Shuttle Launch Tickets Update....

[Tinseltown Trauma]

Just a bit of 'fyi'--revisiting this topic from a few weeks ago on this forum.....Below, a copy of my post on another thread/forum this evening:

A dvc friend of mine on the board forwarded this thread to me (since I never go to the dvc forums), as I’ve been in quite a quandary about the upcoming shuttle event. Well, happy to say, I got an optimum solution! Here’s what I learned from a rep in KSC’s sales dept, as of this a.m., which may answer many of your questions:

* It appears BobH bought Admission (aka "Maximum Access") + Launch Transpo tickets (this was also offered with ‘Dining With An Astronaut’ options). All of the packages that involve Launch Transpo are sold out (yesterday). There are, however, still tickets remaining for options that, from what I understand, were never offered in the past: Admission + Launch Viewing from the KSC compound (i.e., there is no transport to a viewing site), and the same + ‘Dining With an Astronaut’. These tickets are $37 (this is the normal cost of the regular general admission Maximum Access ticket) and $57 respectively. Earlier the online link showed the remaining quantity KSC had to sell, but it appears this info has been “deleted” from the site, nonetheless it is not indicating “sold out.”

* Tax and shipping will be added to your order. The shipping and the fee for it is mandatory. For security reasons, tracking purposes and to avoid a mad crush of “will call,” they will ONLY ship tickets for ANY of the aforementioned options.

* The poster who said you can buy these through the day of launch is incorrect. Aside from the fact that they will undoubtedly sell out in the next 6 weeks, they will only ‘ship to’ and everyone seeking to park must display a placard for admittance to the lot (that is sent along with your tickets).

* For anyone with a package including Transpo, there are very strict caveats relating to what constitutes “used” vs. “not used,” and because of the unpredictable nature of space launch schedules, this is clearly a “buyer beware” scenario, especially for a visitor with limited time in the area, or for anyone expressly planning a trip around this launch. Bottom line, there will be no refunds.

* If the launch is re-set "with prior knowledge," all attendees will have the option of waiting for that re-scheduled date, or to go ahead and use the Admission (Max Acs) on the original date, or either one day before it or one day after it.

* In addition, if all systems are go for the original date, but the bus tour portion of the KSC experience (that includes the Apollo Center, the Observation tower) is not operational on the day of the launch (this is still not decided, but they expect to have some prior knowledge), you can go one day earlier or one day later to get this feature in.

* Thumbnail analysis is that KSC Site Viewers do not have the possibility of losing any $ (as their tickets are the same cost as if they were paying general admission) and they are not subject to any “use” vs. “non-use” factors as are the Transpo Viewers.

* Traffic will indeed be terrible (based upon the rep’s description, it sounds like everyday rushhour in L.A.). All Transpo Viewers must plan for this as there are strict parameters for check-in for the bus transport (e.g., check-in time, plus the transfer occurs at least 3 hours prior to launch time, etc.). Arrival time/time to enjoy the attractions prior to the launch is not as essential for KSC Site Viewers.

* The launch is currently scheduled for 3:50 p.m. Govt. (I think it was the Commission's recomm.) has mandated that this launch occur only during daylight hours.

* For those who continually project that the 5/15 date is unlikely, the spin is not relevant, this is not like “before.” 5/15 is the specific date NASA is targeting. Targeting. In other words, this is not just a launch window (nor is KSC selling to a window). It is the date, unless something substantive occurs to delay. I don’t think anyone here is stupid enough to believe that NASA would allow any undue jeopardy, especially on this mission. On the other hand, they’ve made it very clear as to why this target date continues to prevail.


I bought my ticket and that’s all I know!

TT

 

[cruiseonmagic]

* For those who continually project that the 5/15 date is unlikely, the spin is not relevant, this is not like “before.” 5/15 is the specific date NASA is targeting. Targeting. In other words, this is not just a launch window (nor is KSC selling to a window). It is the date, unless something substantive occurs to delay. I don’t think anyone here is stupid enough to believe that NASA would allow any undue jeopardy, especially on this mission. On the other hand, they’ve made it very clear as to why this target date continues to prevail.

TT

FYI--Actually this is "just a launch window", and it is like "before". The 5/15 date is the beginning of a "launch window" for this mission. The opening of a "launch window" for anylaunch is always the targeted date or time for that launch--it doesn't matter if it's a satellite from Cape Canaveral AF Station, or shuttle from KSC. A launch window is a set of times that a rocket or shuttle can launch, meet its goals and stay within safety guidelines. This window has already been changed. It was orginally 5/12 and was moved to 5/15.

 

[ibleedblue]

I was lucky enough to view a launch in March of 2001. This particular one was launched around 6:00 am and KSC was recommending we arrive 4 hours early. We were staying at ASMo, and that's about an hour drive to KSC. We left at 1:30am heading that way and found traffic to be very reasonable. Where things got bad was once inside KSC waiting on the bus to take us to the viewing site. The wait was like Test Track on a bad, bad day. We arrived at KSC 3 hours and 45 minutes before launch and finally made it to the viewing area area with about 45 minutes to spare. I wondered about the thousands of people who were in line behind us and if they ever made it.

Very low quality pics are here if interested.

 

[subhuman31]

I was lucky enough to view a launch in March of 2001. This particular one was launched around 6:00 am and KSC was recommending we arrive 4 hours early. We were staying at ASMo, and that's about an hour drive to KSC. We left at 1:30am heading that way and found traffic to be very reasonable. Where things got bad was once inside KSC waiting on the bus to take us to the viewing site. The wait was like Test Track on a bad, bad day. We arrived at KSC 3 hours and 45 minutes before launch and finally made it to the viewing area area with about 45 minutes to spare. I wondered about the thousands of people who were in line behind us and if they ever made it.

Very low quality pics are here if interested.

They are some really cool pics. Thanks for sharing.

Jeff

 

[Worfthedog]

Cruiseonmagic is right we were hoping to see the launch on the 12th of May until they changed the window a few weeks ago to begin on the 15th (We leave Florida on the 13th).

There is however a good chance of the launch being on the 15th though (I also had the email offering me tickets for the 15th a few days ago).

I viewed a launch a few years ago-excellent, but also went on a lauch day and it was cancelled a year earlier.

We will be there on the 4th of May for the Delta 4 Rocket Launch (if it goes to plan).

Paul.

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

Just read that there may be a delay.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2005-04-06-shuttle-foam-crack_x.htm

 

[dcibrando]

yep... may be a delay now

from Yahoo.com

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The rollout of space shuttle Discovery to the launch pad was put on hold Wednesday after a crack was discovered in the foam insulation on the external fuel tank. But NASA later said the crack was no reason for concern.

The flaw was discovered as the spacecraft was being readied for the first shuttle launch since Columbia fell to pieces two years ago — a disaster blamed on a chunk of foam that fell off the tank during liftoff and gashed one of the wings.


NASA spokeswoman Jessica Rye described the flaw as a hairline crack and said that after sending images of it to the tank's manufacturer in Louisiana, the space agency concluded it did not need to make any repairs.


She said NASA would press ahead with the move from the assembly building to the launch pad, after a delay of at least two hours.


Because of Columbia's disintegration over Texas in 2003 — and the deaths of all seven astronauts aboard — the tank has been extensively redesigned for Discovery's flight.


"It doesn't sound like it's a major issue, but because the foam is a sensitive issue we want to make sure we're in a safe and right configuration," Rye said earlier Wednesday, when the crack was discovered.


A delay in the moving of Discovery to the launch pad could upset NASA's plans for a mid-May liftoff. The launch window runs from mid-May to June — a period dictated by the position of the international space station, the shuttle's destination.