[net.columbia] CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING TICKETS

giles@ucf-cs.UUCP (11/14/83)

For non-press passes to KSC for a launch, contact:

NASA Public Affairs
PA-VIC
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Soace Center, Fl 32899


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Warning for launches:  For STS-1, it took me 5 hours to travel as any
		       miles the day of the launch.

		       Things are better now, but still allow *PLENTY*
		       of time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

General information for travel to Central Florida:

<1>:   TRAFFIC:  Our roads are designed for the *local* population load,
       not peak tourist loads.  So expect major traffic jams.  During
       a launch Titusville's population can more than *double* easily.
       Similiarly for Orlando, the metro population is ~750,000 normally,
       but can approach 1 million during the summer and Christmas, with
       most of the increase on I-4 heading toward Disney (==> 5 mile
       long traffic jams on the interstate).


<2>:   WEATHER:
       (a): Expect rain any time of the year.  During the summer (April
            to September) expect severe afternoon thunderstorms. In the
	    winter, expect rains at least 3 days out of the week.  How-
	    ever, the rain is normally over in an hour, and the sky
	    clears up again.

       (b): From October until March, bring a good variety of clothing.
	    The afternoon temperatures will generally be up into the
	    70's even if the morning low is near freezing.  Because of
	    the Gulf and Atlantic, the humidity is high year round, so
	    the cold is *COLD*.  A generally good idea is to layer your
	    clothes from beach cloths underneath to long-sleeved shirts/
	    jeans and a heavy sweater.

       (c): From May to August wear loose light-colored cloths. Forget
	    about anti-perspirsant(?), however; it is a lost cause.
	    Sun-tan lotion is *highly* recommended for anybody from above
	    the M-D line, especially for a day at KSC or Disney.


<3>:   AIRPORTS:  The nearest *major* airport to KSC is Orlando Int'l,
       which is about 40 miles west.  There are several smaller ones
       in Titusville itself, but there are far fewer flights into them.
       The major corridors from Orlando to Titusville are the Bee-line
       Exwy (toll road) and State Road 50 (4-lane divided except for a
       10 mile 2-lane stretch).


<4>:   BEACHES:  If you have a chance, visit the Canaveral National Sea-
       shore.  It is on NASA property *just* north of complex 39.  If you
       arrive a week early, the beach is inside of a security perimeter
       but you can still drive to it; and the shuttle on the pad is only
       a couple (I think <2) miles away -- you can get a *very* good view
       of it.  From ~ T-3 days until touchdown the south end of the beach
       is completely restricted.  However, the north end of the seashore
       is still open, and can be reached from New Smyrna Beach. (CNS is
       approximately 20 miles long).  Anyway, it is also one of the few
       remaining natural beaches in the state.  No condos.  No hotels.
       No merchants. No driving on the beach. (Limited bathrooms). Hence,
       you can frequently find crabs, fish off-shore (both meanings),....


<5>:   INSECTS:  Yes, the mosquitos are a problem at KSC.  More serious,
       at least during their peak seasons (which have slipped my mind)
       are LOVEBUGS.  You have not lived until you drive into a swarm of
       lovebugs at 60 mph and your windshield, radiator, headlights, ...
       are *COVERED* with their remains.  Not only can you not see through
       them, they are very good paint remover, *and* at the normal temps
       when they are around, dry to a nearly irremovable cement within a
       few hours.  Why are they called lovebugs?  Ask Hugh Heffner.



I hope this is the information you needed.  Sorry about the travelog style.


			    Bruce Giles
			    decvax!ucf-cs!giles (UUCP)
			    UCF, Dept of Math, Orlando Fl 32816 (Snail)

giles@ucf-cs.UUCP (11/16/83)

I meant to mention this in the other article, but it was missed
somehow:

<1>:    NASA recommends you allow at least 4 months to obtain passes
	to a launch.  Thus, the next launch you could get passes to
	would be in March, if not later.

<2>:	Although no widely known (as far as I know), the SRB/Sound
	Suppression System forms a *LOT* of acid rain.  I have heard
	stories of plants having holes in all of their leaves up to
	1/2 mile away, the gantry being severely corroded, ....

	So -- if you have a pass it would be a good idea to take
	along some protective clothing just in case.  A list
	follows:

	(a):  Windbreaker -- to protect your clothes.
	(b):  Hat -- to protect your head, face.
	(c):  Decongestant/antihistamine -- in case you inhale
	      any of the vapors, they are very irritating.
	(d):  Hankerchief/face mask -- to protect your lungs.
	(e):  Baking soda solution -- to protect the paint on your
	      car in case the cloud is unusually heavy.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
sidenote:
	According to one of my professors, (who was already doing some
	work in air studies at KSC) when the engines ignited for the
	first launch, they made a loud sound.  Big deal.  Except there
	was a large concrete slab under the shuttle.  Hence, almost
	immediately after ignition, **WWHHAAMM**  the shuttle is hit
	by the echo of its engines.  Appearently the only damage was a
	bent rod in the nose of Columbia, but it was (about 2 months
	after the flight) considered the single most dangerous point
	during ascent.  If this was related to the shuttle *walking*
	across the pad (also documented both on film and in pad damage),
	I don't know.  The solution was to dump tons of water between
	the engines and the concrete slab right after ignition, and
	it seems to work.  I think it has something to do with con-
	converting the acoustical energy into mechanical energy by
	splitting the water drops into water mist.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


			    Bruce Giles
			    decvax!ucf-cs!giles (UUCP)
			    UCF, Dept of Math, Orlando Fl 32816 (Snail)

eder@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dani Eder) (11/21/83)

                                               21 November 1983

     The sound suppression system consists of plastic bags filled with water
strung across the SRB holes in the pad, and six largest sprinkler heads you
have ever seen.  The plastic bags were added after STS-1.  They absorb the
ignition pulse of the SRB's by simply being vaporized.  The sprinkler heads
are about 8 feet tall and consist of a 40 inch pipe with an angled plate
above the open end to spread the flow.  They together throw 600,000 gallons
of water all over the pad to keep it from catching on fire and soak up some
of the sound energy.

                                                Dani Eder
                                                Boeing Aerospace
  
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