Attending the few remaining Shuttle Launches

bradleyjs · July 26, 2009, 05:21:03 PM

Quote from: spaceboy7441 on July 26, 2009, 05:16:17 PM
Trying to stay on topic but I agree with bradleyjs. Also Islands of adventure (Part of Universal) is way better than Disney and far less expensive. Disney tends to be more fo the tiny kids. Now I do warn you that when you go to Orlando be careful. Anything near Disney or owned by Disney is going to be SUPER expensive. I played hockey at the wide world of sports at disney and a soda was like $5! So just take that stuff into consideration when planning your trip.

Very true, indeed. I just got home yesterday from a week's stay at a resort hotel near Sea World (didn't go - just hung out at the pool) and the price of food, etc is much higher because of the locale [tourism]. Spent more that I'd really planned... but don't really do it that often.. However, I did take the wife/kids for a helicopter ride that was awesome (I went twice, in fact, for 30 mins each -- blew quite a few bucks on that as well... but WTH it was fun ...)

uri_ba · July 26, 2009, 05:29:52 PM

Quote from: bradleyjs on July 26, 2009, 05:04:48 PM
ps. You know what would be cool, is for a bunch of us "fans" to gather at KSC for a launch and all watch it together and perhaps sync it while watching "live"... Realistically, it'll probably never happen, but it'd be cool IMO.

Don't know about you, But I'll be clicking away with my camera

bradleyjs · July 26, 2009, 05:33:00 PM

Quote from: uri_ba on July 26, 2009, 05:29:52 PM
Quote from: bradleyjs on July 26, 2009, 05:04:48 PM
ps. You know what would be cool, is for a bunch of us "fans" to gather at KSC for a launch and all watch it together and perhaps sync it while watching "live"... Realistically, it'll probably never happen, but it'd be cool IMO.

Don't know about you, But I'll be clicking away with my camera

Yep, I fully understand, Copy That.

spaceboy7441 · July 26, 2009, 06:27:43 PM

Quote from: uri_ba on July 26, 2009, 05:29:52 PM
Quote from: bradleyjs on July 26, 2009, 05:04:48 PM
ps. You know what would be cool, is for a bunch of us "fans" to gather at KSC for a launch and all watch it together and perhaps sync it while watching "live"... Realistically, it'll probably never happen, but it'd be cool IMO.

Don't know about you, But I'll be clicking away with my camera

Ya lol I live only an hour and a half from KSC and when I went last year after finally realizing what it all meant and playing this sim and using NSF I took over 400 pics! And I had already been there a few years before! So I am going again early next month before school starts back up middle of august. Will take a lot of pics again.

Plus I am going for the first time while a shuttle is actually on the pad. Sadly the RSS will be rotated onto the Shuttle unless I get over there next Monday.

schmidtrock · July 26, 2009, 07:33:22 PM

Quote from: uri_ba on July 26, 2009, 05:29:52 PM
Quote from: bradleyjs on July 26, 2009, 05:04:48 PM
ps. You know what would be cool, is for a bunch of us "fans" to gather at KSC for a launch and all watch it together and perhaps sync it while watching "live"... Realistically, it'll probably never happen, but it'd be cool IMO.

Don't know about you, But I'll be clicking away with my camera

Plenty of time for that after T-8:30

schmidtrock · July 26, 2009, 07:38:41 PM

Quote from: bradleyjs on July 26, 2009, 05:04:48 PM

ps. You know what would be cool, is for a bunch of us "fans" to gather at KSC for a launch and all watch it together and perhaps sync it while watching "live"... Realistically, it'll probably never happen, but it'd be cool IMO.

I would do all that I could to attend an event like this.
My family lives in Palatka so I'd have enough reason to visit central Florida as it was, plus have the added advantage of not needing a hotel !

bradleyjs · July 26, 2009, 07:47:39 PM

Quote from: schmidtrock on July 26, 2009, 07:38:41 PM
Quote from: bradleyjs on July 26, 2009, 05:04:48 PM

ps. You know what would be cool, is for a bunch of us "fans" to gather at KSC for a launch and all watch it together and perhaps sync it while watching "live"... Realistically, it'll probably never happen, but it'd be cool IMO.

I would do all that I could to attend an event like this.
My family lives in Palatka so I'd have enough reason to visit central Florida as it was, plus have the added advantage of not needing a hotel !

Ok, so should we try to attempt some sort of gathering?

/Admin,
maybe a Poll of some sorts? Just suggesting an idea.

bjbeard · August 07, 2009, 06:00:25 PM

Err, I got a better idea...

Rent a plane (Beechcraft, Cessna, Piper) and fly a VFR flight that will pass by the pads to the west right at launch time. Best view PERIOD!

bradleyjs · August 07, 2009, 08:32:07 PM

Quote from: bjbeard on August 07, 2009, 06:00:25 PM
Err, I got a better idea...

Rent a plane (Beechcraft, Cessna, Piper) and fly a VFR flight that will pass by the pads to the west right at launch time. Best view PERIOD!

Not sure how close you can actually get as they close the airspace down to all traffic for many miles around the area.

bjbeard · August 09, 2009, 11:57:26 AM

V3 never gets closed. Shuttle launches east, and V3 is to the west right over KTIX

bradleyjs · August 09, 2009, 03:05:24 PM

Roger that -- good ole V3 -- haven't flown that in some time.... Used to do lots of T-n-G's at TIX -- way back..

bradleyjs · August 09, 2009, 03:08:04 PM

Does anybody remember back in the early-mid 80's when the used to fly 2 AC-130 Gunships that would circle the pads to protect the shuttle launches??

Admin · August 09, 2009, 04:19:31 PM

Quote from: bradleyjs on August 09, 2009, 03:08:04 PM
Does anybody remember back in the early-mid 80's when the used to fly 2 AC-130 Gunships that would circle the pads to protect the shuttle launches??

Are you saying that two Spectres were securing the perimeter?

/Admin

bradleyjs · August 09, 2009, 04:22:38 PM

Absolutely!!! The would deploy from Patrick AFB, FL and orbit the pad one to the North and the other to the South... I can remember at least a dozen launches that they would be on-station.

Admin · August 09, 2009, 04:25:08 PM

OMG - those "flying butchers" give me the creeps! Just think about that awe-inspiring firepower. I think the security guys over-reacted. Helos are more suitable for the job and safer too...

Anwyay, interesting piece of history.

/Admin