mahaun@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US (Mark A. Haun) (09/03/90)
Several months ago, I recall reading that it is possible to get
into the press viewing area for shuttle launches by requesting the
appropriate passes ahead of time through the mail. Unfortunately,
I lacked the foresight to save that article...
I will be visiting Florida during early to mid October and I think
there is a chance of my being there to view the STS-41 / Ulysses
launch from pad 39-B. I know that the launches can be viewed from
certain spots in the Titusville area (thanks to the recent posts on
that subject), but it sure would be nice to get a bit closer in.
So... is there an address I can send to to receive passes for this
launch (Oct. 5 or later, probably) ? Anything that can get me
closer than Titusville would be appreciated. Hopefully it's not
too late.
Thanks in advance,
--
Mark A. Haun / 3445 Del Mesa Ct. / Sacramento, CA 95821 / Phone: (916) 488-2965
UUCP: {ames | apple | att | sun}!pacbell!sactoh0!mahaun | Amateur Radio: KJ6PC
INTERNET: pacbell!sactoh0!mahaun@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Amateur Pkt Radio: kj6pc@wa6nwe.#nocal.ca.usa -or- [44.2.0.56] on 144.93 Mhzwherry@alazif.enet.dec.com (bradley g wherry) (09/03/90)
In article <3876@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US>, mahaun@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US (Mark A. Haun) writes: |> certain spots in the Titusville area (thanks to the recent posts on |> that subject), but it sure would be nice to get a bit closer in. Well letsee, I had a VIP pass for STS-3. Basically, you got to stand/sit on the ground next to the press people. (There were grandstand seats but you had to have VVIP etc type passes to sit there.) After Challenger I'm told that the press/VIP viewing sites were moved much, much further away from the launch site. A bunch of friends of mine with relatives that work at the cape tell me that the Car Passes are at least as good (if not better) than the VIP/Press Passes. I've also been told by people that have viewed launches from Titusville along the Indian River that the view is just as good as the CAR pass area. Your mileage may vary and this is all hearsay as I have not actually been out to the CAR pass viewing site to judge the difference myself. But then again I also realize that there's a BIG DIFFERENCE from standing next to the Indian River in Titusville and Actually getting to go out to the space center to view the launch! :-) btw, if its a NIGHT launch then it really doesn't matter WHERE you are as long as you are within oh about 20 miles of the pad, its amazing. |> |> So... is there an address I can send to to receive passes for this Yes, in general, you either "KNOW SOMEBODY", or you contact your local congressional representative (his office is generally good enough) and request either VIP or CAR passes. There is no guarantee that he/she/it will be able to get passes for you. If you get a car pass then be prepared to drive out there AS SOON as they let people onto the viewing sites. Traffic backs up aways. Also, you will want to be patient on the way out as Traffic invariably is backed by folks leaving. |> launch (Oct. 5 or later, probably) ? Anything that can get me |> closer than Titusville would be appreciated. Hopefully it's not |> too late. good luck in getting those passes. btw, its also worthwile (if you've never done been to KSC) to take the bus tour, if for no other reason than to feel the tour bus shift as all the tourists rush to one side of the bush to snap pictures of the happy alligators. |> |> Thanks in advance, your welcome and good luck in getting those passes. -- brad wherry | Ex ignorantia ad sapientiam; wherry@alazif.enet.dec.com | e luce ad tenebras.
johnl@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us (John R. Levine) (09/03/90)
I had a car pass for the HST launch, and actually went both the time they
didn't launch it and the time they did. If you call the info number for the
space center, one of the recordings they have tells you about getting a car
pass, and gives the distinct impression that if you merely write to NASA and
ask for one, you'll get it unless they're all gone. They even give the
address. (I haven't tried it, since I got mine from a relative involved with
the HST.) There must be thousands of passes issued for each launch, since
the causeway is several miles long and they park the cars four deep along it.
If you have a car pass, head for the space center two or three hours ahead,
since the best sites go early. They won't let you in more than four hours
ahead. People are parked all along the causeway, you may have to walk 1/2
mile or so to get a good view. Binoculars are essential, with them you can
see the pad clearly, without them you can't. Take a sandwich, the food for
sale is minimal. You don't need a radio, as there are large loudspeakers
with the usual NASA soundtrack. The bleachers don't have any better a view
than the rest of the causeway, though of course there are more cool people
there.
Helpful tip: There are several entrances to the KSC. The main one, SR 405
from Titusville, was incredibly clogged with traffic, most of which seemed to
be people who had driven over from Orlando and were surprised to be turned
away at the gate since they had no pass. The Cape Canaveral entrance from
the south which is not usually open to the public had no traffic, so go that
way. I don't know how busy the SR3 entrance from the south was.
--
John R. Levine, Segue Software, POB 349, Cambridge MA 02238, +1 617 864 9650
johnl@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us, {ima|spdcc|world}!esegue!johnl
Atlantic City gamblers lose $8200 per minute. -NY Timeshenry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) (09/04/90)
In article <3876@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US> mahaun@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US (Mark A. Haun) writes: >... a chance of my being there to view the STS-41 / Ulysses >launch from pad 39-B... >So... is there an address I can send to to receive passes for this >launch (Oct. 5 or later, probably) ? ... Recent reports say that there will be no, repeat no, passes for this launch, because there is a strong possibility that NASA will be badly short of funds around then, and supervision of visitors has been classed as a luxury. -- TCP/IP: handling tomorrow's loads today| Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology OSI: handling yesterday's loads someday| henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry
kendrix_j@mims.enet.dec.com (John R. Kendrix) (09/05/90)
In article <1990Sep03.165809.7751@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us>, johnl@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us (John R. Levine) writes... >I had a car pass for the HST launch, and actually went both the time they >didn't launch it and the time they did. If you call the info number for the >space center, one of the recordings they have tells you about getting a car >pass, and gives the distinct impression that if you merely write to NASA and >ask for one, you'll get it unless they're all gone. They even give the >address. (I haven't tried it, since I got mine from a relative involved with >the HST.) There must be thousands of passes issued for each launch, since >the causeway is several miles long and they park the cars four deep along it. The above is correct, car passes CAN be had simply for the asking. The only trouble is that the demand for them is so great, that you have to put in your request for a particular launch some 6 months in advance. From the car pass area, you'll be about 7 miles away from the pad. You don't miss out on any of the thrill however, since it is truely an awesome sight, sound, and feeling seeing one of those birds climb toward home. JK ******************************************************************************** * John R. Kendrix c/o * Disclaimers: The opinions expressed here * * Digital Equipment Corporation * aren't likely to be claimed * * 5555 Windward Parkway * by me, much less my employer. * * Alpharetta, Ga. 30201 * * * 404-475-3379 * E-Mail: Kendrix_J@mims.enet.dec.com * ********************************************************************************
vail@tegra.COM (Johnathan Vail) (09/05/90)
If anyone is driving past the panhandle to watch the launch and can
take a rider please call me at 904 267-3801 tommorow or later. I will
be on vacation in the panhandle but probably won't drive down on my
own.
Thanks, jv
"Gravity pulls the trousers down
Morality pulls the trousers up" -- Bedful of Metaphysicians
_____
| | Johnathan Vail | n1dxg@tegra.com
|Tegra| (508) 663-7435 | N1DXG@448.625-(WorldNet)
----- jv@n1dxg.ampr.org {...sun!sunne ..uunet}!tegra!vailshafer@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov (Mary Shafer) (09/06/90)
In article <1990Sep4.001018.4034@zoo.toronto.edu> henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes: >Recent reports say that there will be no, repeat no, passes for this >launch [STS-41], because there is a strong possibility that NASA will be badly >short of funds around then, and supervision of visitors has been classed >as a luxury. So short of funds that we've all gotten the dreaded furlough letter. NASA is legally required to give us 30 days notice of a furlough and the letter says it may be as long as 22 days. At this time, management is predicting that we'll only be in a non-pay status for one day in October. Non-pay status means that we don't get paid and we can't come to work, even as volunteers. This is a result of the Gramm-Rudman sequestration requirement, requiring NASA to cut its R&PM spending by 30%. By having no travel or training in October, they'll only have to furlough one day. (R&PM covers salaries, travel, training, and certain support contracts.) Contractors will also be in a non-pay status, but they don't have to receive the gov't letter. -- Mary Shafer shafer@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov ames!skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov!shafer NASA Ames Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, CA Of course I don't speak for NASA "A MiG at your six is better than no MiG at all"--Unknown US fighter pilot
irwin@iago.caltech.edu (Horowitz, Irwin Kenneth) (09/08/90)
In article <1990Sep03.165809.7751@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us>, johnl@esegue. segue.boston.ma.us (John R. Levine) writes... >(stuff deleted) Last year I wrote away to the KSC Public Affairs Office for a car pass to view the STS-32 launch (LDEF retrieval) when I was in Florida in Dec, 1989. I wrote this about three months before the mission was scheduled to go, and upon arrival in Florida, I called KSC and found out that I was on the waiting list for a pass. Several months later, I received a pass for STS-35 (astro-1) and figured that I wouldn't have the opportunity to use it (the launch was scheduled in May and I was not going to be in Florida at that time). As it turns out, I was in Florida last week, and would have been able to see the launch from the causeway (if it had gone up). Needless to say, I was rather disappointed when it was postponed. I agree that if you get a car pass, you should go thru the Cape Canaveral AFS gate (South gate) as that would be much less crowded than the main KSC gate. I was planning on picking some friends in Cocoa Beach prior to the launch and then going thru the south gate. I still have the pass for STS-35, and doubt that I'll be able to see the launch (I won't be back in Florida until the second half of December). If there is anyone interested in acquiring the pass, please let me know and I'll see what can be arranged. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Irwin Horowitz |"Suppose they went nowhere?"-McCoy Astronomy Department |"Then this will be your big chance California Institute of Technology | to get away from it all!"-Kirk irwin@romeo.caltech.edu | from STII:TWOK ih@deimos.caltech.edu | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
bsherman@mthvax.cs.miami.edu (Bob Sherman) (09/10/90)
>In article <1990Sep4.001018.4034@zoo.toronto.edu> henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes: >>Recent reports say that there will be no, repeat no, passes for this >>launch [STS-41], because there is a strong possibility that NASA will be badly >>short of funds around then, and supervision of visitors has been classed >>as a luxury. As a member of the WORKING PRESS, I certainly hope that NASA is not planning to change their policy regarding the press mound area. We have enough media people running around there, without having to worry about the general public with "passes" in the area too. The are also thousands of dollars of equipment in place hours before a launch, and we do not need to worry who is playing with it, knocking it over or whatever.. In addition, the press mound is considered a danger area under some wind and other conditions, and there is just not enough place for everyone to hide if the wind blows the wrong way. On major launches we even have problems with fellow media people bringing spouces and family if old enough.. Sorry to dampen your spirits, but we are there to WORK, and we do not need sightseers to trip over.. In days gone by, there was a seperate VIP area near the press site, but those folks were not allowed into the press area. Since the explosion however, they realized that it was too close for the public, and moved it way back. I might also warn you that this area is a wildlife preserve, and it is abound with snakes of the un nice type as well as gators etc.. I still have not forgotten the time I was trapped on top of a fire tower because of two hissing snakes at the bottom of the ladder.. They do offer passes for a viewing area on the Kennedy Causeway, and while it is not the press area, it does offer a good view of a launch. Accept them if you can get them, and stop trying to be where you should not be, and at best, will be getting in the way of those who have a job to do. Of course if you want to be the one to chase the snakes and gators away from my path both at the press site and near the pad in waist deep water when I am placing out remote cameras, please send me your resume, and perhaps I will hire you :-) -- bsherman@mthvax.cs.miami.edu | bsherman@pro-exchange | MCI MAIL:BSHERMAN
henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) (09/10/90)
In article <1990Sep10.050419.11878@mthvax.cs.miami.edu> bsherman@mthvax.cs.miami.edu (Bob Sherman) writes: >>>Recent reports say that there will be no, repeat no, passes for this >>>launch [STS-41], because there is a strong possibility that NASA will be badly >>>short of funds around then, and supervision of visitors has been classed >>>as a luxury. > >As a member of the WORKING PRESS, I certainly hope that NASA is not >planning to change their policy >regarding the press mound area. We have enough >media people running around there, without having to worry about the >general public with "passes" in the area too... If they can't supervise them, they simply won't let them in. What you should be worrying about is whether they will let *you* in, because you count as visitors-needing-supervision too. -- TCP/IP: handling tomorrow's loads today| Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology OSI: handling yesterday's loads someday| henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry
sysmgr@KING.ENG.UMD.EDU (Doug Mohney) (09/11/90)
In article <SHAFER.90Sep5111310@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov>, shafer@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov (Mary Shafer) writes: > >So short of funds that we've all gotten the dreaded furlough letter. >NASA is legally required to give us 30 days notice of a furlough and >the letter says it may be as long as 22 days. [cut other direness....] >This is a result of the Gramm-Rudman sequestration requirement, >requiring NASA to cut its R&PM spending by 30%. By having no travel >or training in October, they'll only have to furlough one day. (R&PM >covers salaries, travel, training, and certain support contracts.) Let us hope Congress can reach a budget agreement by 1 October, so this does not happen...and if they can't, THROW THE BASTARDS OUT IN NOVEMBER!!!