giles@ucf-cs.UUCP (Bruce Giles) (04/26/84)
>> The reason announced last night on ABC was that the weather at the Cape >> is just too lousy during the next 4 months to be predictable. They >> decided to shift all operations back to EAFB to avoid the constant >> changes in weather at the cape. The weather in Central Florida is not too lousy to be predictable, it is too lousy. Period. In fact, I was surprised they ever expect the Cape to be contiuously usable for landings. I don't have official Weather Bureau statistics in front of me, but as a life-long resident I know that during the summer months in Florida, expect a heavy thunderstorm between 3:30 and 5:30 pm. Every day. You can also include about a half-dozen hailstorms and minor tornadoes during the summer months also. And, if a hurricane passes within 400 kilometers, the blue skies visible before and after the aforementioned storms will disappear for 4-5 days straight. Florida the "Sunshine State". Humphf. Ask anyone who moved to Orlando around April or May, expecting to see sunny skies constantly. Everyone I know who did went into a severe shock: It was either near 100 degrees Fahrenheit with 85-95 percent humidity, or raining at 3-4 inches/hour. (That is -- If you are on the road, you generally must pull over because your wipers on `high' are not powerful enought to clear your windshield). ave discordia going bump in the night ... bruce giles decvax!ucf-cs!giles university of central florida giles.ucf-cs@Rand-Relay orlando, florida 32816
jlw@ariel.UUCP (04/29/84)
Politics, Politics, Politics. You may not know this, but there is a thing known as the National Range System. White Sands Missile Range is run by the Army, Edwards and Vandenberg are run by the Air Force, Point Mogu(sp) is run by the Navy, Kennedy is run by NASA. WSMR, where I was stationed for two years in the Army, is ideal for full shuttle operations. It wouldn't even need a new runway; the one at Holloman AFB was until recently the longest paved runway in the world. Joseph L. Wood, III AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Holmdel (201) 834-3759 ariel!jlw
tgg@hou5e.UUCP (04/30/84)
>WSMR, where I was >stationed for two years in the Army, is ideal for full shuttle >operations. It wouldn't even need a new runway; the one at >Holloman AFB was until recently the longest paved runway in the world. What is now the longest? KSC landing? Saudi Arabia? Interstate 80? Tom Gulvin - AT&T IS - Holmdel
giles@ucf-cs.UUCP (Bruce Giles) (05/02/84)
The Representative from Brevard County (where KSC is located) held a press release recently, declaring that the above rumor was incorrect: KSC will remain the primary landing site for routine missions throughout the rest of the year. I have the newpaper article at home; but since our school term is over I keep forgetting to bring it. Hopefully I'll have the full text submitted by next week. On a tangent, the above representative (Bill Nelson) is also considered to be the best choice for first politician in space. His home district includes KSC, he is chairman of the Space and Technology sub-committee (or something similiar), has been very active supporting the space program, and if I recall correctly is in the military reserve. So, once NASA starts taking on passengers, I know who I suspect will be among the first! ave discordia going bump in the night ... bruce giles decvax!ucf-cs!giles university of central florida giles.ucf-cs@Rand-Relay orlando, florida 32816