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Author
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Topic: STS-133: Viewing, questions, and comments
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-05-2010 01:13 PM
   
STS-133: mission viewing, questions, comments This thread is intended for comments and questions regarding the STS-133 mission and the reports published as part of collectSPACE's STS-133 Flight Day Journal. STS-133, the 35th shuttle mission to the International Space Station, will deliver the permanent multipurpose module Leonardo and the Express Logistics Carrier 4 (ELC-4) carrying spare components. The flight, which will include two spacewalks, will also launch Robonaut 2 (R2) to the space station. Steven Lindsey will command Discovery's STS-133 crew. Eric Boe will serve as pilot. Mission specialists are Alvin Drew, Michael Barratt, Tim Kopra and Nicole Stott. Planned as the 39th and final flight for Discovery (OV-103), STS-133 is targeted to launch on November 5, 2010.
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-05-2010 01:15 PM
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex announcement Register for an opportunity to purchase STS-133 launch viewing ticketsWitness the final launch of Space Shuttle Discovery as Commander Steven Lindsey and the six-member crew of STS-133 embark on an 11-day mission to the International Space Station. NEW Launch Ticket Opportunity Process: This new feature ensures a fair opportunity for all who are interested in purchasing launch viewing tickets. Register online from August 16 at 9:00 a.m. ET through August 23 at 5:00 p.m. ET. This seven-day window is the only time to register for the opportunity to purchase tickets. On August 23, registration closes and registrants will be selected at random for the opportunity to purchase tickets. Those selected will be notified via e-mail by August 30. For more, see: Viewing the last of the shuttle launches and Launch Photography. |
Walter II
Member Posts: 36
From: WV
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 08-05-2010 08:57 PM
Not sure yet if I will be able to attend this launch but I am really looking forward to viewing the rollout. |
Aeropix
Member Posts: 41
From: Houston
Registered: Apr 2010
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posted 08-08-2010 01:48 PM
When is the rollout supposed to occur? I'm hoping it may roll out earlier than the usual four weeks prior to launch as I am meeting my family in Florida from 13-20 September (we had planned to see the launch). Would it be possible to get tickets to see the rollout? As it's been many years since I last visited KSC, can you tell me if it is possible to see the rollout or the shuttle on the Pad from the tours? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-08-2010 02:04 PM
Discovery is currently scheduled to begin rolling out the evening of Sept. 20, arriving at Pad 39A early morning on Sept. 21. As it occurs overnight, public viewing is not available. Kennedy Space Center may offer, as it did with STS-132, the chance for employees to bring their families to watch first motion. By the time the visitor center opens, Discovery will be on the pad, and will be visible on the normal tours. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-10-2010 09:37 AM
NASA release NASA Announces Tweetup For Next Space Shuttle LaunchNASA will give 150 of its Twitter followers an insider's look at the nation's space program and the opportunity to view a space shuttle launch in person. The third shuttle launch Tweetup, scheduled Oct. 31 through Nov. 1, will be held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Attendees will tour the center, view the shuttle launch and speak with NASA managers, astronauts, shuttle technicians and engineers. NASA randomly will select 150 participants from online registrations. Shuttle Discovery is targeted to lift off from Kennedy on its mission to the International Space Station at 4:40 p.m. EDT on Nov. 1. "With only two scheduled shuttle flights remaining, we want new audiences to experience the excitement of a launch," said Stephanie Schierholz, social media manager at NASA Headquarters. "Our guests at the Tweetup then can share the experience with their followers around the world." Registration opens at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and closes at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 25. |
Neil Aldrin
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 08-18-2010 08:46 PM
I signed-up online Monday to possibly be selected to purchase launch tickets. The process seemed to go through properly, but I did not receive an email afterwards verifying that the registration "took".Did anyone who signed up for this get a confirmation email? (I know that we should get emails later on telling us whether we can purchase tickets or not). |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-18-2010 08:49 PM
No, no emails confirmations or me either.
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Playalinda
Member Posts: 152
From: Peoria, AZ, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 08-18-2010 09:09 PM
It is my understanding that they email after the drawing in case you are the chosen one or not. |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 08-18-2010 10:11 PM
To add further, per the site: Between August 26 and September 17, you will be notified by email of the status of your registration. If selected, the email will include information on how to purchase tickets. Those that are not selected will also be notified by email. |
Neil Aldrin
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 08-19-2010 05:46 AM
Rob, I did read all that fine print. I am just so used to getting immediate emails from any company you deal with for transaction verification. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2475
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 08-27-2010 06:10 PM
Received my rejection e-mail just now for STS 133 viewing tickets. Here is what was sent: Thank you for registering for the opportunity to purchase viewing tickets for the launch of STS-133 space shuttle Discovery. Unfortunately, your entry was not selected for this ticket purchase opportunity.
Please stay tuned. We may have another round for the opportunity to purchase any remaining tickets. If so, you may receive an email in the next two weeks notifying you of another chance to purchase tickets.
Thank you for your interest in Kennedy Space Center and the launch of STS-133 space shuttle Discovery. |
Neil Aldrin
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 08-27-2010 07:11 PM
quote:
Originally posted by GACspaceguy:
Received my rejection e-mail just now for STS 133 viewing tickets.
Yes, mine came too. I don't seem to have much luck in "lotteries". |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 08-27-2010 07:37 PM
Do what I am doing for STS-134. If you live in the US, e-mail or call your local Senator on Congressman and request VIP tickets. If you get them (not sure if you will) you get the tickets for free. I am pretty sure you get tickets for the Causeway view which is the closet you can get I think. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 08-27-2010 07:48 PM
Rejection e-mail over here too. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-27-2010 08:03 PM
I got my rejection notice too. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 08-29-2010 07:57 AM
So, did anyone get selected to be able to buy tickets? |
johnraiders
Member Posts: 78
From: Cobham, UK
Registered: Sep 2009
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posted 08-29-2010 10:20 AM
Got lucky in the draw so chance to buy tickets. I'm only buying a couple of tickets so can apply for a few more. E-mail if interested.Bear in mind I'll only get one vehicle placard and I'll be staying in Cocoa Beach.
You then owe for me for final flight! If you get selected I'll need a ticket. I'm in UK, wont be arriving till the Sunday or one day before if it moves. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 08-30-2010 09:25 AM
My guess is, there will be visitors center tickets still available after the purchase period concludes, but the causeway tickets will be long gone. I think I'd go for Space View Park in Titusville instead of the visitors center, but you better arrive early for that!  |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 08-30-2010 11:21 AM
If you want causeway tickets but were shut out from the lottery, consider calling Gator Tours (Gray Line). Kennedy Space Center typically has a number of causeway tickets they provide to local tour companies. Gator Tours hasn't yet posted the availability for STS-133 tickets, but it wouldn't hurt to give them a call to see if STS-133 causeway tickets will be made available soon. I used their services for STS-131 and was very happy with how it turned out. They will pick you up in Orlando and drive you to and from KSC, so you don't have to deal with the traffic.The tickets through Gator Tours are about double the price of the causeway tickets sold through KSC...they were $115 for STS-131. But I think it's totally worth it to pay a little extra to see the launch from the causeway...especially if you are traveling from out-of-state to see the launch. |
BMckay
Member Posts: 3219
From: MA, USA
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 08-30-2010 12:47 PM
I did. Might not need all so email if you are interested. |
NavySpaceFan
Member Posts: 655
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007
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posted 09-01-2010 05:18 PM
For those who applied, Tweet-up emails are out, no joy for me  |
Neil Aldrin
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 09-01-2010 05:22 PM
Are they only sending emails to those who were chosen or put on a waiting list,or do you get an email to say "sorry" (like the KSC ticket lottery)?No sooner did I post this question and my "sorry" email came through. |
NavySpaceFan
Member Posts: 655
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007
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posted 09-01-2010 05:24 PM
My email said I was neither primary nor on the waiting list. |
DC Giants
Member Posts: 135
From: Kansas City, MO USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 09-03-2010 04:42 PM
I got rejected for the causeway tickets too... Sounds like Space Park for me. |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 09-03-2010 05:02 PM
Ticket lottery failure for me too. |
Atlantis
Member Posts: 111
From: Cullman, AL
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 09-05-2010 08:57 PM
How is the view from the Cocoa Beach pier? |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 09-05-2010 10:06 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Atlantis:
How is the view from the Cocoa Beach pier?
At that distance you are too far away to get a good view. You'll see it arc from left to right in the sky, but won't get a whole lot of sound. You are much better off viewing it from Titusville if you can't view it from the causeway. While you won't get a lot of sound there either, you'll have a nice direct view of the launch pad over mostly open water.
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ELinder
Member Posts: 20
From: Cleveland, OH
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 09-06-2010 12:39 PM
Did the dates for the emails change? When I registered, it said all emails confirming or denying selection would be sent by 30 Aug. Now I see it is 17 Sept.Both I and my cousin registered, and nether one of us has gotten any sort of email. Since we haven't been told no, does that mean we still have a shot? Are they randomly selecting both lucky and unlucky people, and slowly going thru the registered list of names? I wish they had posted more detailed info on how this is supposed to work. |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 09-06-2010 12:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
While you won't get a lot of sound there either, you'll have a nice direct view of the launch pad over mostly open water.
When viewing from Titusville, you will certainly hear the launch but depending on the relative humidity and wind direction the sound level can vary.Some launches have even vibrated the picture window on the front of my house which is about a mile west of the river. |
SpaceAngel
Member Posts: 307
From: Maryland
Registered: May 2010
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posted 09-09-2010 03:02 PM
As I said before, "Discovery" should deserve to fly as the final shuttle mission! I don't have a problem with "Endeavour", but "Discovery" is the most accomplished winged spaceship of the shuttle fleet. Would anyone PLEASE agree with me?! |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 09-09-2010 07:24 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SpaceAngel:
I don't have a problem with "Endeavour", but "Discovery" is the most accomplished winged spaceship of the shuttle fleet. Would anyone PLEASE agree with me?!
They are both machines. The decision should be based upon sound engineering and cost effectiveness, in my opinion. |
NavySpaceFan
Member Posts: 655
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007
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posted 09-09-2010 07:43 PM
You must be an engineer capoetc, cold and dispassionate. I agree with SpaceAngel to a point. As a historian, I would love to have Discovery fly the last mission of the program, but as a retired Navy officer, I know things happen when it comes to schedules. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 09-09-2010 11:51 PM
One could easily find logical arguments as to why Endeavour should fly last too. Even if NASA wanted to undertake the effort and expense to swap Discovery with Endeavour, it's likely that Atlantis could end up taking the final flight if STS-135 gets added. (Keep in mind that STS-133 will likely fly before a final decision on STS-135 is made.) In the end, it's not worth NASA's time and money to play sentimental games for assigning orbiters. Whichever one flies last will be fondly remembered as the one that flew last. Besides, if I had my own say, I'd like to see a small piece of Columbia be on board that final flight. In my mind, she was always the queen of the fleet. |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 09-10-2010 05:05 AM
If STS-135 is approved, it will be because Atlantis is already stacked and ready to serve as a LON vehicle.If STS-134 is the final flight in the program, it is appropriate that Endeavour, the last new ship to fly makes the final flight. All of the orbiters seved us well, as did the people who prepared them and those who flew them. But I agree with mjanovec, a piece of Columbia (and Challenger) should be aboard. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2475
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 09-10-2010 05:42 AM
I agree with Tim. It is all about shuttle rotation schedule and cost. Personally I liked the idea that Endeavour was the last shuttle to the ISS. Endeavour delivered the first added segment with the Unity Node, starting the build cycle and may end the shuttle deliveries with a piece of scientific equipment with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. Of coarse I like the idea of an extra flight better. But then again I am just one of those cold and dispassionate engineers. |
NavySpaceFan
Member Posts: 655
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007
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posted 09-10-2010 06:38 AM
quote:
Originally posted by GACspaceguy:
Of coarse I like the idea of an extra flight better. But then again I am just one of those cold and dispassionate engineers.
You forgot soulless. 
Seriously, I agree with all on this, you fly the schedule that makes sense. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 09-10-2010 08:51 AM
Incidentally, today is the "second chance" opportunity for purchasing STS-133 launch viewing tickets (for those who registered, received an e-mail, etc).I thought I would give it a shot even though the e-mail says all the causeway tickets are gone. After watching my browser refresh for about 15 minutes without ever getting in I decided to give up. Oh, well... |
ELinder
Member Posts: 20
From: Cleveland, OH
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 09-10-2010 03:46 PM
What "second chance"? I still haven't gotten any email one way or another about the launch tickets. Did they stop sending out emails that tell you that you weren't selected? |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2475
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 09-14-2010 07:13 AM
I just received my rejection e-mail for the KSC visitor center.They have sent a link for local viewing areas but I have not checked it out as I am on my blackberry.
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