Re: STS-117 Processing latest

• #60 by Chris Bergin on 09 May, 2007 16:05
• Quote

  Concorde - 26/4/2007  10:07 AM
  
  Any views on the potential for 8th June to slip before role-out? Need to book flights soon.

  
  All looks on track for June 8. Depends on the pad flow, as they only have two days of contingency (working on a normal flow - holidays included).
  
  If anything changes, this site will be the first place you'll know about it.
• #61 by Bubbinski on 12 May, 2007 05:33
• I'm very glad to hear that the rollout is still on schedule for May 16th or even earlier
  
  I will be at the KSC Visitor Center on June 8th, after flying in to Orlando on my frequent flier ticket.  (I live 2,000 miles west of Florida, so it's not like I can just get in the car and drive south).  I'm ready for T-0!
• #62 by Bubbinski on 12 May, 2007 05:45
• Quote

  uko - 26/4/2007  3:13 AM
  
  You know, I take it this way.. In theory the probability for a slip is very high based on previous flights, but I try to say to myself that if I even can't see the actual launch, the trip to Florida is still worth it
  

  
  That's how I'm approaching this.  I have a frequent flier ticket I need to use before July and I may as well try for a shuttle launch attempt.  The Kennedy Space Center is always a great place to visit.
• #63 by Avron on 20 May, 2007 22:15
• Was wondering if one could hire a boat in Titusville  and watch from the Inidan River ?
• #64 by Gene DiGennaro on 20 May, 2007 22:24
• When my family and I were in Titusville during July of  2005, we took a pontoon boat ride around the river and visited some of the man made islands there.  The skipper of the boat  told me that yes, rides were available during the launch. Be advised that it would be a long boat ride without shade. The top of the boat was removed to be able to see the launch.  I was all set to do it, but the lack of shade wouldn't have been good for my wife and children or my bald head!
• #65 by Avron on 20 May, 2007 22:26
• Quote

  Gene DiGennaro - 20/5/2007  6:24 PM
  
  When my family and I were in Titusville during July of  2005, we took a pontoon boat ride around the river and visited some of the man made islands there.  The skipper of the boat  told me that yes, rides were available during the launch. Be advised that it would be a long boat ride without shade. The top of the boat was removed to be able to see the launch.  I was all set to do it, but the lack of shade wouldn't have been good for my wife and children or my bald head!

  
  Cool, thanks.. anyone know if there are any restrictions on the river...maybe I should just bring my little Zodiac with me??
• #66 by Gene DiGennaro on 20 May, 2007 22:35
• Here is the link to the boat ride I took. Looks like they no longer have a website, but this link does have contact information. The Captain and his assistant were very nice folks. The boat was a sturdy aluminum pontoon boat about 25 feet long or so.  His assistant also part timed with animal control removing alligators from people's yards!
  
  http://www.discoverfla.com/cms/bridge.php?partner=68
• #67 by strapatza on 30 May, 2007 16:43
• There are a few launch tickets for sale on ebay from people who purchased them for March but are unable to attend the launch in June.  Enter STS-117 in the search line, leave the categories as ALL CATEGORIES, and press SEARCH.  YOu will see about 5 listings for tickets.
  
  Hope this helps those of you who really want to see this launch from good viewing spots.
  
  See you there!
• #68 by cdhutch on 30 May, 2007 18:36
• Does NASA/Launch Control simulcast their transmissions on local Titusville FM radio for those who want to monitor the count without having access to NASA TV?
• #69 by Rocket Guy on 30 May, 2007 18:53
• You can monitor NASA TV on a scanner at 146.9400. Local AM and FM stations will have coverage but it will be more talk (or Jim Banke's commentary) than NASA TV. I'd say get a scanner if you can; you can pick one up on ebay for maybe $20-30.
• #70 by Bubbinski on 01 Jun, 2007 02:58
• I just got my launch tickets for the KSC VC!  I am STOKED.
  
  I've got a few questions now...about the scanner frequency, is that in KHZ?  I don't know much about radio.  I'm not going to buy a radio just to listen in on NASA TV for one visit, but I'll try to keep up as much as I can with my portable Grundig AM/FM/SW radio.  And I do have a cell phone that I can use to get mobile web content and news video clips (VCAST).....Is there anyone that offers mobile-specific space related content?  (I looked on Space.com but didn't see anything).
• #71 by Lee Jay on 01 Jun, 2007 03:06
• MHz
• #72 by Bubbinski on 01 Jun, 2007 03:13
• Thanks.  146 MHz isn't reachable with my radios.  Oh well.  As for the cell phone mobile content I'll keep looking, I remember seeing something on space.com a while back but I'm not finding it.
• #73 by Lee Jay on 01 Jun, 2007 03:15
• It's called a scanner frequency because you usually need a scanner to receive it.
• #74 by Bubbinski on 01 Jun, 2007 03:57
• I just found a site called space2phone....I might get into that in time for the launch but I'll see.  It's supposed to have live launch coverage.
• #75 by Bubbinski on 01 Jun, 2007 15:51
• Thanks, that's good to know.  Maybe the spaceflightnow.com page will work.  I tried the space.com page and it did load but I didn't like how it looked or loaded, it was too unwieldy.  Are there any others who get space news off their mobile or who use space2phone or some other service?
• #76 by psloss on 01 Jun, 2007 16:04
• Quote

  Bubbinski - 1/6/2007  11:51 AM
  
  Thanks, that's good to know.  Maybe the spaceflightnow.com page will work.  I tried the space.com page and it did load but I didn't like how it looked or loaded, it was too unwieldy.  Are there any others who get space news off their mobile or who use space2phone or some other service?

  Some posts back you said you were going to be at the Visitor Center?  (Apologies if I'm misunderstanding.)
  
  If so, they used to pipe the NASA TV commentary over the loudspeakers on the launch days I was there.
  
  Couple of caveats: 1) I was only there to get on the buses to go out to the causeway and so wasn't at the Visitor's Center at liftoff; and 2) that was back in 2001.
  
  Nevertheless, the launch status center is still functional (though I hear not for long) and they have big screens in there NASA TV -- if you're going to be there, that's a good place to watch the count before liftoff.  Note however that unlike all the other times I was at the VC, on launch days that place was packed.
  
• #77 by Rocket Guy on 01 Jun, 2007 18:50
• They still pipe it in and have screens (at least one) at the VC.
• #78 by mceddiemac on 02 Jun, 2007 00:50
• Does anyone know the restrictions on bringing in camera equip. (i.e. backpacks, tripods) into the visitor center on launch days. The ticket package I got noted that these are restricted but other sources have said they relax restrictions on backpacks and fold up chairs into the center and out on the causeway.
  
  
• #79 by Justin Space on 02 Jun, 2007 01:05
• Don't you guys have cell phones where you simply get a normal internet browser and anything you would normally get on your PC screen? I know the US is way behind with cell technology, but it's common place here. I'd simply log into this site via my cell.