|
|
|
|
Author
|
Topic: My trip to Kennedy Space Center
|
zoomeruk
Member Posts: 67
From: England
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 03-29-2001 02:28 PM
   
Greatings to everyone.
As a new member to this forum, I'd like to join your discussion. I have been lucky enough to visit Florida and the Kennedy space centre, from here in the UK, several times over the last few years. I was fortunate to see STS-76 launch in the dead of night, from a vantager point close to the Astronaut hall of fame. Last year was the best, when my family and I camped out through the night, and saw STS-101 go. We had visited the KSC the day before and purchased our tickets and car park pass, as our hotel was at Kissemee, we had to catch a couple of hours sleep in a Walmart's car park. I too have many pictures that I have taken on my visits, but have no site to post them at present. Perhaps this site could set up a 'members pictures' area.
I don't know if they still conduct the small historical tour, at KSC. If they do, I fully recommend it. A small mini-bus takes a party of approx a dozen people on a guided tour of the more hitoric sites. You get to visit pad 34-a, see the old Gemini lauch gantries and are driven past many of the pads, some with rockets being prepared for launch. Our guide and driver were both retired NASA technicians who were only to eager to share their memories and experiences. It was great to discuss things that I had read about or seen on video, with the people who were actually there. I am booked to return this year June 14th, and was hoping to see STS-105, but I see it's been delayed. Still STS-104 is due to go on the day of my arrival. I may see it from the airport. Hope it gets delayed for a few more days. Paul |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2291
From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Jan 2000
|
posted 03-29-2001 02:36 PM
Paul,
Yes, they still have that tour you mentioned. It is the one called "NASA Now and Then" tour (or was it "Cape Canaveral Now and Then"?). Whatever it was, it was well worth the $20 ticket and I could have easily gone on it twice while I was there - but I had a lot of other things I had to see.Tom |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 1922
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 04-04-2001 04:29 PM
John --The sign you're referring to on the same road as The AHOF and KSC's Visitor Complex has no relation to my operations. The only large sign that I recall is the "SPACEPORT FLORIDA Authority," about a 25+ foot-tall sign, at the intersection of Grissom Parkway and SR-405 that leads into NASA Causeway West. Grissom Parkway, named after Gus, was the location of Florida's first U.S. Space Camp (at that time without the Hall of Fame facilities) alongside the White and Chaffee streets (no kidding). Spaceport Florida Authority is both a public and private aerospace industrial complex that promotes Florida's $4.5 billion space industry. The former Lockheed company's headquarters, once a major Shuttle prime contractor, was also located on Grissom near the big advertising sign. Unfortunately, the Shuttle Press Site is restricted to working journalists only. If a group wants to view a Shuttle launch, John, with another pass opportunity (usually NASA Causeway) I'll be happy to arrange whatever I can. FOR THE FUN OF IT: In discussing close-up Shuttle launch viewing opportunities, does anyone know how close ANYONE can actually get to the pad during a liftoff? The answer is: There is a special 12-person team on a standby emergency position for support of every Shuttle launch. This is the Astronaut Pad Rescue Team of KSC's Fire-Support Services. The team, all suited-geared up, are "inside" their M-113 rescue tank positioned on Road Block AB-5 (for Pad A) and Road Block AB-4 (for Pad B) on the Crawlerway alongside Saturn Causeway -- ONLY ONE MILE AWAY from the Shuttle on the pad !!! |
Ben
Member Posts: 1857
From: Daytona Beach, FL
Registered: May 2000
|
posted 04-04-2001 05:26 PM
Ken..The Armored vehicle: isnt it located at the bottom of the slide wire track? In eitehr case...does it have windows so the emergency crew can actually watch the launch? I was aware there was an emergency crew that stays near the pad...but I thought it was in a blockhouse, underground maybe. Nice to know anyway! Ken, Im a bit confused where on Merrit you live? Do you have a map? Also..will you be at STS-100? And where. -Ben [This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited April 04, 2001).] |
thecollector
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
|
posted 04-04-2001 07:25 PM
Ben, Ken was right, the crew isn't at the slide wire, they are actually one mile away. but as you may well know there ARE underground bunkers at the end of the slide wire incase they ever have to be used.
|
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 1922
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 04-23-2001 05:06 AM
For Ben and Ryan, "the collector" --My apologies for not getting back to both your April 4th postings as I've been quite busy working on the Mars Odyssey launch along with the current STS-100/Endeavour mission, which by the way, both had successful sendoffs this month. Yes, the armored M-113 personnel carrier at "Hard Top Three" is positioned at the ramp of the Slidewire Bunker, or better known as the Slidewire Bunker Facility, located about 1200 feet from the Shuttle west of the pad near the Perimeter Road. On launch day a bunker crew of 2 are with the Pad Closeout Crew as they depart the Pad's White Room at T-20 minutes. Forty minutes after launch, the bunker crew return to the Pad at the STF to "safe" the M-113. There are only 2 narrow windows in the M-113 tracked vehicle and they are used for driving the rescue tank. After the STS-26/Discovery launch in Sept. 1988, the combined 14-member pad rescue teams at "Hard Top One" (supporting two M-113s) were required to stay inside the armored vehicles, all suited and geared up, during the actual liftoff. The personnel carriers are usually at launch position T-3 hrs. and 30 minutes and are released at T-6 minutes following a successful launch. Ben--there is no "blockhouse" within or close to Pad 39, as most Cape blockhouses were located within the pad boundries. All the Saturn V/Apollos and every Space Shuttle were "fired" for launch from the 4-story Launch Control Center (LCC), adjacent to the massive VAB, which is 3.5 miles from Pad A. All the countdowns and launches were controlled and monitored from one of the four LCC firing rooms. My Merritt Island home (and an office) is about a mile north of the SR-3 and Beeline/528 intersection. I'm about 5 miles from KSC's Gate 2, one of the main entrances to the Space Center. Ben, I'm sorry we didn't have more time to visit after the STS-100 launch. To answer your other question, I was covering the liftoff from the grandstand section at the press site, as I do for many of the Shuttle missions. Sometimes I will be at the countdown clock area (another of my favorite viewing spots), but it all depends on the mission, time of day, etc. I have not missed a manned shot from PS39 since Apollo-Soyuz and witnessed most of the Apollos and all the Skylabs from one of the main viewing sites (VIP, etc.). Press site coverages also includes 100s of unmanned satellite, lunar and planetary probes, commercial and military launches, and other news media/VIP activities and special events since 1970. I've actually lost count of the many different launches, rollouts, landings, etc. that I've been fortunate enough to witness and participate in for more than 30 years...and still counting - ha! |
Lynn
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
|
posted 05-21-2001 02:48 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ben:
[B]Lynn,July 12th (BTW, I too am aiming for July, after STS100 first though). The chances it will stick are slim. Well, I truly wasn't counting on seeing STS-105 in July when we first booked our trip (though I was hopeful), but I'm really starting to cross my fingers now! The NASA site still shows it on July 12, while Space.com says it is launching on July 15. Either one will work with our timing, but does anyone have any more information on this flight and which date might be the actual target? What are the odds it will stick at this point? Are we at least at 50/50 yet?!! Thanks much!
Lynn |
Ben
Member Posts: 1857
From: Daytona Beach, FL
Registered: May 2000
|
posted 05-21-2001 06:50 PM
Right now, lets stick with getting 104 off the ground. It has no contingency days left; if another problem crops up, it iwll be delayed. After it lands, look for 105...One problem is that an Atlas is scheduled for July 12 too...which will get priority is anyones guess. Good luck though. -Ben |
Lynn
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
|
posted 05-21-2001 07:43 PM
Ben,
thanks for the reality check :->Lynn | |
Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts
Copyright 1999-2014 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.
Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a
|
|
|
 advertisement
|
