Need space shuttle launch advice-UPDATE 3/11-POST 27-PAGE 2

[BPCooper]

The official launch weather forecast was issued today and is calling for excellent conditions with greater than 90% chance of acceptable weather. The countdown begins Saturday morning and all is on scheduled for liftoff at 2:28:12am EDT Tuesday morning.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts123/080307status/

 

[dgaston]

Jean: I really hope this works out for you. One of my husband's life goals is to experience a shuttle launch and so far we're 0 for two tries. We are actually heading to Cocoa for Memorial Day weekend. I know the launch may be moved, but at least it'll be a nice beach weekend. After that, I'm timing our F & W visit for October 16, and then there's Dec 4 for the shuttle tentatively scheduled then. This is getting a little nuts!

I will keep my eyes open to see if you get to see the launch.

 

[jekjones1558]

Thanks for the good wishes, Debbie!
Right now things are not looking good for me to see it. My girlfriend is having some medical issues that would not make it advisable for her to do an all-nighter. There is an outside chance I could still go but it would be alone and I wouldn't feel right about leaving my girlfriend by herself back at BWV. I DO have a trip planned for Oct. 11- 18, so might be able to do the October launch, but that trip is not certain yet.
Ben has been wonderful about PMing me with advice, and the link in his posts has great info.
Anyway, if I don't make it I hope that another DISer may. Still dreaming...

 

[Eeyore77]

I will be there for the shuttle launch as well. I will be covering it for one of the local West Palm TV stations. We will be pulling an all nighter in the media compound which is the closest place that you can be to the shuttle. I have seen two day launches, but I am really looking forward to seeing one at night.

 

[jekjones1558]

Wow, Eeyore. I am totally green with jealousy. I guess that you can consider it a job perk. Enjoy!

 

[gmboy95]

Unless you can get the maximum access (bridge pass)....you are better of going to Magic Kingdom, and when the shuttle is supposed to launch, take a lighter out of your pocket hold it in front of your face and slowly raise your arm. While doing this make the sound of a rocket, and you will have the same effect....then head to space mountain!!

 

[jekjones1558]

Just wanted to update for those of you who were so kind to help:
I did not make it to the launch. (My girlfriend is actually waiting for a call from her doctor now. She is such a trooper.) I got up at 2:00 a.m. and pulled up NASA t.v. on my computer. I waited on my BW view balcony and looked in the direction of Epcot, which is where I saw the shuttle at night in Dec. '06. But I didn't see it! The sky did seem to have a glow, but no shuttle. I don't know if I should have been standing somewhere else (probably) or if clouds were in the way. Oh well, I still have an outside chance for the October launch. And I guess that it's good to have some dreams. Thanks again, everyone, for your help. I will file away the advice for the future. I am going to watch the DIS boards to see if someone else was lucky. Hope so!

 

[gmboy95]

Just wanted to update for those of you who were so kind to help:
I did not make it to the launch. (My girlfriend is actually waiting for a call from her doctor now. She is such a trooper.) I got up at 2:00 a.m. and pulled up NASA t.v. on my computer. I waited on my BW view balcony and looked in the direction of Epcot, which is where I saw the shuttle at night in Dec. '06. But I didn't see it! The sky did seem to have a glow, but no shuttle. I don't know if I should have been standing somewhere else (probably) or if clouds were in the way. Oh well, I still have an outside chance for the October launch. And I guess that it's good to have some dreams. Thanks again, everyone, for your help. I will file away the advice for the future. I am going to watch the DIS boards to see if someone else was lucky. Hope so!

ya see I'm telling you the lighter thing really works.....you just have to make your own rocket sounds

 

[Muushka]

I'm sorry that you didn't get to see that night launch up close and personal. That is my dream also. I have a friend who is at USF right now and she booked some sort of package (not thru Universal though) that comes and picks you up at the hotel and takes you to the up-close area to view the launch. And then takes you back to the hotel. I am going to get more information from her when she returns (price, for one!).

I hope your girl friend is feeling better. No fun being sick on vacation.

I saw that same Dec '06 night launch that you saw! We were visiting in Jupiter, FL for a surprise pre-cruise birthday party for my husband. Someone just happened to mention that there would be a night launch in 5 minutes and my husband and I were out the door! He knew just where to look (we were from that area) and sure enough, great ball with tail of fire! I have seen a few from there, but would really want to experience it up close. I don't just want to see it, I want to feel the rumble and hear the roar!!!

 

[jekjones1558]

Muushka,
I would love info on the package, if you wouldn't mind sharing. I hope to be at BWV for the Oct. launch. I have a room already reserved, but a lot can change between now and then. If I am able to go, I would likely be alone, so not having to orchestrate the whole thing on my own would be grand.
I am hoping that other DISers staying at WDW now post their launch view experiences from last night.
DGF seems to be doing better today. She has an auto-immune disease that can be pretty good one day and terrible the next. I am learning so much from her about rolling with the punches and appreciating whatever happy times come your way. She is such a blessing in my life and that certainly takes away the disappointment about the launch!

 

[floridafam]

Dh stayed up until launch time. The shuttle takes off right in line with our front door. He didn't see a thing due to the cloud cover. He had the video camera ready to go, too.

I love the night lanuches. They are just amazing.

I hope your friend is feeling better soon.

 

[Muushka]

When in October is the launch? We will be there in the beginning, it would be great to be able to see it.

I certainly will share that info with you when she returns. You sound like a great person with a wonderful attitude.

 

[dgaston]

This is the NASA site I use http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html
Right now the + sign means "targeted for" so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for May 25 and then Oct 16. So far we have not been lucky.

 

[Muushka]

Thanks Debbie. Sadly, we'll be gone by then.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I hope your friend is feeling better. Too bad you didn't see more from your balcony than you did.

Bobbi

 

[jekjones1558]

Hi, Bobbi,
DGF is better today thanks to some pretty powerful drugs. We are just heading out for Fantasmic, which we both love.
What's the latest on garage door wars? Is Helen home and doing well?

 

[Muushka]

Sorry I took so long to get back to you about the information for transportation to the launches. My friend returned and did see the launch. Sadly, the clouds were low, so it was not as spectacular as it could have been.

She did not remember the name of the company they used, but she told me her husband went to the NASA website and booked it from a company listed on it. Sorry I could not give you any more info (like cost for example!).

I hope it works out for you next time.

 

[jekjones1558]

Thanks, Muushka. I did check on the NASA website and the tour would be perfect for me. I would love to have DH along, but it is probably not going to be possible for him to go. I am still holding out hope. Of course there is no guarantee that the launch won't be moved to a date outside my vacation dates, but I am keeping my fingers crossed!