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#1200
by
rdale
on 06 Jul, 2011 16:39
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And i did check the processing thread and they indicated a scrub inside t-4 MAY cause a 48 hour scrub.
There you go...
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#1201
by
Furner
on 06 Jul, 2011 16:39
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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.
MAY is about as specific as it gets. There are lots of variables and nothing is 100% certain right now. Basically, they MAY have a 48 hour turnaround, or they MAY have a 24 hour turnaround. Or they MAY launch on time. Its just depends on 100+ variables.
It looks like the sooner they scrub, the more likely they will do a 24 hour turnaround. But no way to know for sure until the time comes. Just relax and do everything you can to be prepared for whatever happens.
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#1202
by
beef5stew
on 06 Jul, 2011 16:56
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And i did check the processing thread and they indicated a scrub inside t-4 MAY cause a 48 hour scrub.
There you go...
There What goes? Still doesn't answer my question.
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#1203
by
beef5stew
on 06 Jul, 2011 16:57
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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.
MAY is about as specific as it gets. There are lots of variables and nothing is 100% certain right now. Basically, they MAY have a 48 hour turnaround, or they MAY have a 24 hour turnaround. Or they MAY launch on time. Its just depends on 100+ variables.
It looks like the sooner they scrub, the more likely they will do a 24 hour turnaround. But no way to know for sure until the time comes. Just relax and do everything you can to be prepared for whatever happens.
Thanks, that answers my question.
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#1204
by
wolfpack
on 06 Jul, 2011 17:00
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#1205
by
STS-134
on 06 Jul, 2011 17:04
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I checked the Launch Wiki (http://wiki.launchwiki.com/index.php?title=STS-135_Launch_Wiki)and didn't find what I was after. Don't know if it makes a difference, but....where would be the better places to park/camp/stand...etc, as the clock counts down.
http://wiki.launchwiki.com/index.php?title=Shuttle_Launch_Viewing
Good info!
Has anyone been through a scrub with an LTT ticket? How is that likely to be handled? Will I be guaranteed the ability to purchase a new LTT, or will it be mayhem with everyone trampling one another to get to the ticket counters?
I was with Grayline for 134. What happened is that Grayline handles the purchasing of new LTT. You still NEED your original KSCVC entrance ticket, and reservation, to use it. That's how they prevent random people from signing up. They give you the new LTT when you get on the buses the second (or third, or fourth, etc.) time.
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#1206
by
Thorny
on 06 Jul, 2011 17:17
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There would be a peculiar symmetry of the Shuttle program if they delay until Sunday. If they do scrub on Friday morning, do a 48-hour turnaround, and launch on Sunday morning, this would be the same as happened to STS-1 back in 1981.
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#1207
by
wolfpack
on 06 Jul, 2011 17:18
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I checked the Launch Wiki (http://wiki.launchwiki.com/index.php?title=STS-135_Launch_Wiki)and didn't find what I was after. Don't know if it makes a difference, but....where would be the better places to park/camp/stand...etc, as the clock counts down.
http://wiki.launchwiki.com/index.php?title=Shuttle_Launch_Viewing
Good info!
Has anyone been through a scrub with an LTT ticket? How is that likely to be handled? Will I be guaranteed the ability to purchase a new LTT, or will it be mayhem with everyone trampling one another to get to the ticket counters?
I was with Grayline for 134. What happened is that Grayline handles the purchasing of new LTT. You still NEED your original KSCVC entrance ticket, and reservation, to use it. That's how they prevent random people from signing up. They give you the new LTT when you get on the buses the second (or third, or fourth, etc.) time.
My LTT is direct from KSC, not any of the bus companies. I'm guessing that means I have to go to the KSC ticket counters, but what stops just anybody who's just got a VC ticket from running right to the counters and buying up the LTTs while we're still on our way back from the causeway?
Edit: from KSC and launchwiki
KSC:
A. NASA Causeway Launch Transportation Tickets - Launch Postponement
Your Launch Transportation Ticket is labeled VC LTT STS-134 ADULT (or CHILD). This ticket provides transportation to the NASA Causeway launch viewing site. This ticket will be collected from you when you board the bus to the launch viewing site. If launch is postponed two scenarios are possible: 1) If you board a bus to the NASA Causeway and launch is postponed, all elements of this ticket are considered used in full. While you will no longer be able to access the NASA Causeway, you will be invited to return for the next launch attempt with your Visitor Complex admission ticket. Return viewing will be from the main Visitor Complex grounds. Please keep your vehicle placard to return for the next attempt. 2) If launch is postponed before you board a bus, your Launch Transportation Ticket will be valid for the next launch attempt to view the launch from the NASA Causeway.
Launchwiki:
If you have a ticket purchased directly from KSC, or purchased from an individual who bought it from KSC, ticket resales generally occur immediately. Since you drove to the VC, you will be bused from the causeway back to the VC. Replacement LTTs are usually sold at the ticket windows outside the VC. In past scrub scenarios, vouchers were handed to individuals, and those vouchers were then turned in along with around $20 for a replacement LTT for the next launch attempt.
During the initial STS-134 launch attempt, a scrub was declared before all buses were boarded. KSC immediately returned all Orange tickets to their customers without any additional cost.
---
Can anyone confirm? We can expect vouchers when boarding the busses back to the VC?
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#1208
by
Nickolai
on 06 Jul, 2011 17:38
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Related to the above question-
If the launch is scrubbed when buses have already gone to the causeway, can someone who didn't have an LTT haul ass over to the VC and buy one? About how much are they at that point?
Also, repeating an earlier question, I see there are a lot of different tours at KSC, which one can get me closest to the shuttle before launch if I arrive Thursday afternoon?
Thanks!
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#1209
by
john_raiders
on 06 Jul, 2011 17:41
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Yo
If its scrubbed only people who previously had LTT tickets are allowed to rebuy them. When you hand in your LTT, they give you a voucher which gives you the option to go buy another ticket.
Approx about $22
John
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#1210
by
wolfpack
on 06 Jul, 2011 17:45
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Yo
If its scrubbed only people who previously had LTT tickets are allowed to rebuy them. When you hand in your LTT, they give you a voucher which gives you the option to go buy another ticket.
Approx about $22
John
That is good to know. I'm with my wife and 11 month old, so I'd hate to get involved in a rock concert style mob!
I'm guessing not everyone will repurchase LTT's, so the prior poster's question might be answered with a maybe. Perhaps you can get an LTT on the morning of the next attempt if they didn't reissue 100% of them?
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#1211
by
Nickolai
on 06 Jul, 2011 18:04
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Yo
If its scrubbed only people who previously had LTT tickets are allowed to rebuy them. When you hand in your LTT, they give you a voucher which gives you the option to go buy another ticket.
Approx about $22
John
That is good to know. I'm with my wife and 11 month old, so I'd hate to get involved in a rock concert style mob!
I'm guessing not everyone will repurchase LTT's, so the prior poster's question might be answered with a maybe. Perhaps you can get an LTT on the morning of the next attempt if they didn't reissue 100% of them?
Yea, it doesn't seem to make sense that only people who had LTTs can repurchase. On this thread alone we see people who aren't going to be able to make a Sunday attempt.
I thought the vouchers were something like priority access to buying tickets? Or maybe just a cheaper rate? Regardless I'll try to hop over to the VC after a potential scrub and see if there are any options. I was planning to go to VC after a scrub/launch anyway and spend as much time there as possible in hopes of avoiding the traffic.
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#1212
by
Furner
on 06 Jul, 2011 18:07
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Yo
If its scrubbed only people who previously had LTT tickets are allowed to rebuy them. When you hand in your LTT, they give you a voucher which gives you the option to go buy another ticket.
Approx about $22
John
Need to mention that the voucher is only for tickets purchased direct from KSC. Tour companies handle repurchasing of LTTs for their customers.
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#1213
by
erichamion
on 06 Jul, 2011 18:18
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Well, I'm relieved. The mailwoman just handed me my Grayline KSCVC ticket. That's not cutting things close or anything.
Sure, it's not the Causeway. It's about 1000 miles closer than I've been to any other launch, though.
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#1214
by
wolfpack
on 06 Jul, 2011 18:20
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Yo
If its scrubbed only people who previously had LTT tickets are allowed to rebuy them. When you hand in your LTT, they give you a voucher which gives you the option to go buy another ticket.
Approx about $22
John
Need to mention that the voucher is only for tickets purchased direct from KSC. Tour companies handle repurchasing of LTTs for their customers.
Thanks for all the good info. Mine is KSC and from what I'm hearing I should look for a voucher when I get on the bus.
I think the moral of the story is don't hand your ticket (any ticket!) blindly over to anyone without getting something for it. One of those cases where a little forethought goes a long way.
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#1215
by
bookemdano
on 06 Jul, 2011 18:21
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Also, repeating an earlier question, I see there are a lot of different tours at KSC, which one can get me closest to the shuttle before launch if I arrive Thursday afternoon?
Thanks!
There really aren't a lot of different tours, AFAIK. There are three, one included in the cost of your admission ticket and the other two cost another $20 each IIRC if you can get them at all. For the purposes of this discussion only two of the tours are relevant--the "free" tour and the KSC: Today and Tomorrow tour.
The free KSC tour, which operates continuously most days (check with them to be sure though as the tour may shut down during RSS retract and other countdown milestones) will take you to an observation gantry that is pretty much directly in front of launch pad 39A. To my eye it looks like maybe just over a mile away. You may be disappointed if you expect to see the orbiter itself though, as it will be covered up by the RSS (Rotating Service Structure). All you will be able to see (aside from the pad itself) is the very tips of the ET and the left SRB.
If you get really lucky (or there is a long scrub) then the only closer point you can get is by getting a ticket for the "Kennedy Space Center: Today and Tomorrow" tour. It will take you behind launch pad 39A to the "A/B Camera Stop", which is right along the coast line and to my eye looks like maybe about a mile away or slightly less from pad 39A. You will be behind the pad so you still won't see the orbiter (which is still covered by the RSS anyway) but will have a clear view of the ET and both SRBs. The only problem with doing that tour around a launch (much less the final launch in STS history) is that seating is really limited and I'm sure the tour sold out weeks if not months ago. They don't run the tour at all on launch days and I believe there is a cut-off time in the day or days before launch. Your best bet will be if a scrub occurs on Friday, hightail it over to the VC and see if you can get a ticket for Saturday (I have no idea if they will run the tour Saturday or not, but probably your only shot at this point).
If anyone has the exact distances of the observation gantry and A/B Camera Stop from LC39A please post them, as I've been unable to find that information from searching.
Edit: Just saw your caveat about arriving Thursday afternoon. Maybe someone can answer about the KSC free tour but I'm almost 100% certain that the "Today and Tomorrow" tour will not be running by the time you get there. It will resume again after the launch but at that point it's somewhat pointless IMHO.
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#1216
by
shuttlefanatic
on 06 Jul, 2011 18:28
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...
I'm guessing not everyone will repurchase LTT's, so the prior poster's question might be answered with a maybe. Perhaps you can get an LTT on the morning of the next attempt if they didn't reissue 100% of them?
Yea, it doesn't seem to make sense that only people who had LTTs can repurchase. On this thread alone we see people who aren't going to be able to make a Sunday attempt.
I thought the vouchers were something like priority access to buying tickets? Or maybe just a cheaper rate? Regardless I'll try to hop over to the VC after a potential scrub and see if there are any options. I was planning to go to VC after a scrub/launch anyway and spend as much time there as possible in hopes of avoiding the traffic.
What has been reported to have been done in the past is that on the morning of the next attempt, the VC will put up for sale additional LTTs as their bus capacity permits.
If you don't have a KSC Causeway ticket, I'm not sure showing up the day of the scrub will get you anything (you can always try...) However, if you already have a KSCVC ticket, keeping your eyes and ears open on launch day may help you get an upgrade... I believe they set up a line somewhere to the right of the entrance, at the building next to the tour bus boarding area. I think it's also the case they don't make a big deal of broadcasting this to prevent a stampede
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#1217
by
SkierDude
on 06 Jul, 2011 18:49
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Those of you who have had to cancel your trip: wondering if any of you were signed up for the Today/Tomorrow tour for Thursday the 7th. I'd be interested in those tickets. I posted this question a while ago, and was told to ask closer to launch. Thanks.
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#1218
by
Glorin
on 06 Jul, 2011 20:11
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Hey all,
I will have 3 extra Greyline tickets if anyone is looking. Will sell for face value. Would be available for pickup at the Merritt Island pickup point.
Thanks.
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#1219
by
padrat
on 06 Jul, 2011 20:12
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Just throwing this out there, but any NSF/Max Q peeps going to be at the press site on launch day?
