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#40
by
spacedog71
on 09 Apr, 2010 01:14
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Here is a shot os sts-130 from Banana Creek.
hello walter,
wow! i must have been standing right next to you (i was the guy with the red beard and the black bandanna) and snapping my shutter at the
exact same time -- the steam clouds are precisely the same [though, clearly, yours is the vastly superior lens.]
talk about a moment i could have spent forever living in...
oh, OT: check out page nine of the sts-131 viewing forum --
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=20450.120 -- for detailed titusville information. apparently the magic words are "clarion hotel parking pass".
and re: gator tours: if you can afford it, do it! it's convenient (depending on the hotel you're staying at) and comfortable, the extra cost is comparable to a one day car rental, and tickets to the exact same causeway are available for a good long while after kscvc sells out. i don't know for sure, but it seemed as though gator was still selling causeway tickets for sts-131 as late as the week before the launch, which is stupefying to me (i very much doubt the final three launches will take nearly as much time to sell out).
the one negative is that you do need to bring absolutely everything off of the bus with you while they sweep it, which can be a pain if you're carrying a lot of heavy tripods and want to catch the shuttle launch experience. (protip: find someone friendly with visitor's center viewing tickets who's already staked out a lawn space with some portable chairs or a picnic blanket and ask if they wouldn't mind keeping an eye on your bulkier stuff while you go on the ride.)
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#41
by
danduc
on 09 Apr, 2010 02:42
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Hi
I did Gator Tour Sunday night and I am quite satisfied with the service. We even got to see a movie on the way ;-)
You take the same bus to the Causeway. They drop you off at the ticket centre and later on you board the same one. Very simple.
Daniel
Hi guys
I am coming over from Melbourne Australia for my first launch - sts132 works well for my timing, plan to arrive on the Tues evening and leave 1 week latter on following Tues.
Looks like u have to be pretty lucky to get causeway tickets online ( they sell out pretty quick by the looks of it!) so thinking of doing one of the local tours that offer causeway location, like Gator Tours. Has anyone any experience with them or other tour companies that u care to share?
Looking forward to my first launch...
Frosty - Australia
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#42
by
Frostywinter
on 09 Apr, 2010 07:08
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Ok tks for the tips and comments on Gator Tours..
I notice they have 2
Regular Launch Viewing at the Kennedy Visitor Complex $95
&
VIP Space Shuttle Viewing $115
Not that there is much diff in price but is the $115 one worth the extra few dollars?
Tks
Frosty
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#43
by
TISM
on 09 Apr, 2010 07:25
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Regular Launch Viewing at the Kennedy Visitor Complex $95
&
VIP Space Shuttle Viewing $115
Not that there is much diff in price but is the $115 one worth the extra few dollars?
I have not been on their tours but know the locations. DEFINITELY pay the extra, you will have line of site to the pad and is closer as the crow flies. from the visitors center you will only see once cleared the pad (and trees). Check google earth for locations.
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#44
by
pechisbeque
on 09 Apr, 2010 08:15
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Hi,
I'm also planning on flying from Germany to watch the launch.
Does anyone know if the STS-132 launch date is dependent on how long STS-131 is? Like one extra docked day, or landing waivers caused by the weather?
I'll also try to buy some Causeway Tickets even though that doesn't look humanly possible.
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#45
by
MarkG
on 09 Apr, 2010 09:29
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The $20 price difference between the two tickets is what KSC charge for an LTT (Launch Transportation Ticket) - which gets you from the Visitor Center to the Causeway.
If you get the choice, then don't even think about scrimping on this - the shuttle isn't visible until T+12s from the Visitor Center. You didn't pay all that money to miss the first 12 seconds.
PS - I'm another satisfied Gator Tours customer from STS-131. My contribution to the local economy as a result - about $4,000.
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#46
by
robertross
on 09 Apr, 2010 09:48
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PS - I'm another satisfied Gator Tours customer from STS-131. My contribution to the local economy as a result - about $4,000.
Dear Lord!!
Yeah, I'm going to 'try' and be on a slightly slimmer budget than that.
Still holding off on any bookings, though once those tickets go up for sale, that's #1
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#47
by
Mindcrash
on 09 Apr, 2010 11:56
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What will be the launchtimes if the launch on May 14th will be delayed,
e.g. a launch on May 15th or May 16th? Will it be a night launch?
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#48
by
nathan.moeller
on 09 Apr, 2010 13:44
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What will be the launchtimes if the launch on May 14th will be delayed,
e.g. a launch on May 15th or May 16th? Will it be a night launch?
Launch times slip by about 23 or 24 minutes each subsequent day, so you can take some educated guesses for the 15th (about 2:05 pm) and the 16th (about 1:42). As we get closer, Bill Harwood will publish a launch windows chart with more exact times for each day. As for the night launch, you don't have to worry about that until June 8th.
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#49
by
nathan.moeller
on 09 Apr, 2010 13:51
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PS - I'm another satisfied Gator Tours customer from STS-131. My contribution to the local economy as a result - about $4,000.
Dear Lord!!
Yeah, I'm going to 'try' and be on a slightly slimmer budget than that.
Still holding off on any bookings, though once those tickets go up for sale, that's #1
Robert - check your PMs.
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#50
by
pechisbeque
on 09 Apr, 2010 15:31
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What will be the launchtimes if the launch on May 14th will be delayed,
e.g. a launch on May 15th or May 16th? Will it be a night launch?
Launch times slip by about 23 or 24 minutes each subsequent day, so you can take some educated guesses for the 15th (about 2:05 pm) and the 16th (about 1:42). As we get closer, Bill Harwood will publish a launch windows chart with more exact times for each day. As for the night launch, you don't have to worry about that until June 8th.
What about the launch window? Does it slip a day for every extra day that STS-131 stays in orbit?
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#51
by
TISM
on 09 Apr, 2010 15:43
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What about the launch window? Does it slip a day for every extra day that STS-131 stays in orbit?
No, an extra day or two (can't be too much more than that anyway) for Discovery in orbit has no direct affect on launch window. The pad is clear and Atlantis flow is well advanced. There are larger planning issues being considered and also weather or technocal things may arise (Discovery was delayed rolling to VAB due to cold weather) that may delay but not Discovery's time on orbit.
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#52
by
nathan.moeller
on 09 Apr, 2010 15:44
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What about the launch window? Does it slip a day for every extra day that STS-131 stays in orbit?
The STS-132 launch window no longer has anything to do with STS-131. It mainly has to do with getting Atlantis, her ET, SRBs and other related hardware ready to go on time. However, there's always the chance that the mission could slip into June for LON requirements, should STS-134's payload (AMS) incur a significant delay. But Atlantis, her hardware and the STS-132/ISS-ULF4 payload (MRM-1) are all on track for a May 14 liftoff.
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#53
by
pechisbeque
on 09 Apr, 2010 15:53
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The STS-132 launch window no longer has anything to do with STS-131. It mainly has to do with getting Atlantis, her ET, SRBs and other related hardware ready to go on time. However, there's always the chance that the mission could slip into June for LON requirements, should STS-134's payload (AMS) incur a significant delay. But Atlantis, her hardware and the STS-132/ISS-ULF4 payload (MRM-1) are all on track for a May 14 liftoff.
Thanks for the fast replies!
Does the possible delay for STS-134 mean that the AMS would have to be installed in the payload bay of the LON flight?
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#54
by
nathan.moeller
on 09 Apr, 2010 15:58
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Thanks for the fast replies!
Does the possible delay for STS-134 mean that the AMS would have to be installed in the payload bay of the LON flight?
All LON missions from here on out are manifested as the actual mission, but with a smaller crew. So yes, LON for STS-132 would see STS-134 take AMS to the space station, carry out that mission and come home with the STS-132 crew.
That is one of the concerns at this point. If AMS incurs a significant delay (beyond two months, as noted at the STS-131 FRR briefing), they would likely delay STS-132 to help close the gap between when STS-132 would launch and when STS-134 (or possibly STS-133) would be ready to support LON.
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#55
by
pechisbeque
on 09 Apr, 2010 16:14
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That is one of the concerns at this point. If AMS incurs a significant delay (beyond two months, as noted at the STS-131 FRR briefing), they would likely delay STS-132 to help close the gap between when STS-132 would launch and when STS-134 (or possibly STS-133) would be ready to support LON.
Oh... I was just hoping I could book a flight to US to finally be able to watch a launch. I guess I have to wait a few days for some news.
I've been reading in the forum and I can't find any information as to when a decision on STS-134 will be made. Maybe you have some information?
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#56
by
nathan.moeller
on 09 Apr, 2010 16:18
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Oh... I was just hoping I could book a flight to US to finally be able to watch a launch. I guess I have to wait a few days for some news.
I've been reading in the forum and I can't find any information as to when a decision on STS-134 will be made. Maybe you have some information?
I went ahead and got my tickets on Monday because costs are starting to go up. If you can get some tickets that are transferable (no charge to change flights other than difference in flight costs) I'd go ahead and pull the trigger. Same for hotel reservations.
We should know about AMS sometime this month (mid to late).
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#57
by
pechisbeque
on 09 Apr, 2010 16:21
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I went ahead and got my tickets on Monday because costs are starting to go up. If you can get some tickets that are transferable (no charge to change flights other than difference in flight costs) I'd go ahead and pull the trigger.
Same for hotel reservations.
Thanks, I'll follow your advice.
I'm thinking about renting an RV, though!
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#58
by
nathan.moeller
on 09 Apr, 2010 16:33
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Thanks, I'll follow your advice.
I'm thinking about renting an RV, though!
Wow! Where are you coming down from? Maybe I'll approach YOU for lodging! Larry and I have plans to stay at two different hotels while we're there. Looking forward to a great trip!
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#59
by
Walter S
on 09 Apr, 2010 18:28
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Here is a shot os sts-130 from Banana Creek.
hello walter,
wow! i must have been standing right next to you (i was the guy with the red beard and the black bandanna) and snapping my shutter at the exact same time -- the steam clouds are precisely the same [though, clearly, yours is the vastly superior lens.]
talk about a moment i could have spent forever living in...
oh, OT: check out page nine of the sts-131 viewing forum -- http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=20450.120 -- for detailed titusville information. apparently the magic words are "clarion hotel parking pass".
and re: gator tours: if you can afford it, do it! it's convenient (depending on the hotel you're staying at) and comfortable, the extra cost is comparable to a one day car rental, and tickets to the exact same causeway are available for a good long while after kscvc sells out. i don't know for sure, but it seemed as though gator was still selling causeway tickets for sts-131 as late as the week before the launch, which is stupefying to me (i very much doubt the final three launches will take nearly as much time to sell out).
the one negative is that you do need to bring absolutely everything off of the bus with you while they sweep it, which can be a pain if you're carrying a lot of heavy tripods and want to catch the shuttle launch experience. (protip: find someone friendly with visitor's center viewing tickets who's already staked out a lawn space with some portable chairs or a picnic blanket and ask if they wouldn't mind keeping an eye on your bulkier stuff while you go on the ride.)
WOW, you cant get any more identical than that. It was an incredible moment and to be able to capture it in stills was even better.
