People going to Florida for STS-114 advice thread

shuttle_rtf · Mar 5, 2005

Ok, seems there's a hell of a lot of interest from UK people to come over for this. I've seen one travel agent site (can't link the damn thing up as it's one of those java sites that give me sleepless nights) which has a ton of UK shuttle fans coming over. I've had a look, flights are damn limited - but Virgin travel looks good. Here's an example I may go for (and max out a card in the process <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> ) 15 days, 20 mins from KSC - with car hire, flight from and back to Manchester International (two hour train direct to the airport from York) Arrive: 13 May 05 13 May 05 Flight (VS075) Manchester - Orlando 1 0 0 10:25 / 14:35 Economy 13 May 05 28 May 05 Accom HOLIDAY INN COCOA BEACH (COCOA BEACH ) 1 0 0 STANDARD ROOM (x 1) 13 May 05 27 May 05 Car CAR HIRE 1 0 0 4 DOOR No prepaid package selected 28 May 05 29 May 05 Flight (VS076) Orlando - Manchester 1 0 0 18:15 / 07:25 Economy Comes out at (converting) near on 2,700 bucks - yikes. Hotel doesn't look flash, but the location is <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> If I'm stuck for getting on some tour to the causeway, they claim to have a viewing gantry-type situation at this place. KSC website say tickets are not on sale yet - but signed up (as media - for what that's worth) on to their mailing list that will flash up when they do come available. Where those tickets will get you - doesn't say, but it's the nearest thing I've seen. Got the IMAX planned (as per SG reccomendation) - see the Saturn 5 on her back in the vistor centre. Rocket Park (Shuttle Explorer? - Where did she come from?). Oh yeah, and the girlfriend wants to come for the launch. She's going to be in Austrialia mid-May for a few weeks, but is insisting she wants to see this.....my fault, I've forced fed the poor woman on Shuttle launch videos for the last year.....

shuttle_rtf · Mar 5, 2005

>We hope to have a little SDC gathering in Florida on the day best for all involved.< That would be the coolest thing. Are we meeting in an OPF, the LLC, or the VAB? I'm good on all counts <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> Can bring a bottle of Malt aging in many, many years of maturity - I say in dangling manner <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

najab · Mar 5, 2005

Wow!<img src="/images/icons/shocked.gif" />>You are probably sorry you asked.No, never! I can't believe you do all that and then still go to your 'day job' in the Chief Engineer's Office! You weren't kidding when you said that TPE is a 'jack-of-all-trades' post, but on top of that you have to be master of all of them! (Okay, that's three exclamation points in a row, but...wow!)No wonder you traded up from OMS to TPE, you get to be involved in just about everything that happens. One thing you said there that suprised me is that the vehicles are controlled from the firing room even when they're on the ground. It makes sense now that I think about it, but it's something that just never occurred to me before.That brings up another question though, how often - either as TPE or project engineer - do you manage to find a reason to get yourself in the VAB or OPF?

spaceiscool · Mar 7, 2005

Sounds boring to me and haven't you had that site coming for months? Nothing to write about?

shuttle_rtf · Mar 7, 2005

It's called doing it right. The site is getting filled, and we've got a top video/graphic design guy helping on making the site have an edge (I don't want the site to be static).

shuttle_rtf · Mar 7, 2005

>That would be great however obviously not possible. I would enjoy meeting any and all SDC folks. I like to go with people on the KSC tours. I usually go on the tour with visitors 3 or 4 times a year. As we get closer to launch we can find a good place to meet. So afr I know of you and Lunatic coming in from out of state.< If I get to meet you - and we have a succesful launch, then that's me 100 percent happy with the trip.

najab · Mar 9, 2005

*bumping for shuttle_guy*

najab · Apr 5, 2005

*bump*

shuttle_rtf · Apr 5, 2005

One can't beat a good bump <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> I'm on hold with buying a ticket over till after the tank test on the 14th (if it's still the 14th) given the chance STS-114 gets put back to July.

quasar2 · Apr 5, 2005

i`ve been thinking of starting a tour from Kourou to Baikonur. the weather would be excellent in Kourou in winter. & i wonder how hot Baikonur is in summer? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

davp99 · Apr 6, 2005

I would LUV to see another Shuttle Launch.. To Everyone that is thinking about Seeing it.. DO IT~! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Dave.. </div>

quasar2 · Apr 6, 2005

i`ve never been to any large manned or unmanned launch or landing. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

davp99 · Apr 7, 2005

NASA-TV is Showing Discovery at the Launch site, man-o-man, she never Looked Better ~! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Dave.. </div>

shuttle_rtf · Apr 7, 2005

I second that motion. She's looking great.

ozspace · Apr 12, 2005

I am coming from Australia and currently planning for the 15th, hope to see some of you there!

spacefire · Apr 14, 2005

sorry, can't help it...need clarification: when you say RIP Columbia, do you mean Reast In Peace or Rest in Pieces, which is closer to the truth. I'd say Rest in Peace to the Crew of Columbia, cause the shuttle itself is definitely in pieces... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.comhttp://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </div>

shuttle_rtf · Apr 14, 2005

Rest in Peace, to the Crew AND the Orbiter. I refer you to Robert Crippen's speech at the Columbia Memorial - and you can try telling him what you've posted there. Maybe you'll get the same reaction as the guy that tried to get Buzz Aldrin to swear on a bible that NASA went to the Moon. *Smack*

shuttle_rtf · Apr 14, 2005

Crippen: "Columbia was a fine ship....Many said she was old and past her prime, but she had only lived a quarter of her design life, in years she was only 22. She, like her crew had her life snuffed out in her prime. She has left us quiet a legacy. "

spacefire · Apr 14, 2005

don't want to turn this into a bashing post, but I wouldn't call any shuttle 'a fine ship' I would rather call them 'money gobbling, designed by MBAs, poorly performing death traps' <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.comhttp://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </div>

najab · Apr 14, 2005

>money gobblingAgreed. >designed by MBAs< Worse. Designed by committee. The Shuttle design process was complicated by conflicting and ever changing requirements. >poorly performingGot to disagree with you there. No matter how you look at it, they do an excellent job of hauling cargo uphill. > death traps<Well, in that there's no way out when the soft brown stuff starts flying, yes. But they are well designed to avoid that happening.

shuttle_rtf · Apr 14, 2005

>don't want to turn this into a bashing post, but I wouldn't call any shuttle 'a fine ship' I would rather call them 'money gobbling, designed by MBAs, poorly performing death traps'< Not taking it as bashing, everyone's got their opinions, it's cool. It seems the vast majority of people who post on this site find the Shuttle/Orbiter to be a pile of crap, but hey ho, we've all got minds. What would I call them? Inspirational. Think about it from these two angles: Personal: My first experience of manned space flight. Can't say I'd have anywhere near as much interest in NASA etc. if NASA was all about Atlas launches. These are RLVs that have character through identification. People ask of them by name, they have a history. Go to anywhere in the World and most people know (and might be able to name) a Shuttle. Say "Delta 5" and they think it's a movie. Respect: If you happen to think these Shuttles are as crap as you may assume, then take pride in the people that have worked on them, and managed well over 100 succesful missions with them. Yeah, they're expensive etc. I'm not looking at it from that area (I'm not a US tax payer for one <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> ) but I'll let you guys worry about cost over some 4x4 capsual. I'll just get off on the beauty that is the power and grace of seeing these ships rolling and powering into space.

SpaceKiwi · Apr 14, 2005

It seems the vast majority of people who post on this site find the Shuttle/Orbiter to be a pile of crap Steady on there SRTF, I don't think it's quite that bad around here yet! To be sure there are a few one-track knockers, but I'd like to think the majority of contributors acknowledge the performance of the STS, and understand that this can't be done for the price of a quart of two-stoke motor oil. This was very 'NASA apologist', najaB would be proud. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Who is this superhero? Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bring Back The Black! </div>

strandedonearth · Apr 15, 2005

I'm one to agree the shuttle is a fine machine, perhaps it was just before its time. Hopefully the day will come when we need to return 40,000+lbs from orbit on a regular basis. The we'll see something very familiar looking, if there's still anyone around who remembers it! Assuming we're still stuck in the Reaction Drive Age. Now, getting squarely on topic: I only wish I could be there. At least once in my life I need to see (and hear, and feel <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> ) a Shuttle liftoff. But I'll settle for a (heavier the better) satellite launch.

spacefire · Apr 15, 2005

well, I do have to agree with one thing: each launch is indeed spectacular. moreso than a rocket launch, because you know tehre are people in that tiny dot heading for orbit. I've never seen a shuttle launch from up close, but I witnessed many from about 30 miles away. It still was impressive! that said, I still think the shuttle was a good idea put in practice poorly! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.comhttp://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </div>

shuttle_rtf · Jul 1, 2005

Agreed. First round's on me (God I hope 100 don't turn up ha).

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