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#440
by
jwa95ta
on 27 Apr, 2010 16:14
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Thanks DirtyDeeds for all the great info!!
We actually watched Atlantis last may too. Really close to the spot you just described (empty lot). I think we paid 5 or 10 bucks to park. It was about a little under 2 miles north of the mcdonalds. My son was 2 then and was really good. I imagine he will behave this time too, but was wanting to keep his interest just in case.
We got there a little later then I wanted last year and that mcdonalds was a mad house!! We stopped to get something to eat, and use the bathrooms!! But man it was packed!!!!!! It was my 1st launch and I wasnt aware of the number of people that were going to be there.
I will try that space view park possibly or the smokehouse place Andrewwski mentioned (thanks for that Andrewwski !!)
Thanks for all the info guys. My ultimate goal was just to be on site at kennedy (causeway or visitor center) but the view from titusville isnt bad either.
Jason
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#441
by
cian
on 27 Apr, 2010 16:15
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How many people on average turn up for a launch to Titusville and surrounding areas?
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#442
by
nono_in_space
on 27 Apr, 2010 16:17
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STS-134 has been moved to November.
It was the LON for STS-132.
I read somewhere the last days, that a delay of STS-134
would delay STS-132.
Any suggestions?
this was posted in their facebook page yesterday:
"Space Shuttle Managers have decided that STS-132 can continue to track for May 14, with STS-133 following in September, while STS-134 moves to mid-November."
Thank you for the fast information. That keeps me alive
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#443
by
Martin FL
on 27 Apr, 2010 16:18
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STS-134 has been moved to November.
It was the LON for STS-132.
I read somewhere the last days, that a delay of STS-134
would delay STS-132.
Any suggestions?
this was posted in their facebook page yesterday:
"Space Shuttle Managers have decided that STS-132 can continue to track for May 14, with STS-133 following in September, while STS-134 moves to mid-November."
Unbelievable.
This site broke the news yesterday? Ever heard of the site? It's called NASASpaceflight.com
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/04/shuttle-schedule-extended-sts-134-slip-to-november/
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#444
by
craigcocca
on 27 Apr, 2010 17:13
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How many people on average turn up for a launch to Titusville and surrounding areas?
I would estimate that there were over 8,000 people in Titusville for STS-131. We saw people camped out along US-1 early in the morning the day before launch, and by launch time, there were people lining every open spot along the Indian River, every road median, and every curb across the way from the river. It was quite the madhouse.
There were lots of places charging to park, but you can find public parking along the streets if you don't mind parking a few blocks inland and hiking over to the river. I think we parked about 4-5 blocks away and then walked. Be careful that you don't park where it's marked "No Parking", and try to respect the residents in the area. Although I'm sure they're used to the crowds after 30 years, I saw plenty of people who were parking in front of residents' driveways, which just isn't right.
I will share a bit of a secret that I discovered when I went to the launch. Since the wife and I had just gotten back from our cruise on April 4th, we were pretty tired and not in the mood to camp out in Titusville for a "good spot" overnight (frankly people, a 184-foot tall space shuttle looks pretty much the same from along the river as it does 100-feet away across the street!). I had read in the STS-131 viewing/going-to-the-launch thread that Port St. John, which is south of Titusville, also affords a nice view of launches (especially those at night), so I devised a strategy to head for Port St. John, and then work my way up US-1 to see how close I could get before getting stuck in traffic. I figured if traffic slowed down, we'd just pull over and watch from where we were.
Sure enough, when we got to the junction of the 528 and the 407, I saw that the traffic heading directly for Titusville was at a dead stop. So I went to the right in the fork of the road, and then exited the 528 at US-1 in Port St. John. Amazingly, there were NO cars on this stretch of US-1, so we just cruised north along the Indian River until we hit Titusville. There, we parked the car a few blocks east of the river and then walked right up to a spot on the river-side of US-1.
So if you're planning on going to Titusville for the launch, I would suggest you bypass route 407 and I-95, and just head up US-1 from Port St. John. You might save yourself a lot of headache and sitting in traffic by doing that.
--Craig
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#445
by
DirtyDeeds
on 27 Apr, 2010 17:25
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I would estimate that there were over 8,000 people in Titusville for STS-131.
While I was not there for STS-131, I've been to two other launches, and I have got to believe you're off by an order of magnitude. 8,000 people is a good day at a minor league baseball game. The amount of traffic and amount of people I've seen at launches far surpasses any sporting event I've ever seen, and any concert, and any... anything. Driving back from Titusville for STS-125 to Winter Park, I never had the opportunity to shift my car out of first gear, and it took four hours to get back. 8,000 seems like way too tiny of a number to be correct.
What is really amazing, and encouraging, to me is the number of people that will gather along any beach or overlook along the East Coast to watch a night time shuttle launch. Here in North Carolina, at a local dark beach, several dozen people, totally unorganized from one another, will always gather to watch the Shuttle launches (which, depending on weather and lighting conditions, can be quite spectacular!). Everyone gathers around the one or two guys that have either a satellite radio feed of mission control, or the mission control call-in on their cell phone, or whatever, or people will just shout out the milestones of each countdown/flight as they occur. It's really neat. Definitely the second best thing to actually being there (the third best is spacevidcast and nasaspaceflight up on your computer simultaneously).
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#446
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 27 Apr, 2010 17:46
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My question is how long is the launch window (days, I know each is a 10 minute window). I thought I read it was something like 6 days before they would have to take her back to the VAB. I still have some time to extend my trip past then if it is longer than that.
Usually it is something like 10 days - each days the launch time moves 25 minutes early:
May 14: 2:19 pm
May 15: 1:54 pm
May 16: 1:29 pm
and so forth
Ok thanks for the info, I guess if it does not launch within the first 3 days or so we might look into extending our stay. I just hope it launches on the 14th so we can enjoy the area with the rest of our days down there.
Guys.... remember that this is a news site.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/04/sts-132-reviews-readiness-and-potential-timelines-atlantis-mission/That article (which has been up since Sunday night) contains all the launch window information and launch times.
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#447
by
himom
on 27 Apr, 2010 18:07
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Hi everyone,
I'm a newbie and very glad to have found a group of people who are so enthusiastic about space flights. Our friends and family think we are nuts to go all the way across the country JUST to see a shuttle launch (what? You are not going to Disney?). This will be our first time watching a shuttle launch in person, previous ones were from NASAtv website.
I tried to buy LTT yesterday but could only get VC tickets. Do you think it's better to watch from a spot along US-1 and be able to see the pad than the VC? We are planning to visit KSC anyway, so the VC tickets would still get used. How early do you need to stake out a place along US-1 and what would be a good spot to be when we have 2 young 'uns (4 and 7), one of whom is a die-hard space fan? At the Space View park or somewhere along the highway?
I'm a bit anxious about the uncertainty of the launch schedule. Which website should I tune in to get the latest update on the launch schedule? Also, in the event of a last minute scrub, would VC ticket holders be able to buy LTT at the ticket window? Does it turn into a mad dash of first-come-first-served to the ticket window or is there a specific time that they announce?
I appreciate all the advice and tips shared!
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#448
by
LostInSpace
on 27 Apr, 2010 20:06
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Chris, now we're at 30 pages! Apparently there were over 32,000 people onsite for STS-131 and PAO projections were to double that number for the last few flights. I have lived in Cape Canaveral for 3 yrs and I have NEVER seen traffic as bad as it was April 5th weekend. I now buy groceries around launch time like there is a hurricane coming.
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#449
by
Andrewwski
on 27 Apr, 2010 20:47
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Hi everyone,
I'm a newbie and very glad to have found a group of people who are so enthusiastic about space flights. Our friends and family think we are nuts to go all the way across the country JUST to see a shuttle launch (what? You are not going to Disney?). This will be our first time watching a shuttle launch in person, previous ones were from NASAtv website.
I tried to buy LTT yesterday but could only get VC tickets. Do you think it's better to watch from a spot along US-1 and be able to see the pad than the VC? We are planning to visit KSC anyway, so the VC tickets would still get used. How early do you need to stake out a place along US-1 and what would be a good spot to be when we have 2 young 'uns (4 and 7), one of whom is a die-hard space fan? At the Space View park or somewhere along the highway?
With the kids, they may enjoy being at the VC more during the countdown. I'd probably go to Titusville for a nicer view though, and if you go to the VC on a "regular" day you can go on the tours and such.
I'd get to Titusville at least three hours before launch. I got there about three hours for STS-118 and things were filling up pretty rapidly by that time. The earlier you get there, the easier it will be to park and find a spot - definitely would not recommend less than three hours.
I'm a bit anxious about the uncertainty of the launch schedule. Which website should I tune in to get the latest update on the launch schedule? Also, in the event of a last minute scrub, would VC ticket holders be able to buy LTT at the ticket window? Does it turn into a mad dash of first-come-first-served to the ticket window or is there a specific time that they announce?
I appreciate all the advice and tips shared!
This website. You'll find the news breaks here well before anywhere else.
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#450
by
beef5stew
on 27 Apr, 2010 20:58
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Yep, I'll be checking here every day until the launch. I have a flight in LATE on thursday (staying near Orlando Airport), then friday and saturday night in Melbourne. That's the closest hotel I could find that didn't completely suck. I guess that's what I get for going "last minute."
However....I'm keeping an eye on this site, if something should change, or the launch slips...I think I can jump into a closer hotel and better flights If I am quick enough. Keeping my fingers crossed...everything is still refundable/changeable.
My plan to go fishing on Saturday if everything goes okay on Friday...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let the weather cooperate. Anyone know the stats on past May Launches?
TJ
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#451
by
Yegor
on 27 Apr, 2010 21:12
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Suppose if the launch will be delayed till May 19.
I have a return airplane ticket for May 19 at 1:53pm
The launch time for May 19 is 12:17pm EDT.
I have 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to the plane.
I know that it will be a heavy traffic that day everywhere but suppose if I park at the intersection of 528 and 407 to see the launch. It is 20 miles from launch pads but 30 miles from Orlando Airport. On a normal day the drive to the airport is less than 30 minutes from this point.
Will I be able to get to the airport in 30 minutes?
I should be way ahead of the traffic with Titusville and Port St. John behind me?
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#452
by
astrobrian
on 27 Apr, 2010 21:33
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Way too many what ifs and variables. And even if someone could say yes to what you want to do, it only takes one traffic accident to mess it all up. Unless you have plans for a missed flight I wouldn't chance it
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#453
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 28 Apr, 2010 00:36
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Suppose if the launch will be delayed till May 19.
I have a return airplane ticket for May 19 at 1:53pm
The launch time for May 19 is 12:17pm EDT.
I have 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to the plane.
I know that it will be a heavy traffic that day everywhere but suppose if I park at the intersection of 528 and 407 to see the launch. It is 20 miles from launch pads but 30 miles from Orlando Airport. On a normal day the drive to the airport is less than 30 minutes from this point.
Will I be able to get to the airport in 30 minutes?
I should be way ahead of the traffic with Titusville and Port St. John behind me?
Oh, that's cute. Yeah... unless you really are ok with missing your plane, being anywhere near the Cape will prove a nightmare in terms of traffic.
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#454
by
Yegor
on 28 Apr, 2010 03:12
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Thank you for replies!
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#455
by
wjbarnett
on 28 Apr, 2010 03:28
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As an example of the traffic in Titusvile: for STS131 when I checked out of the Clarion at 9:30am (3 hours after launch), it took me over 45 mins to go the <2 miles to the I95 entrance. Traffic out of town was still moving very slow, and I was avoiding the path out KSCVC!
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#456
by
Yegor
on 28 Apr, 2010 03:35
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In that case I would watch from the Orlando International Airport.
50 miles distance is not very good.
Is there windows in the airport on the upper floors facing east?
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#457
by
Andrewwski
on 28 Apr, 2010 06:00
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Not at all possible to do that.
You really need to be at the airport an hour and a half before hand. If you're in Titusville, with traffic it's almost guaranteed your plane would already be in the air by the time you get there. And that's not counting time to check in, go through security, board, etc.
I've heard reports that say 528 turns into a essentially a parking lot before a launch.
While 50 miles isn't ideal you'd still be able to watch it quite well. I have family that routinely watches from 65 miles south (opposite the direction that the vehicle travels) and they are impressed every time.
Hopefully you don't have to worry about that though...here's to a successful launch on the 14th!
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#458
by
gcruz27
on 28 Apr, 2010 06:46
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Anyone have an extra Kennedy Space Center placard? I need one for a friend who will be driving in by himself. Please I am willing to buy it off you for a reasonable price. Thank you
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#459
by
LostInSpace
on 28 Apr, 2010 10:56
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In that case I would watch from the Orlando International Airport.
50 miles distance is not very good.
Is there windows in the airport on the upper floors facing east?
Top floor of the parking garage
