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STS-130 shuttle launch

Discussion in 'Florida' started by captwillieb 328gts, Feb 6, 2010.

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  1. captwillieb 328gts

    captwillieb 328gts Formula 3

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    #1 captwillieb 328gts, Feb 6, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Here are a few photos of the STS-130 flight crew at the pre-departure dinner at the "Beach House" Thursday night where each astronaut is allowed only a few family members/guests.

    Today was the day of flight crew receptions. Although the Prime Crew is in quarantine, family and friends host parties for the invited launch guests and VIPs, and SSC helped sponsor Astronaut Kay Hire's 250 person pre-launch reception today.

    4 time Shuttle Astronaut Rick Linnehan came by, got a ride, and posed for photos with SSC members, while a cardboard cut out of Kay was the substitute for her as she prepared for the early morning launch.

    We wish the crew of STS-130 and Endeavor good luck and GodSpeed on their launch and mission !!

    Launch @ 4:39 am Sunday morning !!
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  2. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

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    #2 BMW.SauberF1Team, Feb 6, 2010
    Hopefully it launches tonight. Clouds are coming in and wind gusts are still there. It was 80% favorable conditions a few hours ago, but now 60%. If the weather looks good, I will leave east Orlando for Titusville around 2:30-3AM to see it up close...

    I REALLY hope I can see this one. Last night launch up close I went to was STS-128 and it was scrubbed with 10 minutes to go...never saw that one up close.
     
  3. FarmerDave

    FarmerDave F1 World Champ
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    #3 FarmerDave, Feb 7, 2010
    Last edited: Feb 7, 2010
    Sounds like it's going well, probably have a launch...

    edit: oops, I jinxed it. no-go wx
     
  4. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

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    #4 BMW.SauberF1Team, Feb 7, 2010
    Can't believe they scrubbed only because of the ceiling and cloud height...nothing to do with wind gusts, thunderstorms/rain, etc. Wow. What a joke. Although the launches are quite the sight to see, the reasons for a scrub can be really sad like this one. I don't think I will be going to it tomorrow morning again.

    I took the 406 and the causeway to view it. 9 minutes to go and scrubbed, got in my car with my friends waving down oncoming traffic to back out...moved about three car lengths and then stopped. No one moved for 1.5 hours and we all had our cars off til the cops showed up. Just got back into Orlando...
     
  5. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

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    #5 SSNISTR, Feb 7, 2010
    Have they said when it's gonna head up again yet?
     
  6. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

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    #6 BMW.SauberF1Team, Feb 7, 2010
    4:14 AM Monday. Weather as of now looks worse than when it did with this much time to go yesterday.
     
  7. captwillieb 328gts

    captwillieb 328gts Formula 3

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    #7 captwillieb 328gts, Feb 7, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    photos from last night... viewing area and three of the 7 member close out crew after strapping in the astronauts. In the middle is STS126 Astronaut Shane Kimbrough. He is the #2 on the crew, who straps the crew in place in the orbiter.

    The two main issues were the clouds for launch and the clouds for an RTLS - "return to landing site" in case of an early flight abort.... they went for a waiver from a 5000 foot ceiling to a 3800 foot ceiling, but because the cloud cover conditions kept changing, launch control didn't feel it was safe to warrant a launch and risk lives and the obvious media shredding in case of an issue.

    Nobody wants a scrub.

    Other than the clouds, everything else was "go".

    As far as viewing.... the closer you get, the better the sight and sounds; and the worse the traffic is... The 405 causeway is a great place to watch...

    I was home in 45 minutes coming down route 3 to the 528 but I live in Cocoa Village.

    I can see the traffic from my condo, and the 528 was moving where as the 405 was at a standstill an hour and a half after launch.... if you can go down route 1 to the 528, you should make better time.
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  8. P1-EH

    P1-EH Formula Junior

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    #8 P1-EH, Feb 7, 2010
    Greetings, Space-coast Fchatters,

    I'm bringing my wife and kids (age 8 and 11) to KSC for the STS-132 launch. I've been told 'the causeway' is the best place to watch the launch (unless you have access to the VIP area).

    I'd be grateful for any tips and suggestions you can provide. I've got hotel reservations, and I'm planning on flying in the day before the launch and staying a week. We'll do KSC/Disney on non-launch days. I've wanted to see a launch since I was a teenaged kid watching Columbia on TV in '81. And I want my kids to see and experience 1st hand this incredible human accomplishment before they retire the fleet.

    BTW, LOVE the pix in this thread. Was that 'Scuderia Space Coast' sticker picture actually taken in orbit?

    Cheers,
    Mark
     
  9. traimpz348

    traimpz348 Formula 3

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    #9 traimpz348, Feb 7, 2010
    +1

    I'm planning on attending the STS-132 launch. Any extra info would be awesome.
     
  10. duskybird

    duskybird F1 World Champ
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    #10 duskybird, Feb 8, 2010
    Great view from Plantation!
     
  11. captwillieb 328gts

    captwillieb 328gts Formula 3

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    #11 captwillieb 328gts, Feb 8, 2010
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  12. oss117

    oss117 F1 Rookie

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    #12 oss117, Feb 8, 2010
    Nice shots Captain, thank you for sharing.
     
  13. P1-EH

    P1-EH Formula Junior

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    #13 P1-EH, Feb 8, 2010
    Great shots, Captain. Where were you when you took them?
     
  14. captwillieb 328gts

    captwillieb 328gts Formula 3

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    #14 captwillieb 328gts, Feb 8, 2010
    Thanks...

    I was at the "turning basin"... it is in front of the media center, and to the left of the "count down clock". Essentially, the only people closer to where I was standing was the Close Out Crew and the emergency response team.

    The Vehicle Assembly Building is behind us.
     
  15. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

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    #15 RP, Feb 8, 2010
    Pretty close to where I was for the first night launch. I had the clock conveniently to the right of the photo frame. I had two Nikons set up on tripods, I kept focusing and refocusing while waiting, and then when it came time for the launch, I was in such awe of the light and the spectacle, it took me a few seconds before I remembered to take some photos. I finally got started when the shuttle was about at one mile.

    I appreciate your photos, brought back some great memories.
     
  16. captwillieb 328gts

    captwillieb 328gts Formula 3

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    #16 captwillieb 328gts, Feb 8, 2010
    Glad you watched !! Too many people only see one launch and watch it thru their lens... and miss out on the experience.... thank god for tripods... I just keep my finger on the shutter button and stand back in awe !! and last night was pretty emotional with friends on their way up..... and my parents getting to see their only launch from up close....
     
  17. captwillieb 328gts

    captwillieb 328gts Formula 3

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    #17 captwillieb 328gts, Feb 8, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    For Mark and Matt and anyone else coming ...

    The causeway is a great place to watch from provided you can get a pass, as the closer you get, the better. Jetty Park at Cape Canaveral is also close for rockets but the VAB is out of view.

    If you can see the Vehicle Assembly Building... you'll have a view of the launch.

    The photos I took last night, I was @ 2.5 miles from the pad.

    For some perspective, here are some shots from my condo balcony.... @ 16 miles from the launch pad in Cocoa Village.... The view is pretty nice, and you can hear the sounds and see the boosters fall.

    a rocket launch, a shuttle launch, Shuttle Atlantis flying by coming from California.

    check out this website to stay current on rocket and shuttle missions.
    http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html
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  18. oscar_driver

    oscar_driver Formula Junior

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    #18 oscar_driver, Feb 8, 2010
    INCREDIBLE, ..... next launch I will drive from here -even if it's 3am- .. if you are going please let me know, there's only 5 missions left ... so .. I better see one B4 is all gone, the 747 pic it's unbelievable!

    Oscar


     
  19. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

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    #19 BMW.SauberF1Team, Feb 8, 2010
    Well, I ended up going. Thankfully I didn't have to drive this time as I was dead tired from driving the previous morning for the first attempt. Viewed it from the 405 next to the Astronaut Hall of Fame rather than the 406 causeway (way too much traffic to get out). Glad I got to see the last night launch up close.

    Uploaded my pic to wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:STS130causeway405.JPG
     
  20. WaltP

    WaltP Formula 3

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    #20 WaltP, Feb 8, 2010
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2010
    from post #7 and on the left Scott Hardcastle (a friend of mine), great thread and shots, thanks Capt.


     
  21. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #21 Wade, Feb 8, 2010
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  22. 483hp

    483hp Formula 3
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    #22 483hp, Feb 8, 2010
    That is such a cool picture!
     
  23. P1-EH

    P1-EH Formula Junior

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    #23 P1-EH, Feb 8, 2010
    Brilliant! Congratulations. What a keepsake!
     

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