| Author | Message | ||
     Xb12xmike |
I believe this will be the 1st of the final 3 launches that will happen this year. I had been thinking of using this event as an excuse for a motorcycle trip and riding down to see it. No way to make tommorrow's launch. Of course I would take the long way down. Anyone ever witness a launch before? Date: May 14 Mission: STS-132 Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A Launch Time: 2:20 p.m. EDT Description: Space shuttle Atlantis mission will carry an integrated cargo carrier to deliver maintenance and assembly hardware, including spare parts for space station systems. In addition, the second in a series of new pressurized components for Russia, a Mini Research Module, will be permanently attached to the bottom port of the Zarya module. Date: Sept. 16 + Mission: STS-133 Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Discovery Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A Launch Time: 11:57 a.m. EDT STS-133 Description: Space shuttle Discovery will deliver the Express Logistics Carrier 4 (ELC4), a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MLPM) and critical spare components to the International Space Station. Date: Mid-Nov. * Mission: STS-134 Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Endeavour Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A Launch Time: To Be Determined STS-134 Description: Space shuttle Endeavour will deliver an EXPRESS Logistics Carrier-3 (ELC-3) and an Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) to the International Space Station. | ||
| Sifo |
I worked with a guy that used live near the launch site. He said seeing launches never got old, even if you weren't outside! | ||
| Deltablue |
I remember seeing one when I was younger. I think it was Discovery on her maiden voyage. The next day we toured Kennedy Space Center. It is an impressive sight. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I've witnessed 2 launches, and 6 landings at Edwards here in California. I never get tired of it... I used to collect mission patches when I was a kid, I remember sitting in my 8th grade math class and watching the Challenger explode. My journalism teacher was related to Christa Mcauliffe. Wish I could get to one of these final launches, but alas, I cannot. Whoever goes needs to post up plenty of pics though! | ||
| Oddball |
" Anyone ever witness a launch before? " Seen 3 night launches and 1 daytime. If your anywhere within a few hours drive you can see them go up. I've watched from Davenport before. | ||
| Fast1075 |
I have been watching launches since...well I don't remember how young I was....I live about 45 or 50 miles from the cape...you can see them pretty good if the clouds are not in the way...the shuttle launches are cool....but NOTHING is a awesome as the Saturn V's were....they turned night to day...a second sunrise....and after a couple of minutes, you could hear the rumble... I was raised in Davenport...Now I live in the sprawling metropolis of Auburndale.. (Message edited by fast1075 on May 13, 2010) | ||
| Nevrenuf |
on a clear day you can see them from tampa. one of my best friends brother works at the cape and doesn't live to far from there so he usually throws a party of sorts when they do take off. buddies neighbor is over there right now taking a vacation so he can watch it tomorrow. | ||
| Drkside79 |
I remember watching the challenger in first grade. my whole school watched it due to a teacher on the crew. Talk about FAIL | ||
| Cowboy |
I never saw one from the ground, How ever I remember be ing on a flight from Atlanta to Miami When the pilot told us to look out the port windows and we could see go past I am gusing we were about 10 or so miles away but it was a aussom sight to watch it go by and disappear in to the blue. | ||
| Americanmadexb |
Would LOVE to see one in person. | ||
| Oddball |
Buell gathering at the Cape! Maybe sep or nov launch for ya'll out of state. Now if we could get E-B-R painted on the fuell tank.  "Tagged Shuttle Roars Skyward" Unknown graffiti artists left black and blue artwork of a winged horse upon the liquid fuell tank along with the initials E-B-R.   | ||
| Xl1200r |
Was close to seeing one, but it was called off due to bad weather at the emergency landing site in France, I think? I don't think it went up the entire time I was in Florida as I don't remember being able to see or hear it at any point. Speaking of Challanger - I had a teacher in High School who once showed me the letter he got from NASA turning him down for the mission. Talk about erie. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Everybody at work stood behind out shop and watched Challenger go up...when it came unglued everybody was wondering what was going on because a launch had never looked like that before. When I told them to pray for those poor lost souls...they wouldn't believe me...it was pretty obvious to me. The engineers from Thiakol warned 'em...the o-rings had leaked before..just never in a spot to burn a hole in anything major... And now with the Shuttle program winding down and no funding for the replacements...we can look forward to launches from our komrads. No Wait!!! we can get WallyWerld to import copies from China!!! Now I'm disgusted....bring back the Saturn V.... | ||
| Etennuly |
I was fortunate enough to be able to see them from my house East of Tampa, for seventeen years. The night launches were spectacular on a clear night. I went to the cape and was first in line on the entry road to watch one. Awesome isn't a big enough word. I too watched the Challenger disaster as it was happening. | ||
| Blake |
Saw one from the airport once, but really want to see one of the final two up close this year. | ||
| Sifo |
My wife went to school with Dan Tani. She said he always was a geek. Geeks rule the world! | ||
| Oddball |
" Now I'm disgusted....bring back the Saturn V.... " Fast, you and my father would get along. He'd love to see them launch again but doubts they could even build a Saturn V anymore without bringing any surviving personnel out of retirement. He still grumbles about some mission where an astronaut broke a camera he had some involvement in making. | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Can't see the actually launch but I can see it heading up from my house when nice out. Pretty cool stuff... | ||
| Whatever |
My sister was an engineer on the shuttle... I got to see one up close... it was pretty cool even at 5 miles away... | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
seen a few daylight ones from a distance will try and hit the beach tomorrow but it'll be from a ways out j-ville | ||
| Cityxslicker |
My Uncle was in the final round for the selection for the Challenger. Science teacher for 15 years, retired Wild Weasel F-4 Phantom Veteran, craziest M-f'r I ever met. He got nixed out on his third round physical. They found an ulcer. He was pretty bend up about it. Until about 11oo Am pacific time. Then he was glad to have missed the cut. He got another 15 years of teaching. Lost him a couple years back to colon cancer. Fly fast and down their throat. Happy Hunting 'Wings' LTC Fehlig | ||
| Bartimus |
I had the pleasure of working for Lockheed at a NASA site for 11 years. (White Sands Test Facility), and got to watch the shuttle land at the landing site in New Mexico over 25 years ago, wow! I got to see a launch in '89 when a project of ours was being sent up for testing, the group was invited to the cape to witness the launch. Even 5 miles away it is an awesome site! | ||
| Captcaz |
My ship's tied up at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station ... I should have a good view  My first time seeing it, so I'm kinda psyched! | ||
| Two_buells |
Oddball....  <><><>Unknown graffiti artists left black and blue artwork of a winged horse upon the liquid fuell tank along with the initials E-B-R. you get the BIG GRIN of the day! This is one of the reasons I like Buellers. HonYamSuz riders don't come up with stuff like that! graffiti on the space shuttle We do need to have a last Shuttle Launch Buell ride....kinda fitting....... | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
I took time off from school in April of '81 to go watch STS-1, but when it was scrubbed we had to come home so I didn't miss too much of 7th grade. It went two days later... I was lucky enough to have VIP passes to to STS-3 in March of '82- close enough to require evacuation if the winds changed and the exhaust plume headed our way. I got to meet Jimmy Buffet who was there taking pictures with the biggest camera I'd ever seen (got his autograph, too). No lie, every time I think about watching that launch I get tears in my eyes- I could feel the concussion in my chest, the sound was deafening, and the tears ran down my cheeks from emotion and pride. I'll never forget it. Over the years I've seen more launches than I can remember from various locations here in Jacksonville (and surrounding beaches). It is clearly visible during the day, and quite spectacular at night. My wife and I stood on our front stoop and watched the last two night launches together- although you can't hear or feel it from Jax, it still lights up the sky and bring tears to my eyes. I will be watching the horizon tomorrow from Jax, but I am making plans to take my daughter down to the Cape for at least one of the last two missions. I cannot recommend highly enough the importance of witnessing a shuttle launch if there's any way you can make it happen. It truly is one of those life moments you'll remember forever. | ||
| Rich |
I've seen dozens and I'll be riding over after while. Never get tired of it. | ||
| Fast1075 |
I saw a TV show where they were talking about what it would take to build more Saturn V's....it seems that some of the parts plans existed only on the builder's heads or only as sketches on a piece of paper. Still, it would be awesome to once again see the most powerful vehicle ever built take to the skies. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Grew up in Cocoa, FL. Right up the road from KSC. Always got to watch a launch and would watch it any chance I could. It kills me that they're killing the program with no replacement. Angers me is more like it. | ||
| Etennuly |
Why are there no pictures in this thread?  | ||
| Xb12xmike |
Pictures are cool but I'd like to see it in person, and take my own pictures/video that I know I took, in the very spot that I was standing, with my own 2 feet. Riding there and camping out would be pretty cool too. 1 day pre, 1 day post, as long as it doesn't get delayed. (Not that other pictures wouldn't be cool to look at, got any with a Buell in the foreground?) |
