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Author
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Topic: STS-120 launch viewing
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-07-2007 06:13 PM
   
Tickets to view the STS-120 launch from the NASA Causeway and KSC Visitor Complex will go on-sale at 9:00 a.m. EDT, Monday, September 10, on this website as well as by phone at +1 321-449-4400.Launch ticket orders cannot be placed via email or by leaving a voice mail message. You must place your order online or by speaking to a reservation agent. STS-120 is targeted to launch on October 23 at 11:38 a.m. EDT on a mission to continue assembly of the International Space Station with the addition of the second Italian-built, U.S. multi-node module, Harmony. |
Jonjonzilla
Member Posts: 42
From: Hagerstown, MAryland
Registered: May 2007
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posted 10-01-2007 10:43 AM
I've got Causeway Tickets for the lanuch... I hope it doesn't end for me the way STS-115 did, Friday at the causeway (6 Miles from the pad) and a scrub, Saturday morning on the roof of the Carpark at Orlando International (60 something).Wish me Luck John John |
irish guy
Member Posts: 287
From: Kerry Ireland
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 10-01-2007 10:43 AM
Hi John,Today is my first time seeing you listed on here, and we living so close. Welcome to this wonderful site. Will contact you offline. Myself and Siobhan will see you in Brevard, and at the causeway. We are waiting for our tickets to come by post, should arrive this week. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 10-01-2007 04:47 PM
Irish Guy(s): I have causeway tickets too. The Guiness is on me (after the launch of course).Seriously I hope to make your acquaintance there. |
James Brown
Member Posts: 1287
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 10-01-2007 04:57 PM
Count me in. I'll be there. James |
CJC
Member Posts: 95
From: Ireland
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 10-01-2007 05:09 PM
Hi Folks,Ah,unfortunately I can't make it this time due to a previous hospital appointment, actually on the 23rd itself! Hopefully Eamonn,his boss Shiobhan, Ha Ha! and myself will make it to Florida in the spring of 2008. CJC |
Jonjonzilla
Member Posts: 42
From: Hagerstown, MAryland
Registered: May 2007
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posted 10-02-2007 08:02 AM
Hello Gang
just wondering if I can ask for some advice for my trip to The KSC for STS-120.
I have casueway tickets and hope to get them used correctly but I am interested
in getting the best out of my trip while Discovery is still on the Pad. You seem
to be the experts around here so Ill hope you have some recommendations....I
havent booked an up close tour, Can I still purchase one on the day when I use
one of the 2 days associated with maxumum access tickets?
As the 23rd still stands for the expected lift off, I was wondering when will
the RSS be rolled back. I was in FL for STS-115 and took the maximum access
tours but not the Up Close tour, and saw Atlantis on the Pad B from the
Observation Gantry near the parked Crawler, I believe now that I was lucky that
the RSS was rolled back for so long....Is that true?
The Up Close tour, where does that drop you off compared to the Pad A for a
picture opportunity, is it in front or behind the shuttle? I know its an active
and danerous site but I have seen a few great shots of people around this site
and I was wondering if these were from the Up Close Tour or special invite.
I get to FL about midnight the 17th so the 18th is the earliest to go to the
KSC, I have other stuff booked for the 20th so what day would you all recommend
for a pre launch tour?
Thanks in advance gents
John John |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 10-02-2007 12:45 PM
The RSS will be retracted at about 3pm on the 22nd for an Oct. 23, 11:38am launch.I don't know when the tours will cease yet, but the info should become available with the countdown timeline soon. You should probably check on when the last tour will be, as well as if the Up Close tour will be running on the 22nd. That tour normally takes you to a spot on the beach half way between A and B; so you would be looking at Discovery's back side from that angle (whereas for B it was the front). I have seen the Up Close bus out there the day before but I am not sure how late in the day it will run on the 22nd. |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 10-02-2007 05:06 PM
John,I got to view STS-115 Atlantis from the Observation Gantry too and it's my understanding that everyone who did so was very lucky. I've taken the regular tour included with admission when the shuttle was on the pad before and the gantry stop was not included. I think the gantry was included during STS-115 because of the multiple scrubs. I'm sure the Up Close Tour does not run at all on launch day and maybe not at all while the shuttle is on the pad. As Ben said above, that tour takes you to an area between the two pads and I don't think a bus-load of people would be allowed to literally drive right past the shuttle, since Discovery is on Pad A. Those great photos you've seen were not taken by the general public. The tours work around the time of day of a shuttle launch. Since STS-120 is a late morning launch, the regular tour should start in the early afternoon. I don't know if the Up Close Tour will too, but you can call KSCVC, (321-449-4400) and find out. Be sure to make reservations for the Cape Canaveral Then & Now Tour too as it runs only once a day. As far as the Launch Transportation Ticket (LTT) goes, once you give the KSC employee your ticket to board the bus for the causeway that ticket is history and cannot be used again. If the launch is scrubbed any time after that you'll have to get to the KSCVC ticket plaza early the next day to get in line in order to purchase another one. I've experienced that before and it is no fun at all. Here's what I do... First of all, how's the weather on launch day? What's NASA's percentage for good weather? The worse the percentage, the longer I wait to board the bus. The busses start out to the causeway about three hours before launch and stop about an hour before. I've literally waited for the very last bus before when there was less than favorable weather. The KSC employees are good about letting you know when the last few busses will leave. Hope this helps some,
Rob |
Jonjonzilla
Member Posts: 42
From: Hagerstown, MAryland
Registered: May 2007
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posted 10-03-2007 02:49 AM
Wow..thats all good to know. So I was very lucky with STS-115 in some ways.Yeah I knew the LTT tickets were one shot uses...Ill have to look into the other tours as back up as Ill be in Kissimme as for a hotel, so early morning queing may not be an option.. Rob Ben thanks very much..lets see how it goes? Any other Langers going to STS-120??? John John |
BMckay
Member Posts: 3220
From: MA, USA
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 10-03-2007 07:36 AM
They usually sell tickets right after the scrub at teh ticket booths. That is what they did for STS 116. Don't just rush out afterwards. Check with the ticket people. It is easier to wait afew minutes that night instead of coming back early the next day. |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 10-18-2007 11:12 AM
A couple of us are planning on getting together on launch day. If you're interested, leave your name below. Let's make some plans by Sunday night as I know some of you are leaving for KSC early.Rob Joyner |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 10-18-2007 12:08 PM
Weather is looking suspect for next week. I have tickets but am wondering about driving down. |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 10-18-2007 08:58 PM
Rob, I'll be on the Causeway for the launch. Our launch day busses leave Kelly Park-West in Merritt Island at 8 a.m. and I'll be staying at the Four Points Cocoa Beach from Monday thru Saturday. Looking forward to seeing anyone from collectSPACE anytime during the week! |
Jonjonzilla
Member Posts: 42
From: Hagerstown, MAryland
Registered: May 2007
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posted 10-19-2007 02:05 PM
What's the best, i.e. up-to-the-moment method of checking on launch status the morning of the launch? I'll be leaving Kissimmee at 3:30 a.m.-ish so I'm trying to not waste a journey if a status has changed.Thanks
John John |
tncmaxq
Member Posts: 287
From: New Haven, CT USA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 10-19-2007 03:18 PM
I will be there Monday afternoon through Thursday morning if plans remain on track. Staying in Cocoa Beach also. I look forward to meeting some CS folks if that works out. I'll be watching from the causeway. The bus I'm on departs from Merritt Square Mall. |
irish guy
Member Posts: 287
From: Kerry Ireland
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 10-20-2007 08:02 AM
Hello from Brevard County. We got in yesterday. Like Ireland raining! Staying in Melbourne until Monday and then up towards Merritt Island until the launch. Myself & Siobhan would like to meet up with other collectSPACE members. We will be the causeway also wearing Irish Rugby shirts! Easy to spot us maybe?Looking forward to seeing you Ben, and James. Gary you are quiet, are you making it down? Colm we will miss you but know you are watching at home. Here's to the spring of 2008. All the best
Eamonn & Siobhan |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 10-21-2007 09:32 PM
Because of the weather concerns I'll be taking one of the last busses out to the causeway. That should be about 10:15 AM or so. Those of you with LTTs are free to ride along. I shouldn't be hard to spot as I'm sure I'll be the only one there wearing a black T-shirt with a photo of the Wicked Witch of the West! I'll be shooting video of the launch and would like to swap it for some photos from those of you taking pictures.
'Now rain, rain go away.
Discovery's launch do not delay...' |
lunarrv15
Member Posts: 1355
From: Cincinnati, Ohio, Hamilton
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 10-22-2007 12:19 PM
quote:
Originally posted by tncmaxq:
I'll be watching from the causeway. The bus I'm on departs from Merritt Square Mall.
What time do you have to meet the bus? |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 10-22-2007 03:38 PM
Good luck to all you lucky enough to be there in person. I'll never forget STS-117 from the causeway last June....wish I was there again!Go Discovery! |
Choose2Go
Member Posts: 73
From: Merritt Island, FL, USA
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 10-22-2007 09:58 PM
I'll wave to y'all from the Saturn V Center, where I'll be escorting a bevy of HQ VIPs from the Education Office. Tough job, but someone has to do it! |
lunarrv15
Member Posts: 1355
From: Cincinnati, Ohio, Hamilton
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 10-23-2007 11:45 AM
a very demanding pressure cooker of employment. I'll accept the position after you retire...(when will you retire)  |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 10-27-2007 07:56 PM
Just returned today from the Launch of STS-120, and met two friends for life..Eamonn and Shobhan (in their Irish rugby shirts, just as advertised). The launch was my first, and I have to say other than my wife on our wedding day, and the birth of my son..that was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. TV does not do it justice when those SRB's light!! The sound and the smell..just a fantastic sensory event. The three of us just knew CJC was pushing the clouds away so we could all enjoy the day. I've never met him, but the stories that were shared made me believe I had know him forever.. and he will be missed. |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 655
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 10-28-2007 05:49 AM
quote:
The launch was my first, and I have to say other than my wife on our wedding day, and the birth of my son..that was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. TV does not do it justice when those SRB's light!! The sound and the smell..just a fantastic sensory event.
Welcome to the club! I've been to three: from The Causeway, from the mainland, and from the Visitors' Center. It just gets better every time! |
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