It's official: Shuttle launch will be July 13th!

[SeattleMark]

NASA just announced that the space shuttle will return to flight on July 13th (weather permitting).

Details:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/06/30/space.shuttle/index.html

 

[civileng68]

NASA just announced that the space shuttle will return to flight on July 13th (weather permitting).

Details:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/06/30/space.shuttle/index.html

For now anyways, weather could do that in, depending on what time of day they go. Afternoon could be risky.

You know, I think the shuttle program, to gain more interest among americans, needs to once again, go back to broadcasting launches on national television instead of just the NASA TV. I remember our classes being interrupted and teachers bringing in TV's (I'm 26 now to give perspective) to let us watch the launch. I think the last launch televised on standard TV was the first shuttle explosion.

 

[SeattleMark]

CNN broadcasts them all. That comes from Ted Turner being a huge space nut (I know, in more ways than one). Even though he's not running things there any more, they still do it.

Plus with this being the "Return to space" I'm sure it will get wide exposure.

No time has been announced, but my bet would be the morning. They know all about those afternoon Florida thunderstorms!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Actually a time has been announced.

3:51 PM, just in time for the storms to roll in. Because it has to be a day launch and the fact that it is going to the ISS, it has to be an afternoon launch.

Hopefully, the weather will behave itself that day.

Time for me to get my ticker once again!

 

[kkelly2629]

Can you see it from the parks?

 

[cleo]

Yes, you can see it from the parks. Sort of.

 

[dmslush]

Where in the parks can you see it from?

 

[GGOOFY1]

I hope it will get delayed to after the 15th. We saw a launch once from Orlando, I was looking forward to heading to the coast this time to watch.

 

[WEDWDW]

I heard on the news this morning that the launch window for July 13 is only 10 minutes long.Is that unusual to have a window that short?If they cannot launch on July 13,do they automatically try again on July 14 or are there only certain days within the July 13-31 window they can use?Thanks.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Well that depends. It depends on what delayed the launch. It depends on the weather outlook. It depends on schedules (there is also a Delta rocket launch scheduled during that same timeframe). Not an easy answer.

 

[Equidae]

You can see the shuttle and rocket launches from almost anywhere in central Florida, provided there is nothing in your way and it isn't cloudy. From WDW, Kennedy Space Center is east, south east (not quite due east, but close). If the day is clear and nothing is in your way, you should be able to see a bright orange-y light streaking through the sky for a few seconds. If you are really intereseted in seeing it, get closer to the space center by driving on 417 and then the Bee Line (now renamed the Beach Line). There are signs to tell you where the space center is I think, they have a visitor's complex. I live in Melbourne Fl, the same county as Kennedy Space Center, and am almost directly south of the lauch area. It's quite a sight to see if you get the chance, something you aren't likely to forget, especially if you haven't seen it before.

 

[cleo]

We have a house 3 minutes away from the back side of Disney and we can easily see the bright orange glow mentioned above, plus an enormous white trail of whatever comes out the back of that thing. It's unmistakable, and the trail lasts a while if the wind isn't blowing too much.