Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010
posted 05-15-2011 04:14 PM
We just got into the hotel. The guy across from us has KSCVC tickets. Feel bad for them. They have to get there at 3:30ish. The entire hotel is full of us NASAites (no surprise) really excited.
capoetc Member
Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
posted 05-15-2011 05:37 PM
Why would you feel sorry for them... they are there for the launch!
Personally, I would go to another location so I could see the shuttle on the pad (Space View Park) rather than the visitors' center, but I'm sure they will still have a good time.
You have to keep in mind that there are a lot of folks who lack the resources to go to Florida for a launch, and particularly there are a lot of folks who cannot go multiple times when there are scrubs. Consider yourself lucky that your parents are willing to expend the resources for you to go back for a second try!
Fezman92 Member
Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010
posted 05-15-2011 06:17 PM
I just don't envy the hour+ long drive then having to deal with all of that parking... I am very lucky that my parents are able to take me down for the second time in as many weeks. I've gotten a lot of highway driving done. My dad has a 6 week old 2011 Ford Escape and yesterday, I drove it past the 5,000 mile mark. I "broke it in" when we came down the first time...
SpaceAngel Member
Posts: 307 From: Maryland Registered: May 2010
posted 05-16-2011 05:22 AM
Tomorrow's my birthday and I can't think of a better thing than to watch "Endeavour" launch on its last mission before it goes into the science museum in LA!
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 05-16-2011 07:52 AM
Looks like she's going to go this time. Good luck Endeavour and crew, here's hoping the mission is 100% successful. And I wish I could be at KSC for this. Those of you there, enjoy the show!!!
AJ Member
Posts: 511 From: Plattsburgh, NY, United States Registered: Feb 2009
posted 05-16-2011 10:17 AM
Back in my hotel room super tired, dreaming of a turkey club, but incredibly, blissfully happy.
It was a thing of beauty and it was so fantastic to be among others who love the space program. We were all cheering and crying together. There was a lot of waiting, of course, to get on buses and then to get the buses moving, but everyone was in a good mood and all the staff at KSC were wonderful.
Oh and ps! The gift shop has signed copies of Charlie Duke's book for $50. That was a pleasant surprise.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 05-16-2011 03:28 PM
Great photo AJ. More please!
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3120 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 05-16-2011 03:34 PM
On TV it looked like the shuttle entered the clouds shortly after lift-off. Does that amplify the engine noise before cloud-entry and muffle engine-noise inside and above the clouds?
Fezman92 Member
Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010
posted 05-16-2011 08:59 PM
It was my first launch and words cannot describe how much this meant for me. I've been waiting for this for over a year, which made today so much more special to me. I got some really great photos (I was a few feet away from you AJ. I was on the other side of the power line on that island). I'll download them tomorrow night once I get home. Happiest day of my life!!
MCroft04 Member
Posts: 1634 From: Smithfield, Me, USA Registered: Mar 2005
posted 05-16-2011 09:38 PM
Local TV said that after ~10 seconds the shuttle was not visible due to cloud cover. Was this the case from those of you who were there? Regardless, I would have loved to have been there.
FFrench Member
Posts: 3161 From: San Diego Registered: Feb 2002
posted 05-16-2011 09:55 PM
quote:Originally posted by MCroft04: Local TV said that after ~10 seconds the shuttle was not visible due to cloud cover.
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-16-2011 10:46 PM
Endeavour was visible from the ground for about the first 22 seconds of flight before entering the cloud ceiling at about 5,000 feet (the ceiling was low but thin, which is why they were able to launch).
mooncollector Member
Posts: 104 From: Alabama, USA Registered: Feb 2011
posted 05-16-2011 10:48 PM
I have jumped through a LOT of hoops to try to get down to Florida for the rescheduled STS-134 landing. Is there any info at all about the time of landing and where the best sites would be for viewing?
KSCartist Member
Posts: 2896 From: Titusville, FL USA Registered: Feb 2005
posted 05-16-2011 10:48 PM
As far as I know it is scheduled for "0 dark 30" on June 1st.
In the dark, the only good place to view it is at the Shuttle Landing Facility or NASA TV. Coincidentally, Atlantis will be rolling out to the pad when Endeavour lands. So if you get a pass to see the rollout, you'll get a two-fer. Good Luck.
mooncollector Member
Posts: 104 From: Alabama, USA Registered: Feb 2011
posted 05-16-2011 10:49 PM
I can't believe what you have just told me.
Any chance it might get moved up to the morning hours?
How would someone even begin to think about getting any kind of pass/ticket to the rollout?
I have tried to get this done for a long time and finally get a chance to see it... and it won't be visible. Having a bit of a hard time handling this news right now.
I knew that launch delay was going to be BAD news.
Also, what about the KSC visitor's center? Would it be open at landing time and would anything really be visible from here?
These things are NEVER going to happen again. Gotta know what to do.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-16-2011 10:53 PM
Endeavour's landing is targeted for 2:32 a.m. EDT on June 1. Whether it lands then, or is postponed by an orbit or even a day, the landing will be in the dark.
There is no chance of a daylight landing.
The Visitor Center will be closed. The only visibility of the shuttle will be in the final moments before touchdown at the Shuttle Landing Facility, for which there is no public access.
Sorry to say, but as it stands now, STS-133 was the last day landing of the shuttle program. STS-135 would need to slip into late August for a daytime return from space.
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 05-16-2011 11:15 PM
Will the reentry be from an ascending node trajectory or a descending node one?
mooncollector Member
Posts: 104 From: Alabama, USA Registered: Feb 2011
posted 05-17-2011 09:15 AM
The schedules I have seen for 135 had the landing in daylight hours as of last week.
I understand the orbital mechanics and the glide range involved and what that does to the schedule, but schedules do change.
I'm not giving up on seeing this thing land somehow.
Any other more detailed info anyone may have, I would appreciate it.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-17-2011 09:37 AM
If Atlantis launches on July 15 (and to be clear, no launch date has been set as of yet), landing would be on July 27 at 4:20 a.m. EDT.
mooncollector Member
Posts: 104 From: Alabama, USA Registered: Feb 2011
posted 05-17-2011 10:12 AM
Getting an education into "descending nodes" and "noctilucent clouds" and "beta dropouts" and the like while researching this...
I may be hoping for an August 15th launch. No good news yet.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3120 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 05-17-2011 04:50 PM
quote:Originally posted by FFrench: I guess it would depend which side of the clouds you were on.
That looks like quite a bit of wind shear above the clouds!
Fezman92 Member
Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010
posted 05-17-2011 05:04 PM
I have my photos uploaded on Facebook. Way too many to put on here.
Rob Joyner Member
Posts: 1308 From: GA, USA Registered: Jan 2004
posted 05-17-2011 05:36 PM
quote:Originally posted by Blackarrow: On TV it looked like the shuttle entered the clouds shortly after lift-off. Does that amplify the engine noise before cloud-entry and muffle engine-noise inside and above the clouds?
At the causeway it takes very close to 30 seconds before the roar of the launch is heard. Depending on wind direction sometimes you can hear the sound 'riding' the river, increasing in volume, from the pad. Sometimes it sort of comes out of nowhere. Endeavour was already in the clouds before the sound of the launch hit full force at the causeway, and did it hit! This was absolutely the loudest launch I've been to! And this was with the wind coming in from the SW, blowing toward the launch pad. I suppose that great audio show kind of makes up for not being able to see her in the sky but for about 20 seconds!
Grounded! Member
Posts: 367 From: Bennington, Vermont, USA Registered: Feb 2011
posted 05-17-2011 07:02 PM
quote:Originally posted by Fezman92: I have my photos uploaded on Facebook.
Thanks so much for sharing your pics of the launch. They came out great!!!
Fezman92 Member
Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010
posted 05-17-2011 07:27 PM
Thanks! I had a lot of fun. I plan to print them onto high quality photo paper and send them to the crew when they get back.
AJ Member
Posts: 511 From: Plattsburgh, NY, United States Registered: Feb 2009
posted 05-17-2011 09:00 PM
Here's a link to the photos I have uploaded thus far:
Fezman92 Member
Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010
posted 05-17-2011 09:05 PM
Cool photos AJ. When did you get a chance to see the back of the shuttle?
Joe sunday New Member
Posts: From: Registered:
posted 05-17-2011 09:11 PM
Great photos, thanks for sharing. We took the boat tour, worked out great!
Love Bugs
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-17-2011 10:36 PM
Today's STS-134 FD3 execute package (PDF) sent by Mission Control to Endeavour's crew includes my photo (!) of the launch (see MSG 015, FD02 MMT Summary, on page 27).
Fezman92 Member
Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010
posted 05-17-2011 10:40 PM
Congrats Robert! Where can we get the rest of the Flight Day PDFs?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-17-2011 11:05 PM
Thanks! Congrats on seeing the launch and great photos!
For the execute packages, see NASA's website: STS-134 Resources - Execute Packages
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2475 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 05-18-2011 04:26 AM
Fantastic Robert! Congratulations, what a great extra to a great event, makes carrying that equipment around all the more worth while.
GoesTo11 Member
Posts: 1309 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 2004
posted 05-18-2011 04:21 PM
Travel photographer Trey Ratcliff's stunning shot of Endeavour's final ascent has been making the rounds of the Interwebs for a couple of days, but for those who haven't seen it...
quote:Originally posted by FFrench: I love this Gopher Tortoise shot out at the pad.
I see the makings of a patch design for the crawler transporter crews in that shot! A shuttle on a turtle's back...
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 05-19-2011 01:19 PM
quote:Originally posted by 328KF: I see the makings of a patch design for the crawler transporter crews in that shot!
I'll see what I can do tonight. How about a latin phrase on it:
"Ad Astra, in tigris nostris" which I believe translates as:
"To The Stars, on our backs"
If anyone can give a better latin translation, let me know.
328KF Member
Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 05-19-2011 01:29 PM
Awesome...Can't wait to see that!
Fezman92 Member
Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010
posted 05-19-2011 03:22 PM
Is there a way to get the complete video of all the spacewalks and the AMS instillation? I was going to say up late to watch all of them, but I have a cold which is preventing me from staying up late.
music_space Member
Posts: 1179 From: Canada Registered: Jul 2001
posted 05-19-2011 07:57 PM
In Day Four of collectSPACE's STS-134 Flight Day Journal, "Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer added to ISS", it is mentioned that this instrument is installed and operational.
How come no EVA work was needed? Weren't electrical connections involved? Coolant loops? Mechanical connectors?
posted 05-15-2011 04:14 PM
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