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#1380
by
s7uar7
on 21 Jul, 2011 01:28
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If I am resigned to probably not seeing it, I would at least like to hear the sonic booms; is Space View Park the 'safest' place to be to hear it regardless of which direction it lands?
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#1381
by
shuttlefanatic
on 21 Jul, 2011 01:29
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Good points, Marek. I suspect that law enforcement will be lenient about people showing up in the refuge before sunrise for this occasion. (Just like you're not really supposed to go tent camping along SR 401 at Port Canaveral, but people did for the STS-134 launch). They'll probably be more strict about clearing the area under the approach path.
I've attached a mostly useless picture, but in case it helps anyone get a sense of the possible lighting conditions - I checked the timestamps, and I took this photo at KSC 39 minutes before sunrise on launch day, so similar conditions to the landing.
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#1382
by
MarekCyzio
on 21 Jul, 2011 01:32
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If I am resigned to probably not seeing it, I would at least like to hear the sonic booms; is Space View Park the 'safest' place to be to hear it regardless of which direction it lands?
Yeah, you will hear it really loud there. Space shuttle is still supersonic over Titusville and goes subsonic over Indian River.
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#1383
by
MarekCyzio
on 21 Jul, 2011 01:34
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#1384
by
s7uar7
on 21 Jul, 2011 01:38
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Thanks Marek, that's going to be my plan for the morning then. If I do happen to catch a glimpse it will be a bonus.
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#1385
by
gchockry
on 21 Jul, 2011 01:38
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I've always watched landings from afar via NASA TV and will do the same tonight and tomorrow morning.
The shuttles announce their approach to the KSC area with a double sonic boom (or whip crack). If I were there, it would send shivers up my spine. Please enjoy the moment for me!
For STS-134, the sonic booms disrupted a crime in-progress in Orlando!
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#1386
by
kenc3dan
on 21 Jul, 2011 03:07
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Have been advised that Atlantis may move to the OPF about an hour ahead of the previous 'how to see her move from SLF to OPF' via Saturn centre buses schedule posted above - less to do before moving her because its final mission.
Also still hearing from reliable source that unless there are bad winds, its likely to come down 2nd orbit, runway 33, despite published groundtrack info. Obviously conflicting information around. I'd make a backup plan to head to the badging station just past the KSCVC if you see it scrubbed for "weather" on first orbit.
Badge Station commander said 402 will be partially closed. Wildlife refuge ranger says 402 will be closed inside the refuge since it's still dark and hence the park is closed. Local veteran watcher folks say the causeway/bridge may even be closed but still accessible to foot traffic.
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#1387
by
sts126
on 21 Jul, 2011 03:50
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Good luck to those in area who will try to view landing. If I were there I would definitely try the access road to the wildlife refuge/beach (402). Maybe try to be on the east side of centerline an hour or so before landing. If closed perhaps the top of titusville causeway(max brewer) with it's high vantage point. When I was there for launch, police did say that access road is open for landing except for an undefined area below and either side of extended runway centerline. Previous videos I've seen have shuttle crossing that road about 400-300 feet or so. 2 landings ago some pictures were posted of a shuttle crossing this area in daylight and were taken from the east looking west down 402 with shuttle flying over that area.
If rwy 33 kscvc up near the external tank srb display ne part of vc if they are open that early for special occasion or just the road leading into the kscvc. look east , se and about 40 degrees up. Your fist at arms length is about 10 degrees so do that 4 times and you will be about half way up the sky. Watched an 8 am arrival from there and it came out of the sky above the sun (may) had it on video for about 22 seconds then below treeline gear still up at that point. Rwy 15 should have better view lack of sunlight not withstanding. post pics if anyone gets anything. wish I was there. go Atlantis
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#1388
by
MadameConcorde
on 21 Jul, 2011 07:15
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I hope this will be a really loud double sonic boom.
Still can not believe this is the last landing - not!
Safe landing Atlantis + crew.
Best-est Ship with best ever crew.
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#1389
by
leetdan
on 21 Jul, 2011 08:00
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Bunch of people already at the base of the causeway, not a soul up at the weather station that I can see.
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#1390
by
jcopella
on 21 Jul, 2011 08:04
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That might be because the ranger's stopping people from going any further on 402. Is the road open all the way to the wx station? Or can you tell?
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#1391
by
shuttlefanatic
on 21 Jul, 2011 08:18
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Atlantis is go for deorbit burn, and targeting KSC Rwy 15. Good luck to those of you hoping to see a bit of history.
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#1392
by
leetdan
on 21 Jul, 2011 08:28
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We drove all the way to 3, and up to US 1 when and back we got here after midnight. We've done a few laps from the causeway to the reserve visitor center since then. No roadblocks that I can see.
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#1393
by
Hog
on 21 Jul, 2011 09:45
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It's getting really bright up here, Jupiter is highly visible as is Venus, Mars can be seen as well.
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#1394
by
JoeC
on 21 Jul, 2011 11:21
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My hat is off to jcopella. I was at the "weather station" this morning and it was awesome. It's unbelievably close to the landing facility...the shuttle appeared huge silhouetted against the available light.
The only downside is now I regret not having done this for prior landings. What a sight it must be during the day.
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#1395
by
kenc3dan
on 21 Jul, 2011 11:54
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My hat is off to jcopella. I was at the "weather station" this morning and it was awesome. It's unbelievably close to the landing facility...the shuttle appeared huge silhouetted against the available light.
The only downside is now I regret not having done this for prior landings. What a sight it must be during the day.
I should have gone further onto 402 to the weather station. Was at the top of the causeway bridge didn't see anything. Saw something moving north-to-south right where the runway is. A light of some kind. Does the shuttle have NO lights?
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#1396
by
MarekCyzio
on 21 Jul, 2011 12:10
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My hat is off to jcopella. I was at the "weather station" this morning and it was awesome. It's unbelievably close to the landing facility...the shuttle appeared huge silhouetted against the available light.
The only downside is now I regret not having done this for prior landings. What a sight it must be during the day.
I should have gone further onto 402 to the weather station. Was at the top of the causeway bridge didn't see anything. Saw something moving north-to-south right where the runway is. A light of some kind. Does the shuttle have NO lights?
I was at the bridge, too and the shuttle was clearly visible for around 2-3 seconds. Not enough light to snap a photo.
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#1397
by
jcopella
on 21 Jul, 2011 12:19
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My hat is off to jcopella. I was at the "weather station" this morning and it was awesome. It's unbelievably close to the landing facility...the shuttle appeared huge silhouetted against the available light.
The only downside is now I regret not having done this for prior landings. What a sight it must be during the day.
Wonderful! So glad you got to see it. That extra bit of elevation really makes all the difference.
I actually just missed the turn into the station. I saw that 402 seemed to be open all the way to SR3, so I pressed on. Should've taken my own advice -- I didn't see anything
but we had great sounds on approach and very clearly heard the drag chute deploy. I'm not sure if it was louder because that location is a bit closer than the wx station, or if it just seemed that way because we couldn't see it. I talked to one guy who caught a glimpse just as Atlantis crossed the threshold -- he saw the shadow cast by the xenons just for a few seconds.
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#1398
by
kenc3dan
on 21 Jul, 2011 12:21
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My hat is off to jcopella. I was at the "weather station" this morning and it was awesome. It's unbelievably close to the landing facility...the shuttle appeared huge silhouetted against the available light.
The only downside is now I regret not having done this for prior landings. What a sight it must be during the day.
I should have gone further onto 402 to the weather station. Was at the top of the causeway bridge didn't see anything. Saw something moving north-to-south right where the runway is. A light of some kind. Does the shuttle have NO lights?
I was at the bridge, too and the shuttle was clearly visible for around 2-3 seconds. Not enough light to snap a photo.
Did you see its form/silhouette or a light? At altitude or treeline?
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#1399
by
janmb
on 21 Jul, 2011 12:47
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My hat is off to jcopella. I was at the "weather station" this morning and it was awesome. It's unbelievably close to the landing facility...the shuttle appeared huge silhouetted against the available light.
The only downside is now I regret not having done this for prior landings. What a sight it must be during the day.
I second that - watching from that spot worked out really well. Enjoyed meeting you all.
but we had great sounds on approach and very clearly heard the drag chute deploy. I'm not sure if it was louder because that location is a bit closer than the wx station, or if it just seemed that way because we couldn't see it. I talked to one guy who caught a glimpse just as Atlantis crossed the threshold -- he saw the shadow cast by the xenons just for a few seconds.