My Father-in-law and I bought tickets to Orlando to see the next Space Shuttle lift off. He is an ex-NASA controller (Apollo era) and got us some VIP seats to see the launch.

I just got news that the launch has been delayed due to the discovery of microscopic cracks in the fuel lines of the other shuttles. Apparently they need to check all of the fuel lines on Columbia and get a go ahead before they can continue with the launch.

Bummer.

Thanks for commiserating,
Chris

Call NASA and tell them to suck it up! Let them know that they are fucking up your schedule. [:D]

Kpel,

You are absolutely right. Safety is (or should be) the absolute most important concern. I'm just a little bummed since watching a launch is one of those once in a lifetime experiences.

That and I now have a $400 non-refundable ticket to Orlando that I am not using. [:(!]

Cheers,
Chris

What we really need is an orbital vehicle that was not designed by Rube Goldberg.  The current shuttle implementation should have been retired after its initial test flights.

Too bad dude. That is very very high on the list of Cool things I have seen. Its loud, but you can more "feel" it than hear it.


aviator  [img]www.milpubs.com/aviator.gif[/img]

Why not just take a trip to Orlando and go to Epcot/Disney World, or the other theme parks in that area? Or you can give it away to somebody. I saw a Thor/Delta 4 launch at the Cape a few years back at nite. The whole rocket exploded in what looked like a huge fireworks explosion.

I worked at Kennedy Space Center for 5 years and can vouch that seeing a launch in person and up close is VERY cool.  On the bright side, during this time of year most launches are delayed multiple times due to the weather. You could have spend days of your vacation driving the 2 hours in traffic back and forth each day 4 hours before a launch only to have them scrub the launch at t-30 seconds.  If you get a chance go to the visitor's center and see the I-max movies.

It's up to my Father-in-Law whether or not we go anyway. He still has friends working there, so we would be able to get a "special" tour. Maybe see the mouse. It would still be fun.

I can probably get the tickets changed... For a fee... But we don't know what the plan is yet.

I was lucky and got to see one a few years back.  We watched it from the parking lot next to the vehicle assembly building. The old timers told me the Appolo / Saturn lauches were even louder...

I concur with [b]singleshot[/b].

If you cannot refund the tickets, why not go anyway?  The Kennedy Space Center is pretty fascinating all by itself.  Take one of the tours that tool around the launch pads and VAB.  And the Imax films ... awesome!  I myself could spend an hour or so just wandering around the Rocket Garden.

It's a shame you cannot make the launch.  On a clear day/night I can see the launch from way over here on the west coast in Pinellas.

As for the tickets, IIRC they are good for that specific mission.  So if you have tickets for STS-107 or STS-112 for example, they should be good on whatever launch date they do come up with.  Obviously if they pick a date in which you cannot make it then it's a no-go.

Finally, if you ultimately cannot use the tickets, see if they are transferable.  Perhaps you have friends or family in the area that could use them.  I saw a night launch once with a VIP car pass and I cannot recall if it had anyone's name on it or not.  Of course, those were pre-terror days when they wouldn't have been too concerned anyways.

LL

If you ever can get a chance to see a shuttle launch, I say jump on it!.  Years ago, my brother got a pass to see the launch of STS-3.  We made a road trip out of it.  My brother Greg, our buddy Raymond, and 3 girls jumped in Ray's van  and headed down to Florida.  What a sight!!!  The whole place shook, and talk about Loud!!

  Vulcan94

Good luck but I doubt it.  I have a SECERT clearance for PAFB and I have to fill out numerous forms and set up an appointment in advance to get a badge to get into KSC/CCAFS. Even after I get the badge, I still have to supply security with a form indicating where & when I'll be going.  Even with all that, to get some places you MUST have an escort, usually by an armed guard.  They have really tightened security after September, 11th 2001. That and the fact that there is a nuclear weapon storage facility/sub pen there as well! [:O]

I do hope you get to go though. To see a shuttle launch up close is beyond words!  I'm not sure when exactly your tickets are for but there are some non-shuttle launches coming up soon...the next is July, 1st, something like 2:45am.

[b][red][i]Libertas an Mortis!![/b][/red][/i]

With most airlines even a "nonrefundable" ticket can be used another time.  Check with the airline but usually you can hold onto it and use it later, for a small fee, of course.  There is usually a time limit by which the tickets must be used so check with the airline.  Sometimes you can only apply the cost to a different ticket which may be higher.  That's better than throwing it away, though.  You can probably cancel any other reservations.