Space Shuttle launch viewing

[Prydonian]

The Endeavour and its separated fuel tank passed over Ireland about 20 minutes ago. Got to see it from my back garden - very, very spectacular!

Looked like a brilliant white star closely trailed by a brilliant orange-ish star quickly moving west to east. Easily the brightest objects in the sky. Excellent viewing conditions - pity I didn't have my binoculars to hand.

 

[Freman]

Whew. At least this shuttle didn't explode.

 

[T'Girl]

^ ^ ^ ^ Real funny.

Okay, I would have to arrange for vacation, fly from Seattle and my time in Florida would not be endless. But I do want to see a launch while we're still launching shuttles. is there a time of year when the launch is LESS likely to be delayed ?

 

[Saquist]

Not hurricane season....
While tropical activity is roiling in the Atlantic florida will always have some sort of disturbances.

 

[Squiggy]

^ ^ ^ ^ Real funny.

Okay, I would have to arrange for vacation, fly from Seattle and my time in Florida would not be endless. But I do want to see a launch while we're still launching shuttles. is there a time of year when the launch is LESS likely to be delayed ?

November - April, but that's only accounting for weather delays. Mechanical delays can happen at any time.

Thank you for supporting America's space program.

 

[kscvideos]

Cool videos about STS-128


STS-128 Mission Overview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckI2FyBTsZA

Discovery Arrives Back in Florida
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDMBvXeDY6g

 

[AnyStar]

But there's nothing like witnessing a spaceship launch with your own eyes. It's something you'll remember for the rest of your life.

I only saw 1 live shuttle launch, it was many many years ago as a young boy. my uncle managed to get me onto the base with him for the launch (i believe is was the Columbia taking off)

my most vivid memory of the event is not the sight, but the SOUND. even from several miles away you still felt the ground tremble as the SRB's ignited!

 

[Boltz10]

Shuttle Launch

Somewhere I read about a story/post about the force exerted during a launch. Something about standing anywhere within a 1/4 mile would kill you...anything within 1 mile would blow your ear drums. Anyway, it was a very interesting bit of facts. Was hoping someone on this board had also read and remembered where. Or if it was even factual.

Anything like that sound familiar to anyone? Thanks for the help.

 

[Boltz10]

Re: Shuttle Launch

Scratch that post. See 1:40 mark of this video if interested...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5609657318275439484#

 

[kscvideos]

STS-129 Space Shuttle Launch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0ltvXVJ5u4

Great Launch today!
Enjoy in HD

 

[Epsilon-9]

Usually after a launch I go to ISS tracking sightings for time arrivals over Bournemouth.

I can see the ISS flying overhead followed about an hour later by, the space shuttle that only appears as bright white dot in the clear sky. It’s an incredible sight to look at while they travel at 17,000MPH!

Just select country and region and town and you’ll have dates/times etc.

NASA Skywatch Sightings Calculator
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/

 

[Mark de Vries]

Only three more opportunities left to go see a launch. Next one up is STS-132, the last flight of Atlantis.

Launch is scheduled (for now) for May 14, 2:20 EDT (18:20 UTC). Afternoon launch, so it should be well visible from Florida, but I'm not sure how the visibility would be along the eastern seaboard.

Sadly, the ISS won't be very visible from Europe around that time, as far as I can see: only short passes early in the evening.

 

[ares93]

any launches after september 2010? 'cause i'm moving to the states (student exchange program) and it would be one hell of an experience.

 

[Mark de Vries]

You're lucky The last shuttle launch was originally scheduled for September, but then NASA decided to swap the two last flights around. STS-133 is currently pencilled in for 16 September, and STS-134 for November. Launch dates won't be finalised until the two Flight Readiness Reviews, respectively two and one week before launch, but these are at least good indications.

 

[Squiggy]

Sadly, I think it's time to unsticky this thread.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Squiggy is right, although I am a few months late... clearly, I just blow past the sticky threads in every forum. Bye-bye shuttle launch thread. We hardly knew ye.

 

[David cgc]

Well, they do still launch things that are worth viewing. I saw the GRAIL go up a little while ago, that was fun. And considerably easier to get to than the more glamourous shuttle launches were.

Maybe there could be a general rocket-launch venue thread?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I don't know. I'm tempted to really pare down the stickies in this forum, since traffic is so light. I wouldn't be interested in adding another given that people don't even start new threads about them now, unless something bad happens (like a rocket explodes or a launch fails.)