July 29, 2010, Space Shuttle Endeavor

[keishashadow]

we're giving it one last attempt at seeing a space shuttle for the July, 29th approx 7:51 am launch

STS-134, last flight of Endeavour

DH & I are sneaking down by ourselves for 2 or 3 night get-away.

I didn't want to drive over due to traffic concerns in the am from Orlando, so we're planning on visiting WDW on the 28th & driving to hotel late that night.

Wanted to give a head's up that I could only find two hotels left with ANY availability, choices are Clarion (2 night minimum) & Super 8 by I-95

We booked the Clarion (near Kennedy Park viewing area), appears to be closer to launch pad 39-A than the kennedy sites via map. Manager told me they set up a viewing area, with BBQ, breakfast, lots of old skool hoopla

http://www.spacecoastlaunches.com/?...t final countdown page&utm_campaign=travelzoo

http://www.titusville.com/Files/City Map Shuttle Viewing.pdf

Hoping it goes off as planned on 7/29 & we can head back to WDW, if not we'll have another chance the next am...i hope

Anybody else planning on viewing?

 

[sjanus]

Hi neighbor, we're from Greensburg, Pa. We did watch the shuttle launch in November 2008 from the Clarion--excellent view!!! We plan on being down there when the May 14th one goes off (if it does) and will drive over to the Clarion and watch it there again. Hope it goes off and you have a wonderful get-a-way!

Sandy

 

[keishashadow]

hey there Sandy, good luck! Only time i get to Greensburg is when im driving out to idlewild

we'd try driving over to Clarion (despite the early lift off) but the drive time i read of 6+ hours from WDW is too much for me to deal with...did u have this problem before when u watched shuttle launch?

supposedly the hotel charges people $20 to park in their lot & free breakfast, sure would beat the price im paying Do you remember how early you had to arrive to get a spot?

 

[sjanus]

hey there Sandy, good luck! Only time i get to Greensburg is when im driving out to idlewild

we'd try driving over to Clarion (despite the early lift off) but the drive time i read of 6+ hours from WDW is too much for me to deal with...did u have this problem before when u watched shuttle launch?

supposedly the hotel charges people $20 to park in their lot & free breakfast, sure would beat the price im paying Do you remember how early you had to arrive to get a spot?

Have to love Idlewild Park, only second to Kennywood though (now owned by them)!

We left about 3-1/2 hours ahead of time from Vista Cay near the Convention Center, and we got there so early, we just parked on the side of the road for free, but this was November 2008 and Shuttle Launches are seemingly more popular now since there are only so many left. We walked down to McDonald's and ate dinner, as it was the only place that was still available but waited in huge lines to eat and go to the bathroom!!! This was a night time launch.

May if all goes off okay, we'll take a lunch, launch scheduled I think around 2:00 p.m. The second time we were going to watch the launch, we looked into staying at the Clarion but they wanted the two nights and the hotel itself wasn't real impressive when we were there, but never stayed.

The second launch, last June we were going to watch, we booked a room at Cocoa Beach past the pier and we were going to walk toward Cape Canaveral about 3 miles up the beach as far as we could get in the morning. We did get up at 6:00 a.m. and got ready but soon to find out it was cancelled, so didn't get to see that one, but enjoyed the beach anyway the day previously. Also, saw the sunrise over the beach, which was great.

I'd probably leave well ahead of time and take lots of snacks and things. Wow, though, 6 hours is a lot...I'll have to think about what time to leave, as we'll be going from Windsor Hills in May and due to this increase in demand! I was thinking 3-4 hours ahead, but may have to leave earlier.

Sandy

 

[keishashadow]

May if all goes off okay, we'll take a lunch, launch scheduled I think around 2:00 p.m. The second time we were going to watch the launch, we looked into staying at the Clarion but they wanted the two nights and the hotel itself wasn't real impressive when we were there, but never stayed.


I'd probably leave well ahead of time and take lots of snacks and things. Wow, though, 6 hours is a lot...I'll have to think about what time to leave, as we'll be going from Windsor Hills in May and due to this increase in demand! I was thinking 3-4 hours ahead, but may have to leave earlier.

Sandy

hotel is def about the location not the amenities, im just hoping it's clean & bug free. Only 2 hotels i could find on the river & the 2nd (riverside inn) was described on tripadvisor along lines of worst hotel out of hundreds in 9 different countries from reviewer, complete w/gross pics...ew

im thinking u r more 'on' with thinking 3 - 4 hrs, let me know

i did dig on mapquest & found 2 alternate routes mostly non highway that seem feasible option.

 

[sjanus]

hotel is def about the location not the amenities, im just hoping it's clean & bug free. Only 2 hotels i could find on the river & the 2nd (riverside inn) was described on tripadvisor along lines of worst hotel out of hundreds in 9 different countries from reviewer, complete w/gross pics...ew

im thinking u r more 'on' with thinking 3 - 4 hrs, let me know

i did dig on mapquest & found 2 alternate routes mostly non highway that seem feasible option.

Yes, the hotel definitely looked clean, just didn't want to pay the 2 night thing at the time. I know, I looked at some of those same hotels, and when we were walking, it wasn't the nicest of areas, as we took a back street, yikes! I could stay there no problems if it warranted.

I will let you know if we are the fortunate ones to see it again; we have af few days, til the 19th til we head for Clearwater, if it would get delayed. Launch is around 2:00, we were going to leave WH around 10:00--didn't want to leave too early as we are going to Epcot day before and will be staying til close. Can't wait to see the flower show, as never have been there during this!

I'll have to check into the $20 parking and breakfast thing there. Do you have any information?

Also, I will let you know about the highway traffic.

Sandy

 

[keishashadow]

i've never seen the flower show, on the list

the mgr of the clarion mentioned they would offer both a BBQ (hotdogs/hamburgers) & breakfast 'in the parking lot' for the July launch.

Reviews on tripadvisor for the hotel go into detail as to how many (recently) paid the $20 (per vehicle) to park & were able to eat also.
Several of the hotel reviewers seemed annoyed as to the fact that 'outsiders' were permitted to park in the lotcan't see how it'd be an issue as they only have X number of spaces in the 1st place...some people r never happy kwim? Not sure if it's on a 1st-come basis or not, might want to call the hotel direct (321-269-2121)

anyway, good luck, please try to remember to let me know how it went for you.

 

[sjanus]

i've never seen the flower show, on the list

the mgr of the clarion mentioned they would offer both a BBQ (hotdogs/hamburgers) & breakfast 'in the parking lot' for the July launch.

Reviews on tripadvisor for the hotel go into detail as to how many (recently) paid the $20 (per vehicle) to park & were able to eat also.
Several of the hotel reviewers seemed annoyed as to the fact that 'outsiders' were permitted to park in the lotcan't see how it'd be an issue as they only have X number of spaces in the 1st place...some people r never happy kwim? Not sure if it's on a 1st-come basis or not, might want to call the hotel direct (321-269-2121)

anyway, good luck, please try to remember to let me know how it went for you.

Thanks for the information. We'll probably just drive out and park as we did last time on the side of the road and walk down; as I recall there was other paid parking spots all along the roadway people were selling. One thing about parking in the Clarion there, might be difficult to get out after the launch, so closer to the road the better to make a get-a-way before the crowds!

I'll be sure to let you know how we fare.

Sandy

 

[keishashadow]

head's up, read in local newspaper there is problems w/magnetsfor July shuttle, will likely be delayed & the Sept one as well



not changed on NASA site yet, just thought i'd post

forgetaboutit i think im just going to vegas

 

[safetymom]

It takes about 1hr. 15 mins. to get to Kennedy Space Center from Orlando. It is coming back that takes a long time with all the traffic.

 

[saradela]

here it goes:

http://www.spectroscopynow.com/coi/cda/detail.cda?id=23287&type=News&chId=4&page=1

 

[keishashadow]

here it goes:

http://www.spectroscopynow.com/coi/cda/detail.cda?id=23287&type=News&chId=4&page=1

let me cry wit' ya

i see the article u posted is dated 3/12...1st i heard of it was in paper few days ago

also noticed they say it's not official but

Still, the AMS team doesn't have a lot of time. The experiment must arrive at Kennedy Space Center before June 1 to make a July launch.


im still going to hold out a glimmer until it's changed on NASA site.

 

[dis-happy]

let me cry wit' ya

i see the article u posted is dated 3/12...1st i heard of it was in paper few days ago

also noticed they say it's not official but

Still, the AMS team doesn't have a lot of time. The experiment must arrive at Kennedy Space Center before June 1 to make a July launch.


im still going to hold out a glimmer until it's changed on NASA site.

I hope it works out for you, one way or another.

 

[saradela]

still Hope!

 

[sjanus]

I'm hoping for you, too!

Sandy

 

[Syndrome]

Dang, we were planning on that too. The date just happened to work out with our WDW vacation. We were planning on driving to Cocoa beach that morning, watching the launch and then hanging out on the beach for the day.
Oh-well.........was kind of thinking this may happen!
Good luck to those who have made "real" plans to see it!
Syndrome

 

[keishashadow]

We're sitting tight

i do feel bad for all those in the NASA program that r losing their jobs, at least they'll get to work abit long with this delay.

 

[myDISboards]

head's up, read in local newspaper there is problems w/magnetsfor July shuttle, will likely be delayed & the Sept one as well



not changed on NASA site yet, just thought i'd post

forgetaboutit i think im just going to vegas

here it goes:

http://www.spectroscopynow.com/coi/cda/detail.cda?id=23287&type=News&chId=4&page=1

let me cry wit' ya

i see the article u posted is dated 3/12...1st i heard of it was in paper few days ago

also noticed they say it's not official but

Still, the AMS team doesn't have a lot of time. The experiment must arrive at Kennedy Space Center before June 1 to make a July launch.


im still going to hold out a glimmer until it's changed on NASA site.

July launch is postponed to November from SpaceFlight Now dot com (story posted April 26, 2010)

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/100426delay/

 

[keishashadow]

poofthanx for posting the article

& to think, new launch date in Nov that's due to slow delivery of magnets is only going to cost, us, the taxpayers an extra...

$600 million in funding to pay for flights through the end of the calendar year if necessary.

perhaps privatizing the program is a good idea afterall

 

[saradela]

July launch is postponed to November from SpaceFlight Now dot com (story posted April 26, 2010)

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/100426delay/

Almost official!!!!!