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Author
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Topic: Fate of the space shuttle "Days to" launch sign
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Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 06-27-2011 09:31 AM
   
On the NASA Causeway, there are two signs with a number that counts down the days to a shuttle launch with an image of a space shuttle launching. What will happen to those signs? It would be a shame if someone just took them away to scrap or put it in their attic. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 06-27-2011 10:50 AM
I've been fortunate to see 3 launches and taken hundreds of photos each time. Without a doubt people like my photo of the "0 Days to Launch" sign the best. Everyone has seen a Shuttle launch on TV but few have seen these. Even my brother who toured KSC with me and sat through a scrub did not remember them. I agree these would be a shame to waste - they need to go to a museum too.  |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 06-27-2011 11:09 AM
Really love that photo. I manged to get a quick one of it as the bus drove past it. Wasn't what I hoped for, but I have one. It would have been really cool to get a photo of me next to it. I was talking to my dad about it and he said that what might happen is someone will just walk up to one of them (or both), unscrew it and it will never be seen again. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 06-27-2011 03:52 PM
What would happen is they would likely get tackled by one of the KSC security guys in black. I am not talking about the guys in khakis you see at the checkpoints, but rather the ones that are essentially part of the SWAT force.  Who knows what will happen with the signs, but they won't get stolen of the racks, that is for sure. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 06-28-2011 12:02 PM
Scott Phillips reminded me that NASA Marshall has a similar sign for each mission. Here's a photo from the MSFC with Scott's children in front of the sign. |
Neil Aldrin
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 07-26-2011 08:42 PM
I would certainley be willing to pay for a reproduction of that sign. Any idea who would have made them for KSC? Perhaps a group discount if several are made?? |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 07-26-2011 08:59 PM
I'm sure your local sign shop could make one if shown a photo. Same here. That would make a great reproduction sign to hang on my door on when I go to a non-community college and get a dorm room, on the dorm room wall. |
Neil Aldrin
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 07-28-2011 09:21 PM
Do you, or anyone else, have a high resolution photo of the Kennedy Space Center sign? I am trying to find a DOT sign maker to reproduce one or more. Approximate dimensions would be helpful as well, however if the original sign is too large people may want a more "wall-friendly" size to display. From what I remember the signs look to be around 24"-36" square?Thanks! |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 07-29-2011 03:19 PM
Well, from what I can recall driving by it on the four launches I attended, it is about 36" square. |
kyra
Member Posts: 583
From: Louisville CO US
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 07-30-2011 11:18 AM
The shuttle graphic in the Days to Launch are the same as what you would find in the Space Shuttle News Reference. This might save you some time remaking this one.The "Days to Launch" is Helvetica Bold as is the "Next Launch" in the lower sign. These signs must have went up about 1992 -1993 based on the logo, and the fact that Helvetica was an approved font of the day.
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Neil Aldrin
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 07-30-2011 06:44 PM
Kyra, thanks for the information.I pulled up the Space Shuttle News Reference PDF that you spoke of and see that the graphic is very similar of the "stack", minus the USA and flag on the wings (as well as the exhaust). It will probably be helpful to the sign maker as will the font info. |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 07-31-2011 01:52 PM
I can attest to what Jay said about security. After seeing my first launch, STS-45 from the NASA Causeway, my cousins and I were driving out and I asked them to stop so I could grab a photo of the sign. About 2 seconds after I stepped out of the car, I was grabbed by a security dude, who came out of nowhere, and told me to get back in the car. On my ensuing shuttle launch visits I took my photos of the sign from a moving vehicle. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 07-31-2011 02:02 PM
When we went out to try to see the shuttle on the pad the night before the first 134 launch attempt, I wanted to ask the guard (by the visitor's center) if I could get a photo of the sign, but I didn't get to. Guess they would have said no anyway. |
Neil Aldrin
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 08-02-2011 07:34 PM
Am I correct in assuming that the reason "Launch" is a removable item on this sign is to replace it with "Rollout"? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-02-2011 08:12 PM
I don't recall about "Rollout" but it is replaced by "Landing":  |
Neil Aldrin
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 08-02-2011 08:37 PM
Thanks for the information Robert. That makes more sense than "Rollout".Still looking for a good high-res photo of the sign as well. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 08-02-2011 09:24 PM
Well, you've pretty much got all the data for the sign. The shuttle graphic used is essentially the same old Rockwell line drawing that has been in use since before Enterprise was stacked at the pad. There are plenty of books or public domain sources that have it printed in their pages. |
irish guy
Member Posts: 287
From: Kerry Ireland
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 08-03-2011 04:24 AM
Snapped this on the morning of July 8th, I was one of many happy proud excited people passing the famous landmark. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-03-2011 07:04 AM
I have created a 24" square file at 300dpi for anyone who would like to have a print made of this. The file is very large and would have to be sent using a file sharing service, not email. BUT the graphic quoted above is not ideal - it is not large or clean enough for a perfect reproduction. Below you can see the full image and a portion of the graphic file at full size.   |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 542
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 08-03-2011 06:59 PM
Nice job, Gary! |
Neil Aldrin
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 08-03-2011 07:09 PM
Gary, Thank you for your time in producing that and for everyone else who has offered input. If I can get the full graphic from Gary I think I can have a pretty respectable copy of the sign made.It's unfortunate that "0-Days to Launch", with the Space Shuttle graphic means something entirely different now. |
spacefan JC
Member Posts: 86
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2010
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posted 08-04-2011 05:25 AM
I like it. How big is the file? Can it be hosted for download on cS?This could be printed on the laminated sticky backed sheet I used for my switch panel (see Models and Toys) and then stuck onto metal or plastic backing. If any cS'ers in UK are interested I will get a price for a 24x24 print. Shouldn't be more than £25 I expect. If I can get hold of the file, I will get one printed as a demo. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-04-2011 05:34 AM
I have a 5 MB JPEG which could be emailed and is suitable for most digital printing, a 30 MB PDF-X1/a (a format used by most professional printers) or a 155 MB TIFF that would allow someone with Photoshop to edit the various layers. I have both Dropbox and You Send It, so just send me a private email and I'll send you what you want. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-04-2011 05:47 AM
Here are some Dropbox links: |
crowe-t
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
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posted 08-04-2011 11:43 AM
Gary, Thanks for taking the time to make this sign and offering to share. I sent you an e-mail. |
frank3si
Member Posts: 20
From: Blackwood NJ
Registered: Aug 2011
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posted 08-09-2011 01:07 PM
My first post here at collectSPACE, though I spent much of the last month around Robert at KSC. This is a great site and I can't believe I've only found it now!Mid-afternoon following the STS-135 launch, I was finally heading out from the Press Site and driving down Kennedy Parkway past the sign, which naturally faces those driving in. There was a family there, pulled over and taking photos. I'm not sure what credentials had them there, but I yielded to the temptation, u-turned and offered a "I'll shoot you, you shoot me." As soon as we were done, not much more than a minute, I told them that I would not hang around there as tourist photos were frowned on by the security folk. They really seemed like they were in no hurry to move on. Sure enough, as I headed back out, a security truck was doing a hard, fast u-turn to get to the sign. Trivia note: there's a large concrete block next to the right leg of this sign, inhabited by a large black widow spider. Maybe he was part of the plan to discourage people stopping... |
Spaceguy5
Member Posts: 427
From: Pampa, TX, US
Registered: May 2011
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posted 09-07-2011 03:29 PM
Interesting, I didn't know they used similar signs for expendable launch vehicles. |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 968
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 09-29-2011 04:57 PM
Back in the beginning the sign was a bit more "basic" ...sheet metal and some angle iron. Photo taken back in April of 1981. |
spacecop67
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
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posted 10-05-2011 09:57 AM
Shuttle signs were taken down on KSC immediately after STS-135 mission. Signs are now in secure location and will accompany each orbiter to its new display location as part of the exhibit. |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 12-17-2011 02:07 PM
A fellow friend and cS member, Mr. Brady, sent me a great picture of him standing next to the "Days to Launch" shuttle sign. Having a little time today to focus on this picture and the digital format copy created by fellow CS member Gary Milgrom, I decided to conduct a side by side comparison to improve on Milgrom's work.Some things that I noticed different about the digital copy verse the original sign were: - Missing the American Flag and USA on the orbiter wings.
- The overall size of the shuttle needs to be enlarged a little.
- Exhaust trails are to long and skinny on the digital format and the original sign they are shorter and appear wider.
- Exhaust trails colors show a difference from dark orange to a yellowish color.
Photo credit goes to Mr. Brady and guess who took this photo on 24 April 1990 at the launch of STS-31 & Hubble.
 
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crowe-t
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
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posted 12-18-2011 02:03 PM
The font is also a bit different. The '0' should be a bit larger and the 'Days To Launch' needs to be smaller.All in all Gary's digital version does look very nice and will look nice printed. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 12-26-2011 08:17 AM
Thanks for catching those details garyd. If anyone wants the Photoshop file to correct these items just drop me an email. |
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