Author Topic: Space Shuttle Enterprise move from Smithsonian NASM to New York (Read 166931 times)

Mapperuo · « **Reply #260 on:** 04/26/2012 05:32 pm »

Quote from: Rahkashi on 04/26/2012 01:11 am

I know I've asked this a million times, but will the ferry flight be broadcasted by anyone (NASA, Spaceflightnow, etc.)?

If not live, 100% in the NASA Video File. But I'd be surprised if they didn't cover atleast some parts of it live. (NASA that is)

ChrisC · « **Reply #261 on:** 04/26/2012 07:23 pm »

CNN will be doing complete coverage, like they did with Discovery. Yes, the commentary can be inane, especially for us here who will bristle at their inevitable errors of fact, so save yourself the grief and just turn the volume down.

If there's breaking news (e.g. George Zimmerman sneezes) then it might get preempted, so pray that tomorrow is a slow news day, at least in the morning.

Besides cable TV, CNN has several online viewing options, and they'll probably have this event on one of the live channels at http://live.cnn.com/ . That's also useful if they switch away on the regular cable TV feed, because the online live feeds stay with the story. And usually with no commentary!

mtakala24 · « **Reply #262 on:** 04/26/2012 07:45 pm »

i also love this thread.

Rahkashi · « **Reply #263 on:** 04/26/2012 07:50 pm »

Quote from: ChrisC on 04/26/2012 07:23 pm

CNN will be doing complete coverage, like they did with Discovery. Yes, the commentary can be inane, especially for us here who will bristle at their enevitable errors of fact, so save yourself the grief and just turn the volume down.

If there's breaking news (e.g. George Zimmerman sneezes) then it might get preempted, so pray that tomorrow is a slow news day, at least in the morning.

Besides cable TV, CNN has several online viewing options, and they'll probably have this event on one of the live channels at http://live.cnn.com/ . That's also useful if they switch away on the regular cable TV feed, because the online live feeds stay with the story. And usually with no commentary!

Quote from: Mapperuo on 04/26/2012 05:32 pm

Quote from: Rahkashi on 04/26/2012 01:11 am
I know I've asked this a million times, but will the ferry flight be broadcasted by anyone (NASA, Spaceflightnow, etc.)?

If not live, 100% in the NASA Video File. But I'd be surprised if they didn't cover atleast some parts of it live. (NASA that is)

Great! I'll be stuck with an iPad tomorrow, so I hope I'll be able to watch it. (If not, theirs always the 13GB file I'll record on my computer)

And what type of errors? ("Enterprise, known in NASA as OV-102....")

gregzsidisin · « **Reply #264 on:** 04/26/2012 08:15 pm »

Some viewing suggestions in NYC, which I also posted on space.com:

Some of the best photography may actually be from New Jersey. Parks on the Hudson River waterfront - particularly Weehawken Waterfront Park in Weehawken, NJ, near the Lincoln Tunnel - may give great views of Enterprise flying by the Intrepid across the river. The southern end of Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ may offer excellent photos of Enterprise and the Statue of Liberty. (http://www.stevegreerphotography.com/blog/new-jersey-subjects/liberty-state-park-new-jersey/)

The northern end of Liberty State Park has a great view of downtown Manhattan, including the under-construction Freedom Tower. (There is also a 911 monument that may make an interesting foreground.)

A little further north, there are some good Manhattan viewing spots in Hoboken, including a waterfront park near the Hoboken train station, and Castle Point on the campus of Stevens Institute of Technology, a relatively high point with a commanding view of the city and particularly the Empire State Building.

Northern NJ and NYC are old stomping grounds - and we used to have National Space Society meetings on the Intrepid itself.

Nevertheless, I'm just going to go out into my apartment courtyard just north of Dulles Airport and wave "bye".

Especially when I think of how the JFK ceremony is closed to all but a bunch of self-congratulating local politicians - after the wide-open reception of Discovery at Dulles - I must admit feeling a little sick to my stomach. And this is from someone who loves a lot of what NYC is about.

bkellysky · « **Reply #265 on:** 04/26/2012 11:21 pm »

Greg: "The southern end of Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ may offer excellent photos of Enterprise and the Statue of Liberty"

-Just check out where the sun will be in the sky. The morning sun may be in your eyes (and camera) when looking out to the southeast.

bob

ARD · « **Reply #266 on:** 04/27/2012 12:03 am »

Bayswater Point State Park in Long Island looks like a good place to observe the first JFK flyover and the final landing--that's where I think I'll be tomorrow.

gregzsidisin · « **Reply #267 on:** 04/27/2012 02:28 am »

Quote from: bkellysky on 04/26/2012 11:21 pm

Greg: "The southern end of Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ may offer excellent photos of Enterprise and the Statue of Liberty"

-Just check out where the sun will be in the sky. The morning sun may be in your eyes (and camera) when looking out to the southeast.

bob

See the attached sun chart. The aircraft may be backlit, but you won't be staring into the sun - it will be high enough in the sky by that time. The landscape block-outs are accurate, derived from Google Earth and basic trig. I think the apparent flyover height of will be lower than I'm showing.

From experience, if you're viewing from that corner of the park, the apparent height of the Statue of Liberty will seem large, as will the angular distance between the Statue and lower Manhattan. The Sun's going to be pretty high and away during the expected timeframe.

The only other really good ways I can think of to get a good shot of the Statue and Enterprise is to be touring Liberty Island (where the Statue is), or Ellis Island.

The problem with Ellis Island may be buildings in the way, since the southern side of the island has the old, off-limit buildings, and there may not be good sight lines. And, you'll be photographing the back of the Statue, which faces out into the harbor entrance.

You'd probably get some great views of Enterprise from Liberty Island itself, with some very close-up shots of the Statue and Enterprise in the distance and against the Manhattan skyline. You'd have to take the 9 or 9:30 ferry from either Battery Park in NYC or Liberty State Park in NJ in either case to leave enough time.

The view from Governor's Island should be cool. Too bad it's currently closed to the public, until Memorial Day Weekend.

Oh, or if you just happen to get the right trip on the Staten Island Ferry...

gregzsidisin · « **Reply #268 on:** 04/27/2012 03:24 am »

Just a modification, this time with the view from that point taken from Google Earth. Fits nicely, and now I'm quite confident the view will be fine.

gregzsidisin · « **Reply #269 on:** 04/27/2012 03:38 am »

Quote from: gregzsidisin on 04/27/2012 03:24 am

Just a modification, this time with the view from that point taken from Google Earth. Fits nicely, and now I'm quite confident the view will be fine.

A few more. Here's a view from the southern tip of Liberty State Park. The sun will be a little lower, but further along - possibly where the circle artifact is in the upper right. There won't be a big view issue.

Ah, hadn't thought of it but - the Empire State Bldg will be a really cool place to take photos as Enterprise flies up and down the Hudson. Assuming you can fight the crowd to get a clear view, hard on even good days.

gregzsidisin · « **Reply #270 on:** 04/27/2012 04:47 am »

Last pics for NYC Enterprise watchers, then I'm off to bed.

Google Earth simulated view from the Empire State Bldg. Especially with a long lens, should yield some nice photos to the folks clamoring for a peek there. (The people at the NY1 news desk should have even better views.)

The view from tiny Hamilton Park in Weehawken - which is at the top of the hill there, and pretty directly across from Intrepid - should give better views than I thought. The actual photo at http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00X0XT gives a much better impression than Google Earth. (The park also happens to be where the Burr-Hamilton duel took place.)

While parking can be tough all along that ridge, there are lots of great spots to look out across the Hudson. I'm sure a lot of people will have incredible views tomorrow morning.

Lastly, a plug for the first college I went to - Stevens Tech in Hoboken. (I transferred after a year to NJ Institute of Technology in Newark.) I can't find a good photo looking from scenic Castle Point towards the uptown waterfront, where Intrepid is, but this should give an idea: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1600&bih=728&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=HTy298UbEX1-rM:&imgrefurl=http://personal.stevens.edu/~ychen6/&docid=1ze3kg217G-AfM&imgurl=http://personal.stevens.edu/~ychen6/birdview.jpg&w=897&h=397&ei=PyOaT9XMKeXV0QGfwO2RDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=637&vpy=295&dur=43&hovh=149&hovw=338&tx=155&ty=94&sig=104556449947018022268&page=1&tbnh=72&tbnw=163&start=0&ndsp=34&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0,i:93

I'm stopping here. Not only do I think I proved my point, but I'm starting to regret that I won't see Enterprise from my old home turf...

Alpha Control · « **Reply #271 on:** 04/27/2012 05:32 am »

I know it's late (or early, depending on where you live), but does anyone have any info on how to check which direction the SCA will takeoff tomorrow morning from Dulles?

As I figure it, she can either takeoff to the north or to the south, depending on the wind direction. I'm planning to be there in the morning to watch the takeoff, and the takeoff direction makes a big difference on which end of the airport to head to for viewing.

Thanks,
David

EirikV · « **Reply #272 on:** 04/27/2012 06:00 am »

Clearly looks like a north/northwest departure given the current wind prognosis

Weather
METAR: KIAD 270452Z 32007KT 10SM FEW040 15/08 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP082 T01500078 401890122
TAF: KIAD 270520Z 2706/2812 32010G20KT P6SM SCT100
FM271200 32015G24KT P6SM FEW100
FM280000 33006KT P6SM SKC

If the TAF trend holds up winds will come from the northwest, which means they'll likely go for runway 01 (I believe 01R is closest to their parking spot?). Check the METAR before you go, eventually confirm visually where other aircraft are departing. Be aware other aircraft might utilize more than one runway (runway 30 is more optimal for northwesterly winds and may be considered for the SCA if the crosswind component is too great)

Edit for the non-pilot:
RWY01 is ~north
RWY30 is ~northwest (this runway is further away from the SCA and slightly shorter, but still adequate)

Alpha Control · « **Reply #273 on:** 04/27/2012 06:45 am »

Quote from: EirikV on 04/27/2012 06:00 am

Clearly looks like a north/northwest departure given the current wind prognosis

Weather
METAR: KIAD 270452Z 32007KT 10SM FEW040 15/08 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP082 T01500078 401890122
TAF: KIAD 270520Z 2706/2812 32010G20KT P6SM SCT100
FM271200 32015G24KT P6SM FEW100
FM280000 33006KT P6SM SKC

If the TAF trend holds up winds will come from the northwest, which means they'll likely go for runway 01 (I believe 01R is closest to their parking spot?). Check the METAR before you go, eventually confirm visually where other aircraft are departing. Be aware other aircraft might utilize more than one runway (runway 30 is more optimal for northwesterly winds and may be considered for the SCA if the crosswind component is too great)

Edit for the non-pilot:
RWY01 is ~north
RWY30 is ~northwest (this runway is further away from the SCA and slightly shorter, but still adequate)

Thanks very much! And the non-pilot in me thanks you for the runway 01 clarification. That means I should have the best viewing if I drive near the terminal. I was going to go back to Udvar-Hazy if it was going to be a south departure (as it is due south of the airport).

I found and attached a Dulles airport diagram showing all the runways. I do hope it's runway 1R, as that's the closest to the highway. Runway 1L is deeper into airport property, for example, and I think it would be harder to get a good view.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #274 on:** 04/27/2012 11:02 am »

Great thread. I'll start a live one for the screenshots, but I won't lock this one.

Blackstar · « **Reply #275 on:** 04/27/2012 11:17 am »

Took these photos of Enterprise Thursday afternoon.

Also took some shots of Discovery.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #276 on:** 04/27/2012 12:01 pm »

Very nice photos, Blackstar.

As noted, keeping this thread open. However, for live coverage of today's events, we will be using this thread:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28755.0

dvsmith · « **Reply #277 on:** 05/03/2012 03:48 pm »

Saw this on Facebook (it's not my photo, else I'd attach it).

It seems as though someone mis-measured:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=354779491238490

Any word on whether or not they've got Enterprise and 905 compeletely covered, by now?

brettreds2k · « **Reply #278 on:** 05/03/2012 04:11 pm »

Facebook is blocked at my office, can you save the picture to your computer and then post the picture?

gregzsidisin · « **Reply #279 on:** 05/03/2012 04:20 pm »

Quote from: dvsmith on 05/03/2012 03:48 pm

Saw this on Facebook (it's not my photo, else I'd attach it).

It seems as though someone mis-measured:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=354779491238490

Any word on whether or not they've got Enterprise and 905 compeletely covered, by now?

Wow, I wonder if they plan to just leave it that way until the transfer...