects, weapons, hard sided coolers.... (There's a list somewhere on the KSC site. If you can't find it, shout, and I'll dig it out.)
The Causeway's basic, but not totally desolate. But the view is fantastic! (All that based on my sole experience - STS-116.)
Most of all, everyone's friendly, there for the same reason as you, and having the time of their lives!
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#89
by
dmurphy
on 26 Oct, 2009 03:55
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Can anyone tell me what to expect once we're out on the causeway? Is there any place to sit? Do we bring a blanket to sit on? Is there any food or water that can be purchased? What are you allowed to bring?
Thanks.
I'll second what Nick said - bring a few umbrella-type lawn chairs, and maybe an umbrella for the heat.
The stall (at least the one by me for STS-125) ran out of stuff pretty quickly so I'd suggest being prepared with something to eat & drink. We stopped at a local Subway the night before, got a few sandwiches and some big bottles of water, and packed the sandwiches on ice - I used the laundry bag in the closet of our hotel room to hold the ice ... worked out great.
... and don't forget your camera!
As Nick said - everyone is out there having the time of their lives... we had a BLAST; we ended up sitting next to Mike Massimino's eye doctor. (Funny story about how he lost his glasses a few days before STS-125!) We had so much fun with the folks around us ... it was just great!
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#90
by
pvmeistrel
on 26 Oct, 2009 15:21
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Thanks so much for the advice. We're traveling from California, so any chairs, etc will have to be purchased there in Florida. Should we count on them having the umbrella chairs there for purchase or would you suggest we find a Walmart (or likewise place) to get them ahead of time?
Another question...or two :-) .... the gal I talked to said the package includes a 2 day pass to KSC. Is that so if the launch is delayed a day you can come back in the next day for the buses? .... or is that because the launch is in the middle of the day and one has a day to visit the center and a day to catch the launch? If it is the latter, would you go the day before the launch on the Up Close tour to see the shuttle on the launch pad closely?
Oooops another question comes to mind... the KSC website says no large bags allowed. How does one bring the food, water, camera, binoculars and an umbrella without a large bag?
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
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#91
by
Paul Adams
on 26 Oct, 2009 15:58
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Thanks so much for the advice. We're traveling from California, so any chairs, etc will have to be purchased there in Florida. Should we count on them having the umbrella chairs there for purchase or would you suggest we find a Walmart (or likewise place) to get them ahead of time?
Another question...or two :-) .... the gal I talked to said the package includes a 2 day pass to KSC. Is that so if the launch is delayed a day you can come back in the next day for the buses? .... or is that because the launch is in the middle of the day and one has a day to visit the center and a day to catch the launch? If it is the latter, would you go the day before the launch on the Up Close tour to see the shuttle on the launch pad closely?
Oooops another question comes to mind... the KSC website says no large bags allowed. How does one bring the food, water, camera, binoculars and an umbrella without a large bag?
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I was at the STS128 launch and chairs in the KSC gift shop for $20 which I thought was very reasonable. However, there were only a few there and I am not sure if they are 'hot' items around launch time!
Paul
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#92
by
smith5se
on 26 Oct, 2009 16:32
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Thanks so much for the advice. We're traveling from California, so any chairs, etc will have to be purchased there in Florida. Should we count on them having the umbrella chairs there for purchase or would you suggest we find a Walmart (or likewise place) to get them ahead of time?
Another question...or two :-) .... the gal I talked to said the package includes a 2 day pass to KSC. Is that so if the launch is delayed a day you can come back in the next day for the buses? .... or is that because the launch is in the middle of the day and one has a day to visit the center and a day to catch the launch? If it is the latter, would you go the day before the launch on the Up Close tour to see the shuttle on the launch pad closely?
Oooops another question comes to mind... the KSC website says no large bags allowed. How does one bring the food, water, camera, binoculars and an umbrella without a large bag?
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
pvmeistrel, the 2-day pass for the tickets is just so you have an extra day at KSC really. I'd say for 128 I used my ticket 5 times to get in KSC thanks to the scrubs and I was still allowed in. For some people they just gave them a new ticket. Example, say you go the day before to catch the up close tour and then you come back for the day of the launch and while there it gets scrubbed, if you haven't left on the busses yet your golden and your tickets are still good. Now if you have already boarded the busses, you get a piece of paper allowing you to buy a new LTT ticket for $21.95 I believe it is and when you get that they will give you a new visitors center pass if you tell them you've already used the 2 you were alotted. Don't forget to see the Astronaut Hall of Fame with your ticket as well! Hope that helps.
If you are worried about bringing in a large bag, you can always buy one at the vistors center once you are inside. They had totes and backpacks the last time I was there.
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#93
by
Nick
on 26 Oct, 2009 19:45
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Should we count on them having the umbrella chairs there for purchase or would you suggest we find a Walmart (or likewise place) to get them ahead of time?
My recollection from STS-116 is that the umbrella chairs suddenly appeared on launch day. Stalls got set up outdoors in the Visitor Centre, and in a marquee I think, near the Rocket Garden. They were selling the chairs, blankets, sweat shirts etc. There was quite a lot of stock, obviously not infinite, though.
Oooops another question comes to mind... the KSC website says no large bags allowed. How does one bring the food, water, camera, binoculars and an umbrella without a large bag?
I really worried about this one, especially since I was on my own last time so had no-one to offload anything to. On the actual launch day, I carried in a largish camera bag (couple of SLR bodies, several lenses, etc, etc), a pair of binoculars, a good sturdy camera tripod, and the folding umbrella chair that I'd bought two days earlier (when the launch was scrubbed). Plus a heavy coat - it was a night launch. I had no trouble at all.
This is purely my take on the situation: the KSCVC security people were very friendly and helpful - not like at an airport ;-). They know you're there to enjoy the launch, take pictures etc. If you're carrying a reasonable amount of stuff commensurate with doing that, you'll get no trouble. The large bag rule is there to give them an "out" if faced with someone who's going totally over the top. As I say, that's purely my opinion...
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#94
by
wjbarnett
on 26 Oct, 2009 19:54
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Question on security: is the security screening immediately upon parking/entry to the visitor center, or is later when boarding the bus to the causeway?
Since we have the 6:30 breakfast with astro tickets, the above is probably 4-5 hours different for us, and if the former, then is there any alternative to carrying all our stuff around the visitor center for all that time?
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#95
by
astrobrian
on 26 Oct, 2009 20:30
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Normally security will do their thing about 10 feet inside the doors to the visitor center, not sure if there is anything additional during launch days though
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#96
by
Aobrien
on 26 Oct, 2009 20:38
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Can somebody tell me how early you think I should get there and how much traffic I can expect? I will be driving from Tampa launch day and want to get there early (as early as I can get my dad to go).
Thanks
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#97
by
Alberto J.
on 26 Oct, 2009 22:38
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Can somebody tell me how early you think I should get there and how much traffic I can expect? I will be driving from Tampa launch day and want to get there early (as early as I can get my dad to go).
Thanks
I think this link can help you:
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/LTT.aspxand if you check the KSCVC web several days before the launch date I think that they post on it more information about arriving time. I have no idea about traffic. This will be my first launch.
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#98
by
Nick
on 27 Oct, 2009 08:48
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Since we have the 6:30 breakfast with astro tickets, the above is probably 4-5 hours different for us, and if the former, then is there any alternative to carrying all our stuff around the visitor center for all that time?
When I was there, you could go back to your car. I can't remember how that was managed - with a hand stamp, I think.
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#99
by
Nick
on 27 Oct, 2009 08:49
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Normally security will do their thing about 10 feet inside the doors to the visitor center, not sure if there is anything additional during launch days though
Nothing additional for 116.
