posted 11-30-2001 10:17 PM               

I suppose Im used to this. This was the worst of teh three scrubbs Ive been
through now, because 1) I didnt even get to visually see the shuttle at all
and 2) this mission was all but scrubbed before I even left yesterday morning.

What more can I say about that? [Fuc*** piece of string, which no one can
even see, blew my whole trip, thats what!!]

One note....I prepared to hard for my photo log of this launch. Well, I did
not take a single photo of anything down there at all. Didnt even take my
camera out of my bookbag! Amazing as far as Im concerned.

I made the most of Thursday afternoon and it was pleasant. In the eve, I had
dinner with my friend Howard and his g.f. Suzie (he is the manager of teh KSC
photo lab). Very nice..at at teh Lobster Shabby in Cocoa Beach, a large
clearly popular place. That was my first time in Cocoa Beach, and I must say
it was a nice little town, though a bit out of the way to get to from
Titusville. Interesting...Howie was explaining that the lab is in the process
of switching over to all digital; the photography staff will go from 2 to 5
people!

But heres my interesting story...or, Story if you will. Story Musgrave was at
the Encounter. Unlike what everyone keeps telling me, it doesnt seem to
matter what astro is there: No autographs! Well I planned to be persistant
this time...

BTW, if ANYONE on this list was at the AE at the 3:30 sesion yesterday, this
was me...

First, these two women who worked at the AE got things started. One
happens to be the wife of Sam Durrance. They were asking silly questions and
giving autos of Tom Jones for answers. According to them, Jones was at the
Encounter that morning! Even more, John-Loup Chretian (sp.?) gave a hello for
a minute; Musgrave made him come out.

Musgrave talked for about 5 minutes,
then there was about 10 of Q and A. I found it surprising that he openly
stated, when asked, that he was forced to leave NASA because they felt had
"had enough flights, and it was time to turn the baton over." But hey, Im right there with him. If Diaz and Ross get a 7th now, he should too...and he deserves it!

After the Q and A, I waited on line to at least try for an autograph. In the end, I wound up with Musgrave and another woman, escorted to his private office! I couldnt believe it; I ask kindly for an autograph, I
wind up in his office. This other girl turns out to be a photographer, who
asked him a question while taking a photo with Story, and he invited her
back. For about 20-30 minutes, Story was talking to us, mainly about
photography. I didnt know this before, but he seems to be one of the true
photographers from on the shuttle. Most of his outward conversation was
directed to her, and in the end he asked her to join him for dinner that
night in Cocoa. (feeling a bit uncomfortable then, I found out after that
Story is a single man. Well duh! I wont hold it to him.

I mentioned, being from NY, that I knew he would be here next week for some
medical conference in Manhattan. I couldnt say another word before he told me
to show up as his "personal guest", no fee to pay. "Ill be there!" Despite
being a tad self-absorbed, Story is a nice calm guy. And of course, he signed
my Hubble EVA photo, which I will scan later. He then threw in another one
without me even asking, and the spokeswomen gave me a third, unsincribed one.
To my EVA photo, it was "reach for the stars", "come fly with me" to the
portrait. I dont care how common they write that, it was quite the
experience!

Im still not sure about yesterday; I ask for a little autograph, I wind up as
his 'personal guest' next weekend.

You can now view the photo right here:
www.geocities.com/ovatlantis/Story.html

I think I got it all..

All in all, no launch, but a pleasant day.

------------------
______ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
-Ben
http://www.geocities.com/ovcolumbia/totaleclipse.html

"'Time was invented to keep everything from happening at the same time.
Space was invented so that everything doesen't happen to you.' -Anonymous"

[This message has been edited by Ben (edited November 30, 2001).]

posted 12-01-2001 05:08 PM               

My trip was also very disapponiting. This made 2 shuttle and a Titan launch that I missed this year! It wasn't all wasted though, I was a Cocoa Beach bum (babe?) For a few days.

I was just gonna watch the launch from the beach. I spoke some locals, and heard great stories about previous launches..... even a few about the Challengar disater.

Well, I didn't see any astronauts, but I did "rub elbows" with a few wives, kids, and parents. I was staying at the same place, and overheard people talking. (One of their parents was staying in the room next door and was constantly on the cellphone out on the balcony.)

Thursday was almost the best day for me. My friend didn't have to work all day as the previous days, so we got to go fishing at the peir, shopping, out to a nice dinner and a moonlit walk on the beach.

I know exactly what you mean about photos...... I also didn't even take my camera out my suitcase! I could've kicked myself though for not taking it with me to the peir. I just about died when he caught a shovel-nosed shark! There was LOTS of surfers also..... not to mention the pelicans, mantees, and dolphins.

I was gonna stay longer (my plane ticket was to leave friday, but I was gonna change it) but they didn't sound so sure of the launch even going this tuesday or not. I just couldn't stay forever (though it was just like heaven there). Back to home again, and back to reality. *pouts*

I'm gonna back to the beach in febuary, taking mom and the kiddies this time. Planning on going down on launch day and staying at least 7-10 days. I sure hope to see the launch next time!

I must say that I'm still very disappointed in missing this one. A have a friend that worked very hard with this mission, and it would've been a great honor to see it fly.

Better luck next time, and who knows, maybe see some of you there.

More stories from the others that went, or was ya'll lucky enough to wait?

posted 12-01-2001 05:25 PM               

Thank God for the web. Now we can console one another over disappointments like this! ;-)

This was the first scrub/abort I have encountered since STS 68 in 1994. I've seen 7 launches and 1 landing since then, so I thought my luck was pretty good. I really had a good feeling about 108 but it was not to be. If it should be delayed into January I might just go down there again, since I have the Banana Creek viewing pass.

There were some consolation prizes for me, at least. I met some friends and had a nice time with them. I also got to meet Steve Nagel, husband of Linda Godwin. I saw a fantastic laser light show at Brevard College Planetarium. I did not meet Story Musgrave at KSC though.

So it's good we can commiserate together. ;> I hope all of us have better luck next time.

posted 12-01-2001 06:53 PM               

Well, maybe next time I go I'll know a bunch of CollectSPACE people that I can hang out with.

Tom

Oh, great job on the Musgrave thing Ben, I'm jealous!

posted 12-01-2001 07:01 PM               

Ben, which other launch attempts were you at? I was 1 and 4 at one point too, but my luck improved. ;-)

posted 12-01-2001 10:35 PM               

My first two attempts were scrubbs: sts-93, which ended 7 seconds before launch on a false computer glitch. Then sts-101, which was not only the first launch ever to try 3 days in a row, but also the first to get scrubbde 3 days- in a row :\ That ended because of high winds in Morocco. Errr. Both were from the causeway..

STS-100 went off right on time, and thats all Ive seen now, from the press site.

------------------
______ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
-Ben

http://www.geocities.com/ovcolumbia/totaleclipse.html

posted 12-01-2001 10:44 PM               

And what happens when I see a launch finally? Of course, from my vantage point and only my point, a cloud blocks the whole thing past T+25 secs.

Somethings fishy...:\

posted 12-02-2001 03:16 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ben:
The launch goes up the very next attempt after I leave, and it turns out to be some great visual sunset or sunrise launch; exactly what happened with me for 101.

---

Yep! That is how STS-98 finally turned out. SRB smoke trail in darkness then into the sunlight way up there. Coolest looking launch photos I have seen yet....and that was MY launch! Arrrggghhh!!!!

You just don't know the feeling of stress until you have arranged plane tickets for a launch, then stress for weeks if the thing will fly or not. I think getting on that plane that morning knowing there was no launch was the most depressing thing that happened to me this year (not counting 9/11, losing my job, losing my Reno trip...). I was just about in tears when my parents dropped me off I was so upset!

...then I saw the Saturn V for the first time. *ooh..ahh!* :-)

posted 12-02-2001 10:48 PM               

I was at 93 also, though I got to stay an extra day and see it lift off, finally, on July 23, 1999. That is my latest night launch. I sure had hoped 108 would be my 4th, and my 12th launch overall, but it was not to be. That is unless maybe it gets delayed again and I have another opportunity to go back. ;->

I agree with those sentiments about how difficult it is to undertake a trip, esp. if you are going by plane, with this kind of uncertainty. I was lucky on a couple of occasions that launch was called off before I had to leave home.

I just wish last week there had been more of a buffer between the Progess docking and the scheduled shuttle launch. If only they had detected the problem maybe 24 hours earlier, I could have scrapped my plans and rescheduled for this week. But that's the way things go sometimes.