Space
The last few weeks I’ve been watching the documentary When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions on Discovery Channel. I’ve always been in love with the idea of spacecraft, of traveling to the stars. As a child I wanted to be an astronaut, mainly influenced by the idea of space shuttle missions, and movies like Space Camp, Star Trek, Star Wars, Flight of the Navigator, and others. Okay, not exactly realistic expectations for a seven-year-old.
But in watching this documentary, I’ve rekindled an idea I’ve had decades ago, but never gave much thought to. I want to see a shuttle launch.
Now, it’d be awesome if I could see the final launch of the shuttle missions, and then the first launch of the new rocket missions: Project Orion. But for now, I’d be happy to just see the next shuttle launch; which according to NASA’s Shuttle and Rocket Mission Schedule will be the Atlantis on October 8.
These things are sometimes subject to postponement, but I think I’m going to start making plans.
Anyone else want to go?
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Take me!
June 24th, 2008 at 1:25 am
Beyond the stars….
June 25th, 2008 at 6:31 am
unfortunately that is the month of the judgment. I would love to see a shuttle launch. I hear it is amazing.
June 25th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
So… I’m sure they charge… nothing is free anymore right… so do you know how much?
June 25th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Well, from my research, it depends from where you want to observe. The best place to view is reported to be the NASA causeway, which is $51 per person and go on sale 4 to 6 weeks in advance, and are reported to sell out within minutes. The Causeway tickets include two-day admission to the space center with the regular center bus tour as well — access to the causeway is by bus only.
The second best viewing option seems to be Spaceview Park in Titusville, FL. This also has the Astronaut Walk of Fame, and is regarded as a good place to view if the causeway is unavailable. Pricing seems to be for parking, which ranges from $10 to $30.
The October 8 launch is scheduled to be a night launch, though, so I may be focusing on the November 10 launch instead. Being in an unfamiliar location at 1:30am surrounded by a bunch of strangers just doesn’t appeal to me.
I’m still in the early planning stages, though. We’ll see.
June 25th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Or maybe not … after some additional reading, the rest of the shuttle launches through December are scheduled to be night launches. The earliest being 9:28pm Eastern, on November 10. Maybe I will have to wait for the final shuttle mission?
July 1st, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Why would you have to wait?
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:50 am
I am finding out I am geekier than I once thought.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 am
I would be waiting for a day launch. All the shuttle launches that I found scheduled are at night … and standing around in a strange location with dozens of strangers at night doesn’t sit quite right with me.