Atlantis Launch Oct 10

kidjim25 · Post by **kidjim25** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:42 pm

Well folks i'm finally going to see my first live Shuttle Launch. I just received my Parking Pass and entry tickets for the Oct 10th Launch. I was only able to get the general admission pass and thus will miss ignition and the clearing of the tower but should be able to see the roll program and follow the orange streak as it arcs out towards orbit.

If anyone is going to be in the area let me know.

James

SpaceCanada · Post by **SpaceCanada** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:01 am

You will have a great time! I now a family who had similar passes to see the STS-118 launch and they really enjoyed it. Will you be on the bridge (I think; the closer site) or the main viewing site at the KSC Visitor Complex? Either way, the view is spectacular.

Report in when you get back.

Mercergl · Post by **Mercergl** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:36 pm

Awesome! have fun!

kidjim25 · Post by **kidjim25** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:30 pm

no ill be in the main viewing site. I heard the bridge was sold out in like 5 minutes

monkeynautt · Post by **monkeynautt** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:40 pm

You're so lucky! I hope to make it down there sometime late next year.

What time is the launch at?

pilotgirl21 · Post by **pilotgirl21** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:01 pm

I hope to make it down there eventually before the shuttle program is retired.

SpaceCanada · Post by **SpaceCanada** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:05 am

Rumour has it that the shuttle programme may be extended beyond 2010, so you may have a few more chances to see a launch. That being said, keeping the shuttle programme in business will take away funds from the Orion project so it's a toss-up.

Anyway, give us stories and pictures when you get back. Launches are always full of interesting happenings.

pilotgirl21 · Post by **pilotgirl21** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:49 pm

SpaceCanada wrote:Rumour has it that the shuttle programme may be extended beyond 2010, so you may have a few more chances to see a launch. That being said, keeping the shuttle programme in business will take away funds from the Orion project so it's a toss-up.

Anyway, give us stories and pictures when you get back. Launches are always full of interesting happenings.

I've heard that rumor too...I think until 2015 I heard. Anyone else here this?

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:15 pm

Right now there is a good chance of delays in the retirement. The war between Russia and Georgia is making it difficult to get authorization for Soyuz capsules and progress vehicles. Without them the shuttle is the only access to the station. And there is alot of congressional support for this.

There are also problems with constellation. the boilerplate orion that was supose to be used for pad abort test 1 later this year was heavily damaged in the first parachute test when the main shutes tangled this will likely delay the pad abort test flight. And the second boilerplate to be used for the Ares 1-X test flight next year is still in pieces in the Langley machine shop. Plus we have a new president coming in in a few months and lkely a new nasa administrator as well.

Mercergl · Post by **Mercergl** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:01 pm

I believe they're planning to have a test of the Orion launch vehicle in 2009. Anyone hear anything to confirm/deny this? And on the note of presidents, who do you think would be more likely to give NASA more funding?

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:56 pm

Yes the Orion 1-x is supise to be the test of the orion first stage with a dummy upper stage. However the boilerplate that is supose to fly on this misssion is in pieces at Langley still being assembled and behind schedule. This is coming from a friend who works in the machine shop where its being built. 1=X was scheduled for next spring we shall see how it goes if it gets off on time or not.

You can pretty much guarantee the first pad abort test will be delayed since the boilerplate for this test is in bad shape after the failed parachute test. This is to be just a test of the escape ower launching the capsule from the ground they did these test in apollo as well. This test was scheduled for december it isnt known when it will happen now.

As for candidtaes Obama first said hed delay orion 10 years then flipped that and said hed continue the plan bush started. However when he gave the new opinion it was while speaking to voters many of them nasa employees and contractors on the space coast. i don't know what to believe with him. And Mccain realy hasnt said much of anything but considering he follows bush so closely i would think he would continue it.

SpaceCanada · Post by **SpaceCanada** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:19 pm

Update - The 10 october launch has been postponed. Until when, it is unknown, but the Hubble malfunctioned this weekend and the Hubble team is trying to fix the problem. They may have to add more payload to the shuttle and fix a few more things on Hublle when they are there.

Check the NASA site or other trusty space news sites for updates.

To James - I hope you are able to change your plans to see the launch so you can still attend the new launch date.

And... not to sound snooty, but I hope this delay rearranges the new flight dates so that there is a launch when I am in Florida in January 2009.

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:01 pm

Well the official word now is it will be mid january to mid february sometime before STS-125 is launched to repair Hubble. This gives NASA time to test the backup equipment to replace the failed stuff as well as to train the crew to replace it and to decide exactly what needs to be done.

STS-126 is still scheduled to visit the ISS with the shuttle Endeavour in mid November.

Richasi · Post by **Richasi** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 7:28 pm

Hey James, I'll be at the launch too whenever they decide to make it. Although I have tickets to go out to the causeway, I'm sure we can hang out until then!

street · Post by **street** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:15 am

You have to have tickets for the Causeway?

I went to a launch in 1984 and the causeway was close to our hotel. I remember it was lined with RVs spending the night to be in place for the early morning launch. We had to squeeze our way through them to get to Kennedy (we had tickets for VIP viewing).

SpaceCanada · Post by **SpaceCanada** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:52 am

I am voting for a launch scheduled between 17 and 24 January... you know... because I'll be in Orlando then and will find any way possible to watch the launch.

kidjim25 · Post by **kidjim25** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:44 pm

hey everyone hope all is well. As of right now I am scrubbing my sts-125 plans. The reason i was able to shoot for that mission was that i am currently on furlough from United. With it being pushed until at least mid January I cannot wait to start a job search for that long. That being said I have purchased my STS-126 tickets. If i make STS-126, then i may end up selling my STS-125 passes at face value. everyone keep positive vibes towards Endeavour and lets have a go for a Nov 14 launch at 7:55 PM EST. I missed out on getting causeway tickets by about 15 seconds i tried to purchase them at 8:04 am this morning and as i was clicking the accept they must have sold the last two because i was locked out. So i'm back to the same place i was for STS-125.

Atlantis is near and dear to my heart due to it being the first sim i flew at camp in '95 but Endeavour isn't that far off either because by spelling it's name correctly (with the U) it secured the Space Bowl championship for my BDM team that same year

oh and spacecanada you're not being snooty at all. The delays are not anything i could account for, hurricanes, bad packaging of the payload, Hubble itself wetting the bed, etc. I was not happy though when Hubble wet itself in space. I feel STS-125 is a troubled mission though, with the amount of delays due to so many different events so far, i'll be happy when Atlantis is wheel stop, until that point i will be very nervous for the Crew.

Atlantis Launch Oct 10

Atlantis Launch Oct 10

Atlantis becomes Endeavour