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#1180
by
Boltsfan
on 06 Jul, 2011 03:19
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I'm so psyched for this launch!!
It'll be a great weekend for me and my daughter. We'll be at the KSCVC. Is there someplace where we should set up for the best view? Or are all of the views about the same.
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#1181
by
sweeper239
on 06 Jul, 2011 03:50
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You can watch from the causway on 528 where it meets A1A or at the port itself. Many people watch from the beach (Cocoa Beach) on the north side of the pier. FREE and little traffic.
I will also add that the weather does not look promising. 60% chance of rain for Friday. Sunday is the next date. If not it will be scrubbed for a week.
I am from Pittsburgh, PA but have had a condo here in Cocoa Beach
since 1971 when I worked at the VAB building.
If the launch is scratched for a week NASA will reopen Playa Linda Beach. If you are not familiar with this area it is part of Cape Canaveral National Seashore. If you drive out there follow the signs to the beach. One through the toll both ($3.00 per person thank you Ronnie Raygun) follow the signs to the beach. The road will take you to the dunes where it turns left (North) for about three miles with parking lot access to the beach.
About 50 yards before the turn North is a small parking area. From there you can see Pad 39 A and B about 2 miles due south. The shuttle is very clearly seen on the pad. I have attached a couple photos I took yesterday from that parking lot.
Access is closed three days prior to launch (it is already closed) but if the launch is postponed a week they will reopen the road. Last chance to see the shuttle on the pad.
Anyone want additional info or just tourist info (we own a travel agency and have sent clients here for years) feel free to contact me. I am in Cocoa Beach till August.
Leonard
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#1182
by
stuart_wildcat
on 06 Jul, 2011 05:17
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Way earlier in the thread someone posted about the SRBs: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=23562.msg715795#msg715795
L-1: Visit/tour KSC and the surrounding area (go early because tours stop sometime in the afternoon on this day)
L0: Watch launch (it will consume your entire day, guaranteed)
L+1: Recover from the launch experience
L+2: Go to Jetty Park and watch the SRBs come back (plan on waiting around for a while for them to show up)
L+3: Go to the Jetty Park locks and get within 25 feet of the SRBs (be there at 6am, as they go through early)
Also, is there any way to get up close to the shuttle the day before launch? Even if it's from a mile away I would be happy just to see it standing there.
That post that suggested L+2 to go see the SRB recovery ships was from 3/30. I believe at that time the launch was still scheduled for late June and the launch time therefore much later than it is now. Since the launch moved up several hours I think it might be more likely that SRB recovery ships come by Jetty Park in the L+1 timeframe.
I was hoping that someone might have confirmation of this hunch but perhaps that is wishful thinking. The trouble is going to be convincing the rest of the people staying with us for the launch to head out from Orlando again if I'm not sure of the time the SRBs would be coming back in. Even harder if the weather throws delays at us so we have already done quite a bit of driving over a few days.
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#1183
by
lsullivan411
on 06 Jul, 2011 06:01
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Way earlier in the thread someone posted about the SRBs: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=23562.msg715795#msg715795
L-1: Visit/tour KSC and the surrounding area (go early because tours stop sometime in the afternoon on this day)
L0: Watch launch (it will consume your entire day, guaranteed)
L+1: Recover from the launch experience
L+2: Go to Jetty Park and watch the SRBs come back (plan on waiting around for a while for them to show up)
L+3: Go to the Jetty Park locks and get within 25 feet of the SRBs (be there at 6am, as they go through early)
Also, is there any way to get up close to the shuttle the day before launch? Even if it's from a mile away I would be happy just to see it standing there.
That post that suggested L+2 to go see the SRB recovery ships was from 3/30. I believe at that time the launch was still scheduled for late June and the launch time therefore much later than it is now. Since the launch moved up several hours I think it might be more likely that SRB recovery ships come by Jetty Park in the L+1 timeframe.
I was hoping that someone might have confirmation of this hunch but perhaps that is wishful thinking. The trouble is going to be convincing the rest of the people staying with us for the launch to head out from Orlando again if I'm not sure of the time the SRBs would be coming back in. Even harder if the weather throws delays at us so we have already done quite a bit of driving over a few days.
SRB ships in general will return L+2 or later. If they have very clear and calm seas, they could be faster than that, but it's rare.
A site I have found that is good for tracking the ships -
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=337942424 (Freedom Star)
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=338990000 (Liberty Star)
However -- you will not see tracking until within range of the shore, maybe a few hours prior to port entry -- and there is no guarentee they will show up until very late, but so far the site has been pretty good the times I've tracked ships.
Obviously if we find out any confirmed times, we'll be sure to post them here -- I think many of us plan on trying to get there for the ships return.
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#1184
by
spork3000
on 06 Jul, 2011 06:22
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Anyone know what will happen to the Discover KSC tour on Sat. in the event of a Friday scrub (assuming a 48h turnaround)? Will the tour still operate, and will it be able to get as close to the pad as it would before tanking started for the Friday attempt?
I have tickets for the Discover KSC tour on Sat, and the Cape Canaveral history tour on Sunday (well, actually, I have tickets for both on each day, just to play it safe) - and while I'd be bummed to only be able to do one of the two tours in the event of a Fri. scrub, it'd be a good bonus to be able to get a view of Atlantis on the pad! :-)
Of course, in the event that the Sat. tours are cancelled for some reason, then that would just add insult to injury... :-(
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#1185
by
BrightestStar
on 06 Jul, 2011 06:29
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So, I may actually cry...after all the excitement and planning leading up to this launch. All the expectation, at the last minute our plans fell apart.
My only hope to ever see a launch in person now is via pure miracle or time-travel.
However, it also means that I have 3 FDT VIP Causeway tickets burning a hole in my proverbial pocket.
As much as I want to hold onto them, I'd like it if I could at least help someone else have their dreams come true.
If interested, send me a PM.
Things are crazy as we cancel plans, and I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up with the thread...I don't want to miss someone's post. And I certainly don't want to have to resort to putting these on ebay where the sharks are lurking.
I know I haven't really posted much since I've joined, but I just wanted to thank everyone for all the helpful information and tips they've posted over the last couple weeks, and for being so friendly.
I wish I could be there with all of you.
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#1186
by
mikeyb
on 06 Jul, 2011 06:46
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I've been offered an orange ticket and a parking placard. Is this enough to see the launch from the causeway or do I need a blue ticket as well? I have a car.
Thank you in advance.
You will need a blue ticket.
The KSCVC ticket (blue) gets you inside the gates where the Causeway LTT bus ticket (Green for tour bus, Orange for KSC) is collected and you board the bus headed for the causeway.
Being that you have a placard, that actually makes your hunt pretty benign; KSCVC tickets are pretty easily obtainable from what I've seen.
E.
Thank you for the information - I shall investigate.
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#1187
by
stuart_wildcat
on 06 Jul, 2011 07:28
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SRB ships in general will return L+2 or later. If they have very clear and calm seas, they could be faster than that, but it's rare.
A site I have found that is good for tracking the ships - http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=337942424 (Freedom Star)
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=338990000 (Liberty Star)
However -- you will not see tracking until within range of the shore, maybe a few hours prior to port entry -- and there is no guarentee they will show up until very late, but so far the site has been pretty good the times I've tracked ships.
Obviously if we find out any confirmed times, we'll be sure to post them here -- I think many of us plan on trying to get there for the ships return.
I have seen the Marine Tracker site before but agree it won't give you much warning. It also doesn't help since we will need to drive 1.5 hours from home just to get to the port. Our plans for seeing the recovery ships revolves around knowing which day to be "hanging out" around the port so we will know when they come in.
On one of the last launches I know they mentioned the return time of the recovery ships in one of the press conferences. If someone who covers the press conferences could listen (or even ask?) about this info that would be great.
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#1188
by
sts126
on 06 Jul, 2011 14:43
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just canceled hilton melbourne beach thurs to thurs hope this help someone.
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#1189
by
bobelok
on 06 Jul, 2011 14:56
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Hi everyone!
I'm totally new here, as I only recently heard of this site. I've been frantically reading over this thread trying to gather as much info as I can before I drive down with my brother and (possibly) a friend from Dallas. I drove down in November for STS-133 and was so sad when it was delayed.
I'm making another attempt, and after having read and learned so much more about viewing options, I'm looking to see if anyone here has 3 Causeway tickets they can no longer use. I know its asking a lot, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks, and either way I'll see everyone in a few days as we hopefully see something amazing!
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#1190
by
SkierDude
on 06 Jul, 2011 15:04
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Hi everyone!
I'm totally new here, as I only recently heard of this site. I've been frantically reading over this thread trying to gather as much info as I can before I drive down with my brother and (possibly) a friend from Dallas. I drove down in November for STS-133 and was so sad when it was delayed.
I'm making another attempt, and after having read and learned so much more about viewing options, I'm looking to see if anyone here has 3 Causeway tickets they can no longer use. I know its asking a lot, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks, and either way I'll see everyone in a few days as we hopefully see something amazing!
Read a page or two above, or on the weather one. I think I read someone had a change in plans. I believe it was for the causeway.
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#1191
by
SkierDude
on 06 Jul, 2011 15:06
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Question about causeway viewing and a scrub... I know if there's a scrub once we're on the causeway, we can get a voucher and pay a fee to come back. The ticket we get at that point is launch specific, right? This might seem like a dumb question, but I want to be sure. I need to come back Sat pm, but if there's a scrub to Sun, and that's scrubbed, I might be able to return later in the month. Thanks.
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#1192
by
Kaz
on 06 Jul, 2011 15:42
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Slightly related question to that above. Do you need to have cash on hand to pay on the bus for a second launch attempt if Friday's is scrubbed or do the tours take credit cards? I'm travelling with Central Florida Tours (and still have an available VC ticket for anyone interested), they mention a fee of €55 to rebook the bus, but don't mention methods of payment. Anyone have any experience?
...Did I mention that I still have a spare VC ticket for sale??!!
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#1193
by
JRThro
on 06 Jul, 2011 15:53
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When is the KSC Visitor's Center open to the public?
That is, I don't have VC tickets and my family and I will be in Titusville to view the launch on Friday.
We have open time on Thursday and then after the launch on Friday. After that we have to leave for Disney World for the next 4 days, 7/9 through 7/12.
If need be, we might be able to make it to the VC on Wednesday, 7/13.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
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#1194
by
beef5stew
on 06 Jul, 2011 15:56
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I keep hearing that if the launch gets scrubbed on friday, they will try again on sunday. But i havent seen anything from nasa confirming this.
Do we definitively know that a saturday launch attempt is off the table?
Beef5stew
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#1195
by
rdale
on 06 Jul, 2011 15:58
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beef - check the processing thread, this is just for viewing and that question is answered there.
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#1196
by
Furner
on 06 Jul, 2011 16:01
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#1197
by
beef5stew
on 06 Jul, 2011 16:02
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Actually it has everything to do with viewing because i cant be there sunday...i only have a window on friday and saturday. If saturday is not going to happen i may not be viewing.
And i did check the processing thread and they indicated a scrub inside t-4 MAY cause a 48 hour scrub. But that tells me a saturday attempt is still on the table.
beef - check the processing thread, this is just for viewing and that question is answered there.
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#1198
by
stimmons
on 06 Jul, 2011 16:34
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I have one (1) Causeway ticket viewing available through one of the tour bus companies for the Sts 135 launch on Friday. Pickup in Orlando. Asking what I paid for the ticket which is $179. Please reply below or e-mail me if interested:
[email protected].
Thank you!
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#1199
by
shuttlefanatic
on 06 Jul, 2011 16:38
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When is the KSC Visitor's Center open to the public?
That is, I don't have VC tickets and my family and I will be in Titusville to view the launch on Friday.
...
If need be, we might be able to make it to the VC on Wednesday, 7/13.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
They'll be open normally Thursday. My understanding is that they'll reopen to the public shortly after launch or a scrub (for example, at the 8AM STS-134 launch, the VC was open for a normal non-launch day by the time I got there around 11AM). From a crowd perspective, your best option is probably 7/13.
It'll be a great weekend for me and my daughter. We'll be at the KSCVC. Is there someplace where we should set up for the best view? Or are all of the views about the same.
