Shuttle Touchdown

[Joel145]

Endeavour just landed. Always a cool experience. I love the sonic booms. I live about 35 miles from the Space center and they rock my house every time.

[XcYZ]

Boom(s)? How many?

[notorious1970]

I was out in Melborne last week and then spent a week in orlando for vaca. We went to the beach right there in the downtown area. Neat area.

[Blown353]

Very cool.

I received a NASA launch invitation for STS-125 (the team I led built a lot of the stuff going up on this particular mission)-- so I get to hang out about 3 miles from the pad in some special VIP area when they light it off.

Being that by popular vote the best "public" offsite launch viewing area is about 12 miles away in Titusville (and by all accounts it's still a great show) being 3 miles away should be awesome.

I just hope the launch isn't pushed back, otherwise I may have to fly home and miss it.

Still looking forward to checking out the visitors center/museum at KSC and all the stuff around the area.

[Joel145]

Originally Posted by XcYZ

Boom(s)? How many?

usually 2 sometimes 3. Here is a vid. although it doesn't do it justice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhBKUFWLU3E

[Joel145]

Originally Posted by Blown353

Very cool.

I received a NASA launch invitation for STS-125 (the team I led built a lot of the stuff going up on this particular mission)-- so I get to hang out about 3 miles from the pad in some special VIP area when they light it off.

Being that by popular vote the best "public" offsite launch viewing area is about 12 miles away in Titusville (and by all accounts it's still a great show) being 3 miles away should be awesome.

I just hope the launch isn't pushed back, otherwise I may have to fly home and miss it.

Still looking forward to checking out the visitors center/museum at KSC and all the stuff around the area.

That's pretty cool. You're never going to experience anything like it. 3 miles is about the closest safe distance you can get to. Good luck with that.

[Spiffav8]

I heard they are going to stop shuttle flights soon. Anyone know if that's true and how many missions are left?

Always wanted to see that thing launched. Better make a trip before it's no more.

[Joel145]

Originally Posted by Spiffav8

I heard they are going to stop shuttle flights soon. Anyone know if that's true and how many missions are left?

Always wanted to see that thing launched. Better make a trip before it's no more.

nothing is ever for sure but the rumor is that the program will either be consolidated or scrubbed in 2010

[Blown353]

Originally Posted by Spiffav8

I heard they are going to stop shuttle flights soon. Anyone know if that's true and how many missions are left?

Always wanted to see that thing launched. Better make a trip before it's no more.

Correct. Once all the "shuttle deliverable only" ISS parts are on-orbit they will be mothballing the shuttles; hopefully the new Orion program is up and running by then.

Right now STS-133 in April 2010 is tentatively the final shuttle mission. STS-123 is the next one to launch, so you only have about 10 more opportunities to see it launch, not including any extra and/or scrubbed missions.

I'm working on parts for Orion too; lets just say as of the last schedule meeting (300+ slides for a schedule, LOL!) things are just a little bit behind schedule.

[XcYZ]

Ok, so there's always 2 sonic booms? Why is that? (and is that a dumb question? )