Shuttle Launch..

[Nocturnus]

So, while back I saw a post for a group that traveled down to see/photograph a shuttle launch. Are there any plans like this coming up for the last shuttle launch (2/27/2011)?

[princer7]

Sounds like fun and a great trip!!

[corralup]

Better get there early and camp out is all I can say.

[groovyone]

The Causeway requires passes now, and I can pretty much guarantee they won't be easy to get. I'd try to get work to send me to KSC, but I doubt I'd be able to.

[princer7]

Found this on thier website...

"Space shuttle launch viewing tickets typically go on sale four to six weeks prior to the scheduled launch date."

Will have to keep an eye out for tickets around mid January. I signed up for their email notification.

[Abel]

ooohhh cool!

i wanna go

[LEO III]

Not sure if I'm going or not, but if I go, I'll probably stay a couple of weeks. I have family and friends I can mooch off over there.

Are you planning to just run over there and back, like the other guys did? Not to jump the thread off the track, but there is one thing to consider, if you are a baseball fan and have the time and funds for it:

There are only 102 days until pitchers and catchers report, but who's counting?

Spring training games start 2/25/11, and the first game at Viera (Washington Nationals and closest to the Cape) will be the Mets at the Nats on 3/1/11. If you're an Astros fan, they play Atlanta on 2/28/11 at Disney World, and again on 3/1/11 at Kissimmee. (The Rangers do spring training in Arizona.)

Here's a link to the Grapefruit League schedule:

http://www.springtrainingonline.com/...r-schedule.htm

Mind you, in the first two weeks of spring training games, you might not see too much of the big name players. They might start the games, but they usually don't stay in past the fifth inning. Management wants to see and evaluate the other players in camp. The big name players don't usually start playing most of the games until the middle of March. Doesn't make it a bummer. Just don't want anyone to be disappointed.

You'll also have to pack for weather extremes. I've gotten sunburned, and I've frozen my butt off in central Florida in March. They get our cold fronts a couple of days after they pass through here.

Here's a link to launch viewing sites:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/...w_shuttle.html

I don't know how old or accurate this info is, nor do I know which ones might charge admission. If I can find out more info from my moochees, I'll post it.

[Flores]

I took the family back in may. we were lucky, everything went off without a hitch.

the current one has already been pushed back a bit.

the easiest way to get on the causeway is to use one of the local tour companies. it costs a bit more, but they bus you in and out, which beats sitting in the car for a while on the way out.

the causeway is 7 miles away, the only way to get closer is to be 'press' and they put you on top of the vehicle assembly building, a mere 3 miles away.



and thats what it looks like from the causeway ... ;)

[popawalker]

I was lucky enough to get on the causeway with a company that had a package going up.oon STS126. It went off that night on time, what a sight.

[Flores]

nice one!

[Nikonfan]

Interesting timing on this. I still have a day job "for now" and I had a customer this morning that works at Kennedy Space Center. We talked about the upcoming launch a bit.

Just one word of warning if you do plan a trip. I was in South Florida during one of the launches and drove up to watch the launch and get some shots. I got a great spot on the causeway and waited patiently for the launch. It was SO exciting, I can't really describe it. I was a tad worried since there were some clouds out but they were 70 miles or so away with only 20 minutes until launch. Then at T minus 15 minutes I heard the dreaded words.. "Let's go ahead and scrub the mission. Try again next week." Oh what a dissapointment. So I drove back to Ft. Lauderdale very dissapointed. If you do plan a trip to go, make sure you have something else planned for fun "just in case." Better yet, don't waste your time. Send me your tickets and I will go and get the pictures for you ;)

[Flores]

i only wish i had rented an 800mm lens for the trip :(

[Nikonfan]

I like the compisition in the shot. The water tower gives a great frame of reference. With and 800 mm you probably would have lost a lot of that. What lens did you use for your shot?

Nice shot by the way!

[Flores]

Bigma-OS. :) and that shot is cropped just a bit, so more lens would have worked pretty well.

here is an uncropped @ 500mm

[Nikonfan]

In that case, I agree with you. The 800mm would probably have been perfect. Assuming it doesn't have bad chromatic abbrasion. I'm not familiar with that lens. I have been tempted to get a T adapter so I can use my 900mm telescope lens for fun. Hmmm... I think I know what I'm about to Google now.