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#740 by spacedog71 on 21 May, 2010 22:00
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39A East Fence
...*wibble*...
i don't know if there's a price i wouldn't pay for the chance to stand that close to 39A for a few minutes and take pictures of an orbiter, at night, after the RSS had retracted, just before a launch.
simply stunning. -
#741 by robertross on 22 May, 2010 01:06
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39A East Fence
...*wibble*...
i don't know if there's a price i wouldn't pay for the chance to stand that close to 39A for a few minutes and take pictures of an orbiter, at night, after the RSS had retracted, just before a launch.
simply stunning.
Seconded on that one! Wow! -
#742 by Aobrien on 22 May, 2010 01:20
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Ok I want to get that clearance!
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#743 by robertross on 22 May, 2010 01:33
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I checked out a few of the local restaurants recommended in an NSF thread here, and have this to contribute:
I have a few as well for those interested. If you need addresses, I have some of them too, for those below and others.
SlowNLow: I had the 1/2 chicken (really good) fries (so-so) and green beans (so-so). Really good service.
The dugout Sports Grill: I had the meat lovers pizza. It was pretty good.
Cafe Chocolat in Titusville: The server was ditsy, the espresso was cold, and the ice cream portion was tiny (but good)
Bagel World in Titusville: Good bagels, but the sesame one I had actually tasted salty. Don't know what was up with that.
Sunrise Bagel Company: Awesome bagels, great coffee. That was my haunt. It also had free wi-fi (which was a life saver for me).
Durango Steakhose (Cocoa beach): Great service. Had the baby back ribs on the open oak fire. Very Yummy. Baked potato was good.
Durango Steakhouse (Hwy 50 near Titusville): crummy service, steak was slightly undercooked, but good. I don't know what they made their mashed potatoes out of, but they almost tasted (and looked) instant...yuck.
Fishlips at port Canaveral: Had a New York Strip with baby potatoes & asparagus. It was okay, nothing special.
Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse in Cocoa Beach. I had the Beef & Chicken meal, which was very good, but I found it rather salty. Very nice place, great service. Best for groups at the grills (2), otherwise you're at the bar which was rather 70s style.
Best meal of all was still Chops in Titusville: Cream of asparagus soup, pork chop, yummy rolls, very nice house wine (Merlot). Service was good too (probably because they weren't that busy when I was there). Nice, romantic spot (if you have someone to share that with, which unfortunately I didn't).
I first went into Kloiber's Cobbler Eatery just across from Chops in Titusville, but it was mainly a lunch (and perhaps breakfast?) place. Looked like a quality menu though.
If you're looking for coffee, best bet is a 7-eleven; it's pretty good. There are very few Starbucks' around (not that I'm fond of them), no Tim Hortons or Second Cup.
As to accomodations, I'd steer clear of the Three Oaks Motel in Titusville. Pool was closed the whole time I was there (not that I needed it), the bathroom was dirty & faucets falling out, no water pressure at times (especially at night), and let's just say don't leaving anything lying around during the day (even in the fridge). The bed was clean though. And if they ever get the construction finished on both Hopkins & Washington avenue...you might actually be able to sleep in (they start at 7am).
Oh, and IF by chance there are still any FILM guys out there, be careful & bring what you need. There is a Miracle Photo on US1, but they no longer carry E6 slide film, and apparently only 1 place in Orlando processes it. They did have Fuji print film, as did the gift shops at KSC. I was lucky I had enough film, and even brought 3 rolls back with me (including 2 B&W). I actually had no problem with hand checking at all security stations, which was a first.
Next time, I'm staying at something more up-scale, and since there is NOTHING to do in Titusville at night; perhaps in (or close to) Cocoa Beach. There's an Econolodge at US1 & hwy 528 to Cocoa that seems very convenient. -
#744 by Astro_yyz on 22 May, 2010 04:01
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Citabria - wonderful pics! What an impression that must've made on your kids. Just fantastic.
Robertross - re. restaurants on the Space Coast. In my 4 trips there in the past couple of years, I have eaten at quite a few places.
I found the Dixie Crossroads in Titusville to have mediocre food (sorry to say that -maybe it was just that night - I should go again to be sure), although the company I was with that night sure made up for the food.
A couple of great little places that I found where I least expected them.
There's a little strip mall 1 block north of Ron Jon's in Cocoa Beach, near the 520 & A1A intersection. A place where I *least* expected to find good food.
A few restaurants there, and one that I really liked was the "Old Fish House". Everything home made, and fresh. One place on the Space Coast that actually has good fresh seafood, and steaks for those who don't like seafood. I love seafood, but my friend doesn't, so it was fine for us. Home made desserts - can recommend their key lime pie and chocolate cake!! Very friendly, and busy on weekends.
Also in the same strip mall, is this ice cream shop that makes their own gelato (and kimchee too, strangely enough) and a little Thai place, which had great curries. There's also an indian place in the same strip mall, but I haven't been there yet.
If I go for a launch, I stay at one of those hotels along North Atlantic Ave, which is within walking distance of this mall. (Days Inn, Marriott, Hampton Inn, etc)
During the day, there's the usual fare along the main drag (IHOP, etc) and at least during the day I can go to the beach, or relax, or go to Cocoa or the military base down the highway and look at the planes, or swim, or read, or hop in the car and go to a wildlife sanctuary, or back to KSC........
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#745 by dougmichel on 22 May, 2010 05:08
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Question for a few of you that went to the launch and had other locations from my causeway experience. How do you get tickets to see the launch from Turn Basin or the Saturn V location? Also, how do you get to be a guest of the administrator? Sounds like you have to know him personally but you never know. I also met some folks at the causeway who were congressional guest ticket holders, and they were as surprised as I was that they were not taken to the 5 mile or a closer location to see the launch. They also had a child around the age of 6 with them, and I was under the impression that you had to be at least 14 to get congressional tickets. Anyone able to answer these 3 questions? We may be in the position to see another launch, particularity if the president allows STS-135 next year, and would like to see about getting an even better view if possible.
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#746 by Citabria on 22 May, 2010 13:18
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Citabria - wonderful pics! What an impression that must've made on your kids. Just fantastic.
Thanks, I count myself lucky. Like most of you here, I've been very interested in manned spaceflight my whole life (first memories of Gemini 7/6). But that doesn't count for much, does it? Like most things in life, it's all down to whom you know. Yes, it was a personal connection to the NASA Administration. I feel a bit guilty about it, but, like you said, it was for the kids.
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#747 by Chris Bergin on 22 May, 2010 13:29
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Wow Citabria - I agree with everyone else, very nice work with the photos, and thanks for sharing with all us non VIPs
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#748 by Eksath on 22 May, 2010 14:07
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Hi All,
It has been a bit busy hence I have not been able to send pictures out lately but here is are a few. I made a few galleries and they can be seen here:
STS:132 (current mission)
http://www.atapattu.net/atapattu00.html
Enjoy.
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#749 by jacqmans on 23 May, 2010 07:17
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Space Weather News for May 23, 2010
http://spaceweather.com
SOLAR TRANSIT: Yesterday in Switzerland, Thierry Legault photographed the International Space Station and space shuttle Atlantis passing directly in front of the sun, not far from new sunspot 1072. The veteran astrophotographer calls the image his "best ever of a solar transit," and indeed the silhouette of the docked spaceships backlit by "solar fire" is a must see. It is featured on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.
DOUBLE FLYBY ALERT: Atlantis is scheduled to undock from the ISS on Sunday, May 23rd, at 11:22 am EDT, setting the stage for double flybys over many towns and cities around the world. Need a flyby prediction? There's an app for that: http://simpleflybys.com .
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#750 by parmstro on 23 May, 2010 23:28
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Question for a few of you that went to the launch and had other locations from my causeway experience. How do you get tickets to see the launch from Turn Basin or the Saturn V location? Also, how do you get to be a guest of the administrator? Sounds like you have to know him personally but you never know. I also met some folks at the causeway who were congressional guest ticket holders, and they were as surprised as I was that they were not taken to the 5 mile or a closer location to see the launch. They also had a child around the age of 6 with them, and I was under the impression that you had to be at least 14 to get congressional tickets. Anyone able to answer these 3 questions? We may be in the position to see another launch, particularity if the president allows STS-135 next year, and would like to see about getting an even better view if possible.
Most, if not all, of your questions are answered in Steven Pietrobon's unofficial space shuttle launch guide. Here's the link:
http://www.sworld.com.au/steven/space/shuttle/guide.txt
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#751 by parmstro on 23 May, 2010 23:33
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Ok I want to get that clearance!
I've been there and done that, and when people ask me how they can do it, sadly there's only one answer: It's all about who you know.
The only other route is to become a journalist and get assigned to cover KSC. Press get incredible access. -
#752 by Mike Trom on 24 May, 2010 02:23
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Got the intinerary for Congressional Tickets today.
Long time lurker, first time poster.
My family and I viewed our first launch, STS-132 from (near) Spaceview park. I slept in the car the night before to hold a good spot that gave us access to our coolers and chairs.
How do you apply for Congressional Tickets?
Here is one of our photos.. Wish I would have gotten into launches a long time ago, they are great!
Thanks...
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#753 by Mindcrash on 24 May, 2010 14:04
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Wow, just got back from Florida. and what was that great. to see the space shuttle launch from space view park in Titusville.
Those 4 minutes where the 6 hour waiting time more than worth!!
WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!. For all those who are not sure to go see a launch, i would say GO!!
BTW the night before the launch was also awesome! seeing the platform in the light! -
#754 by K466 on 24 May, 2010 19:51
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Holy cow those are fantastic pictures! I need to get to know the insiders...
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#755 by ChrisC on 25 May, 2010 16:20
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OK shuttle fans, here is my post on how to see a landing. More specifically ...
how to get an up close view of the shuttle as she rolls from the SLF to OPF
This is based on my experience with STS-129 last November.
When they tow the shuttle back from the SLF to the OPF, about 30 minutes prior to when she actually rolls down the parkway, they stop traffic on the road that she'll be rolling over and literally sweep that section of road clean. They run street cleaners or brooms or something and then walk it down (a mile or two) inspecting for any remaining debris. After they do that surface inspection, though, nobody is allowed to drive on the road until the shuttle has rolled over it and reached the building it's going to. That meant stopping any southbound traffic, and so you can use that to "luck" into one of the most impossibly great photo opportunities imaginable that day.
You can get an incredible photo opportunity around 5-6 hours after landing time. What you need to do is time your rides on the tour busses so that you end up at the right spot, the intersection of the towway and the parkway, just before they close the parkway for the shuttle to get towed down it. One of the images attached below is a screenshot from NASA TV showing the vantage point you'll get -- the tour busses are parked just behind the shuttle in that shot. The other (larger) images were all taken by me that day in November.
Here is a typical timeline of what happens immediately after a landing, with some qualifying comments below:
T + 0 -- landing in Florida
T + 4 hrs -- first motion on the tow from the runway
T + 5 hrs -- turn from runway onto towway
T + 5h15m -- first visible from parkway (rounding the bend)
T + 5h30m -- turn from towway onto parkway; ideal photo opportunity
T + 5h45m -- start turn from parkway onto ramp to OPF
T + 5h50m -- road clear, parkway traffic moving again
The 4 hours from landing to tow first motion is typical. In my case, the shuttle had landed heading northbound (runway 33) instead of southbound (runway 15), which put it at the far end of the runway at wheels stop. This added, by my estimate, 30 to 45 minutes to the processing time. So consider the landing direction when you try to time this, because if it's a southbound landing, then they might start towing only 3h15m or 3h30m after landing.
Keep up with the live status of the shuttle on the runway here at NSF, in particular the live commentary thread for that landing day. You can also check the NASA TV screengrab (jpg still image) to see what's happening this instant, although NASA TV often will cut away to other programming so you won't be able to see the tow happening. Better to rely on the NSF live thread. Obviously you'll need a smartphone (like an iPhone or an Android) to do this. Use this information to time which bus you get onto at the Visitor's Center, and be conservative -- that is, get onto a bus too early rather than too late. You'll be getting onto a regular "free" tour bus, not any of the special tours.
Then when you get to the launch gantry stop, you can re-calibrate and get on the next bus at the right time, so that you see something as you drive past the towway heading north towards the Apollo / Saturn building. Note however that if you time the northbound bus so that you can see the shuttle on the towway, you will not have any time to spare at the Apollo / Saturn building and will basically get right back on the bus to go southbound. If you haven't seen the Apollo / Saturn exhibits yet, skip the tight northbound timing and get to that building early so you can see those exhibits (at least an hour and preferably more), and then time your return trip on the southbound bus.
When you get to the Apollo / Saturn building, you can re-calibrate and get on the next bus at the right time, so that you intentionally get stuck at the towway intersection after they've closed the road. As for the timing of that ... Based on my experience with STS-129, including the fact that there were 4-5 busses in front of us at that intersection, I'd guess that they close the road at around the same time that the shuttle turns from the runway onto the towway, or maybe 10-15 minutes after that. So that is when you'd want to get on a bus at the Apollo / Saturn building, so you'd be first in line getting stuck and have the best photo op. Monitor the live thread here for tow progress.
I strongly recommend that you be standing in line for the busses leaving the Apollo / Saturn building by the time the shuttle is turning onto the towway. Get to the front of the line then DON'T get on the bus, and instead stand off to the side and let others board as you get chummy with the bus driver (who are usually big fans themselves). Stay with him (and the next bus driver, and the next ...) and see when his radio tells him when they've closed the road, because that'll be the best info of all. As soon as they close the road, get on the bus!
The tour busses only run during daylight hours, so this method is only going to work if the landing has occurred in the morning, as early as 4am or so and as late as 11am.
Good luck!
(and sorry about violating the 2-images-max rule, but they are relatively small
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#756 by yorky10 on 26 May, 2010 10:54
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Any suggestions on where to watch the landing from?
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#757 by padrat on 26 May, 2010 11:57
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Lol, the SLF, like I am today!
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#758 by ChrisC on 26 May, 2010 20:39
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Today's tow matched my timeline above almost perfectly. I hope someone here got to see it in person.
Here's a still from NASA TV today showing the photo op. At the extreme right edge you see the first of the tour busses that have been stopped.
(screenshot is in HD from the NASA TV HD feed but it's just upconverted SD)
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#759 by K466 on 27 May, 2010 16:37
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Today's tow matched my timeline above almost perfectly. I hope someone here got to see it in person.
Here's a still from NASA TV today showing the photo op. At the extreme right edge you see the first of the tour busses that have been stopped.
(screenshot is in HD from the NASA TV HD feed but it's just upconverted SD)
I'm seriously going to have to try to do that on one of the next flights. That's just unbelievably close. I doubt you can get out of the bus... right?
I watched it from the KSC visitors center, it worked out fine. At least 100 other people were out there in the parking lot watching it as well.
I posted about it, with pictures, here:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978260484
