rcpilz@ablnc.ATT.COM (Robert C. Pilz) (03/18/89)
I'm posting this information for those interested in viewing the shuttle launches this Summer. This Summer will be "slim pickins." Between the "public" launches on April 28 (STS 30 Atlantis - Magellan) and October 12 (STS 34 Atlantis - Galileo) are 2 Department of Defense missions (STS 28 Columbia - July 1 and STS 33 Discovery - August 10). Security since the Challenger Disaster has been tighter; viewings are located further away. I don't think TW Services Inc., the licensed contractor that arranges reservations to view the shuttle on the Cape Canaveral Base, will make any viewings available for the 2 DOD flights. That leaves a big gap between the end of April and the middle of October. So, plan to visit Florida at the end of April or the middle of October when the weather is much more livable than in July or August! (Talk about hot and humid, no relief at night either.) People who live in Florida year round stay indoors during the summer, they are the ones who don't have a tan. Anyway, to get ahold of Spaceport USA, call (407) 452-2121. They have an 800 number if you are calling from within Florida (800) 432-2153, but that is not much use to most of you. The people who run the Bus Tours of the launch pads is TW Services Inc. They are the licensed vendor by NASA to run tours of the Kennedy Space Center. The Visitors Center is free. There is a museum and several static displays of gear used in Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. There is also a display of the Soyuz-Apollo mission. TW Services provides 2 tours of Cape Canaveral for about $4.00 per person. Each lasting about 2 hours. The Blue Tour is the tour of the older Mercury and Gemini pads plus a tour of the Air Force Museum. The Red Tour is a tour of pads A and B, currently used for the Shuttles. The Red Tour includes a drive by the shuttle preparation buildings and the crawler-launcher vehicle. They also stop by the outside of the Vehicle Assembly Building. You get to walk around a Saturn V on its side. Everything is huge! You get to see a movie and simulated launch of a Saturn V and view some backup gear (Apollo Main Capsule and LEM) in a lunar setting. As you ride to view things the driver usually points out animals; wild boars, armadillos, alligators, and Bald Eagles. (There is a Bald Eagle nest about the size of a 55 gallon drum, complete with its builder, about 3 miles from the VAB.) Not bad for $4.00! There is an IMAX movie (soon to be updated if the shots from the current mission are used) called "The Dream is Alive," narrated by Walter Cronkite, for about $3.00 also. These are the best values of any Florida Attraction. So, even if there is no launch, visit KSC! (The buses are double decker with good air conditioning.) Enjoy! R. C. Pilz AT&T IMS Orlando FL