Comments on: More Launchy Goodness http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:11:11 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Julianne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/comment-page-1/#comment-74720 Julianne Tue, 12 May 2009 03:16:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/#comment-74720 Kai! That pic is HEE-larious! Glad you got to see it! Kai! That pic is HEE-larious! Glad you got to see it!

]]> By: Kai Noeske http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/comment-page-1/#comment-74719 Kai Noeske Tue, 12 May 2009 03:09:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/#comment-74719 Hey all, Thanks again! Watched from Titusville's Space View Park . Fantastic! Happy crowds, huge party, spectacular launch! They did not have plush HSTs at KSC, but sure had inflatable Shuttles - ended up in the news with mine: http://www.kens5.com/perl/common/slideshow/sspop.pl?recid=16314&nextimage=13 http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090511/BREAKINGNEWS/90511007/1006/NEWS01 See you all for the next launch! -Kai Hey all,

Thanks again! Watched from Titusville’s Space View Park . Fantastic! Happy crowds, huge party, spectacular launch!

They did not have plush HSTs at KSC, but sure had inflatable Shuttles – ended up in the news with mine:

http://www.kens5.com/perl/common/slideshow/sspop.pl?recid=16314&nextimage=13
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090511/BREAKINGNEWS/90511007/1006/NEWS01

See you all for the next launch!

-Kai

]]> By: Spiv http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/comment-page-1/#comment-74669 Spiv Mon, 11 May 2009 14:31:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/#comment-74669 Astronauts! http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FsjS474GOsM/Sgg2K-M9C3I/AAAAAAAAAB0/l_FuLbkonq8/s1600-h/astro-DSCN0142.jpg Astronauts!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FsjS474GOsM/Sgg2K-M9C3I/AAAAAAAAAB0/l_FuLbkonq8/s1600-h/astro-DSCN0142.jpg

]]> By: Alberto http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/comment-page-1/#comment-74622 Alberto Mon, 11 May 2009 01:00:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/#comment-74622 I just read your post. I will be at Banana Creek tomorrow with lots of people from STScI. See you there. Go Atlantis! I just read your post. I will be at Banana Creek tomorrow with lots of people from STScI.
See you there. Go Atlantis!

]]> By: Kai Noeske http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/comment-page-1/#comment-74432 Kai Noeske Sat, 09 May 2009 00:47:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/#comment-74432 Dear Spiv and Jeff: Thank you very much for your help!!! This is awesome. Looking forward! The KSC online store actually offers plush Shuttle toys, with fuel tank and boosters... no Hubble so far, gotta ask Baltimore if they have one :-). Julianne: Enjoy!!! Kai Dear Spiv and Jeff:

Thank you very much for your help!!! This is awesome. Looking forward!

The KSC online store actually offers plush Shuttle toys, with fuel tank and boosters… no Hubble so far, gotta ask Baltimore if they have one :-) .

Julianne: Enjoy!!!

Kai

]]> By: Jeff http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/comment-page-1/#comment-74419 Jeff Fri, 08 May 2009 21:07:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/#comment-74419 I lucked out and found a spot in Titusville, just across the water from the launch pads for the launch of STS-126 in November. A couple that has a home on the water would let you watch the launch from their place (and use their bathroom) if you made a donation to breast cancer research. I'd post the exact location but I'm not sure if they will be doing the same thing this time around or how much "advertising" they want. Here's the (not very good) video that I took of the launch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcY6RNkLiHg If the couple is doing it for the launch of STS-125 it shouldn't be hard to find if you drive around Titusville near the water as they put some signs up for a few blocks around their house. I lucked out and found a spot in Titusville, just across the water from the launch pads for the launch of STS-126 in November. A couple that has a home on the water would let you watch the launch from their place (and use their bathroom) if you made a donation to breast cancer research. I’d post the exact location but I’m not sure if they will be doing the same thing this time around or how much “advertising” they want. Here’s the (not very good) video that I took of the launch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcY6RNkLiHg

If the couple is doing it for the launch of STS-125 it shouldn’t be hard to find if you drive around Titusville near the water as they put some signs up for a few blocks around their house.

]]> By: Spiv http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/comment-page-1/#comment-74417 Spiv Fri, 08 May 2009 20:10:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/#comment-74417 Dr Noeske: A popular place for the locals is along the side of the road where the 528 bridge joins Merritt Island to Cocoa. People start lining the road area an hour or so before the launch and a lot of people waltz up the bridge right before to get a pretty clear view. There's a similar view also from 528 heading over to the cape, but it tends to be a bit harder to get a spot there. Worth a try, however, since it's a straight shot to the pads (as you can see in this map) http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=28.410124,-80.686684&spn=0.129245,0.163078&t=h&z=12 A really sneaky spot that is a great view, and always has parking, is the cape canaveral hospital on 520: You can either walk behind the hospital, or get a view from the parking garage. Always seems to be an abundance of nice people there too. http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=28.36006,-80.623147&spn=0.008082,0.010192&t=h&z=16 Most spots closer than 528 or US1 are blocked off before launch for security reasons. US1 has some viewing spots, but is very, very crowded, and often has some treeline obstruction. Don't worry though, you can see the thing from Orlando. The closer you get the more sound you get. Dr Noeske: A popular place for the locals is along the side of the road where the 528 bridge joins Merritt Island to Cocoa. People start lining the road area an hour or so before the launch and a lot of people waltz up the bridge right before to get a pretty clear view. There’s a similar view also from 528 heading over to the cape, but it tends to be a bit harder to get a spot there. Worth a try, however, since it’s a straight shot to the pads (as you can see in this map)

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=28.410124,-80.686684&spn=0.129245,0.163078&t=h&z=12

A really sneaky spot that is a great view, and always has parking, is the cape canaveral hospital on 520: You can either walk behind the hospital, or get a view from the parking garage. Always seems to be an abundance of nice people there too.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=28.36006,-80.623147&spn=0.008082,0.010192&t=h&z=16

Most spots closer than 528 or US1 are blocked off before launch for security reasons. US1 has some viewing spots, but is very, very crowded, and often has some treeline obstruction.

Don’t worry though, you can see the thing from Orlando. The closer you get the more sound you get.

]]> By: Kai Noeske http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/comment-page-1/#comment-74414 Kai Noeske Fri, 08 May 2009 19:52:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/#comment-74414 This is sooo awesome. Goosebumps all over, leaving for Florida tomorrow night. Will likely watch from around Cocoa Beach - is this the best viewing location off KSC grounds (did not get tickets)? I feel like when I was a little boy camping out in front of the TV, waiting for the first Shuttle launch in 81. It looks like this will be a major media event, bigger than any other Hubble coverage before. Got a call from NPR yesterday to talk about deep field images, something that has not happened before. I hope they sell plush Hubbles at the KSC gift shop. I want one to cuddle up to. This is sooo awesome. Goosebumps all over, leaving for Florida tomorrow night.

Will likely watch from around Cocoa Beach – is this the best viewing location off KSC grounds (did not get tickets)?

I feel like when I was a little boy camping out in front of the TV, waiting for the first Shuttle launch in 81.

It looks like this will be a major media event, bigger than any other Hubble coverage before. Got a call from NPR yesterday to talk about deep field images, something that has not happened before.

I hope they sell plush Hubbles at the KSC gift shop. I want one to cuddle up to.

]]> By: Spiv http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/comment-page-1/#comment-74413 Spiv Fri, 08 May 2009 19:43:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/#comment-74413 Checked with a friend here, they said they generally limit the BC site to age 16+, but if you already have the pass it's sometimes possible to get it changed to a pass for "static test road," which is a little farther away but still very good. Checked with a friend here, they said they generally limit the BC site to age 16+, but if you already have the pass it’s sometimes possible to get it changed to a pass for “static test road,” which is a little farther away but still very good.

]]> By: Spiv http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/comment-page-1/#comment-74412 Spiv Fri, 08 May 2009 19:32:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/05/08/look-maam-an-invitation/#comment-74412 Yeah, as soon as you arrive the gate guards should give you some directions on where to go. Once you're on KSC grounds there may not be a heck of a lot of guidance from there, so make sure you understand any directions regarding how they expect you to get from there to your viewing site. If it's the causeway things will be very easy though; it's not exactly on base and it's set up for visitors proper like. Make sure you leave plenty of lead time. The whole of Titusville, Merritt Island, and Cocoa Beach get very stopped up as it gets closer to launch time. Even more so for hubble stuff. Same goes for after launch; bring entertainment for the little-uns in case you have to spend some time in traffic. Don't know anything about an age limit, but if you have any ability to finagle it it's worth seeing from the banana creek spot. It's about 4 miles away with nothing but a placid river between you and the shuttle, as apposed to ~12 miles for causeway. Also BC is considered a "vip" spot, so you may have some interesting company. Ps: we're all a bunch of shy nerds who are into physics. Don't be intimidated by us :p Yeah, as soon as you arrive the gate guards should give you some directions on where to go. Once you’re on KSC grounds there may not be a heck of a lot of guidance from there, so make sure you understand any directions regarding how they expect you to get from there to your viewing site. If it’s the causeway things will be very easy though; it’s not exactly on base and it’s set up for visitors proper like.

Make sure you leave plenty of lead time. The whole of Titusville, Merritt Island, and Cocoa Beach get very stopped up as it gets closer to launch time. Even more so for hubble stuff. Same goes for after launch; bring entertainment for the little-uns in case you have to spend some time in traffic.

Don’t know anything about an age limit, but if you have any ability to finagle it it’s worth seeing from the banana creek spot. It’s about 4 miles away with nothing but a placid river between you and the shuttle, as apposed to ~12 miles for causeway. Also BC is considered a “vip” spot, so you may have some interesting company.

Ps: we’re all a bunch of shy nerds who are into physics. Don’t be intimidated by us :p

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