posted 12-05-2004 06:07 AM
Its being reported that the number of visitors to KSC Visitor Viewing Areas on launch days is to be severely limited - because of safety issues (explosions,falling debris, etc).From what I understand it is to the prime viewing stands at the Press and VIP stands .
But it is to include other areas like the Causeway and some of the bleachers !
It looks like they want the majority of viewers to be at the 7-mile distance as a minimum.
Personally, think NASA and its advisors have got too 'safety conscience' on this issue.
If they are worried about 'ambulance chasers' then I suggest they still allow visitors onto Causeway and VIP stands etc (outside the 3.5 mile pad limit) BUT that each person wishing to do so,should sign a disclaimer that no action would be brought against NASA and its contractors for any injury suffered on NASA property in/around KSC on a launch day. [I'll leave it to legal buffs to draw up the correct wording].
Out of interest , when a shuttle is stacked with SRB's attached , do the KSC tour buses still go down to the 'beach area' visiting stand? This is only about 0.5 - 1 mile from pad at a guess? And,what about the crawlerway viewing platform. Do they still go there when SRB's stacked with Shuttle?
I know that many many years ago the tour buses used to overtake the shuttle/SRBs when being transported from VAB to pad via Crawlerway but I think was stopped after Challenger?
I know when ever I have been KSC the shuttle has had its SRB's stacked.
I'll have to check when the SRB igniters are are installed - since of course that's when SRBs are more vulnerable to be ignited prematurely.
I for one want NASA to keep allowing visitors for launches to go down to the Causeway and - if lucky enough - to the VIP stands. This applies for the EELV type launches out of CCAF pads as well.
Phill
UK