question about shuttle launches

[BabyRN]

Does anyone know how to find out if a shuttle will still be launched as currently scheduled? I know a lot of factors come into play, such as the weather, but the reason I'm asking is because there is currently one scheduled to launch at 2:52 AM on 12/3 and I'm thinking about driving to watch it during my trip. I would hate to drag the kids out of bed, get all the way to KSC and then find out it was cancelled! Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[Upatnoon]

Does anyone know how to find out if a shuttle will still be launched as currently scheduled? I know a lot of factors come into play, such as the weather, but the reason I'm asking is because there is currently one scheduled to launch at 2:52 AM on 12/3 and I'm thinking about driving to watch it during my trip. I would hate to drag the kids out of bed, get all the way to KSC and then find out it was cancelled! Thanks for any help you can give me!

This very well could be the last-ever launch of a shuttle, but as to when it will happen, there is no guarantee it won't be scrubbed at the last second.

If you want to see it, keep checking, as they are often delayed days or hours before the actual launch date.

If the launch is still go at the time you'd have to get in the car and leave, I'd put the odds about 50-50 you'll see it.

 

[BabyRN]

Do you know how I can check before-hand to see if it's still on or cancelled early? Why might this be the last shuttle launch?

 

[vicki_c]

There are currently 2 more launches scheduled - the upcoming one and one in February.

We just lived through the "cancelled 4 times" week in early November - very painful and stressful.

You can check the KSC Visitor page on their website or on Facebook for all the latest updates. But as stated above, it can easily be scrubbed at the last minute, so it's very difficult to plan for unless you are willing to risk driving over for nothing, driving back, and maybe doing it again the next day. And the next. But if it doesn't go by 12/7, it can't go until 2011.

Also be aware - you need tickets to watch from KSC, so you will have to find a location to watch elsewhere - somewhere in Titusville or Cocoa Beach, etc. And traffic is exceptionally bad before and after.

 

[dis-happy]

For the *most* part, the last minute scrubs (within the last hour or so) are weather related---too much cloud cover or an afternoon storm or whatever. I've sat through a few of those.

The scrubbed mission dates in Nov. were given at least a day's notice, so not as bad as getting all the way there to Titusville for nothing.

FWIW, I highly doubt they will launch this year due to the short window remaining. Seems like too many problems have cropped up with the leaks (now fixed) and cracks and it sounds unlikely everything will be ready to go that soon. JMHO though. If it looks like a go the day before I will be heading down to FL, ever hopeful!

The best way to get up to date info is with a phone that has internet access. I think you can have updates sent to you automatically as well. There's also a place on the NASA website where they give greater information as to what's going on behind the scenes. By reading this we were pretty convinced that the Nov. 30th date was going to be scratched way before NASA updated the launch date on the launch date page.

Good luck! It's soooo worth seeing. I'm an addict.

 

[vicki_c]

Dis-happy - best of luck on getting to see it - we can't make a return trip from what I can tell unless it somehow amazingly gets rescheduled for some day when the kids are off school.

I do have 4 causeway tix from Gator Tours though if you're interested!

 

[dis-happy]

As of yesterday, the new launch window begins Dec. 17th.


http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

As of yesterday, the new launch window begins Dec. 17th.


http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

I can't wait!! If only

 

[ntsammy5]

We're coming home on 12/18 so my guess is that the 12/17 launch has a 100% chance of being scrubbed!