If You Go: Final Shuttle Launch
Planning to attend the final launch of space shuttle Atlantis on July 8, or just thinking about going?
First of all, we'd like to hear from you — e-mail Patch editor Jason Bartolone so we can talk to you for a possible story or to share your photos with us.
And secondly, here's what you need to know:
Why should I go?
It's a chance to see history. NASA is retiring its space shuttle program, to be replaced with a new space exploration program focused on sending astronauts to deep space and asteroids. STS-135 is the final space shuttle mission.
When is it?
Atlantis is scheduled to blast off at 11:26 a.m. on Friday, July 8 , but the time and date are always subject to change. As NASA likes to remind us, "Launching humans into space is a very complex business," and many different factors can cause a delay or postponement.
Where is it?
The shuttle takes off from Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, north-northwest of Cape Canaveral. That's on the east coast of Florida, just to the east of Orlando. According to Mapquest.com , from Bloomingdale, it's 131 miles, a 2-hour, 21-minute drive.
How do I get there?
Here are detailed directions , but in a nutshell, from the Tampa area you'll take I-4 East toward Orlando, then jump on a few state roads to cut across the state.
Do I need tickets?
Only if you want to watch from the official viewing areas at the Kennedy Space Center visitor complex — and they're sold out. There are a number of tickets for sale on eBay , with some two-ticket packages going for upward of $1,000.
You should note that the official "VIP" area is much closer to the launch than the "causeway" viewing area about six miles away, so tickets being sold as "VIP causeway" may be a bit misleading.
Where can I watch if I don't have a ticket?
There are lots of prime viewing areas that NASA recommends. Here are some:
Jetty Park at Port Canaveral: Located along the Atlantic Ocean just south of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station border. The park is open all day year-round. Visit jettypark.org or call 321-783-7111 for more information.
Along the Indian River on U.S.
Space Shuttle Launch Dates - News
STS-135 is the final space shuttle mission. Atlantis is scheduled to blast off at 11:26 am on Friday, July 8, but the time and date are always subject to change. As NASA likes to remind us, "Launching humans into space is a very complex business," and
The launch will be the last in the 30-year history of the space shuttle programme and a defining moment for America's adventure in space. Nasa says the launch will go ahead on July 8 after potential problems with a main engine valve and a fuel tank
The space shuttle Discovery became the first manned launch on Independence Day when it roared into the heavens July 4, 2006, carrying a seven-member crew. “And liftoff of the space shuttle Discovery,” said NASA launch commentator Bruce Buckingham,
About SpaceX SpaceX is the leading American space transport company, advancing the boundaries of space technology through its Falcon launch vehicles and Dragon spacecraft. Following the retirement of NASA's space shuttle program, the Falcon 9/Dragon
The crew of the final space shuttle mission went into routine medical quarantine late Friday night at the Johnson Space Center in preparation for their scheduled July 8 launch. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) Technically it's called the Health
STS-135 Space Shuttle Launch Date Set
NASA set the Flight Readiness Review for yesterday, June 28. The shuttle team gave a unanimous go for launch on the current targeted launch date of July 8 - That is exactly 9 days from today. To say I am excited is an understatement.
If everything continues as planned, I will be leaving Oklahoma City next Wednesday morning to fly to Tampa to be there for the day of NASA Tweetup events on the 7th and the launch on the 8th. It looks like there will be a couple day window to launch should weather or something else interrupt the shuttle launch as planned July 8th.
A lot of money and time has been invested, and hopefully will turn out to be the experience of a lifetime. I would love nothing better for the launch to go off as planned without any hitches, but expecting there may be launch delays.
I expect I will be streaming the shuttle launch live on the WDT iMap which is available on ChaserTV .com and TornadoVideos.net. Launch is set for 11:26 am EDT (15:26 UTC) on Friday July 8, 2011.
Make sure you subscribe to my Twitter Feed if you have not already done so for updates on my trip starting next Wednesday. I will be keeping that updated more often than my website during the event. I will be bringing my brand new Canon EOS 60D and my Panasonic HDC-HS300 with me to the launch to capture stills and video from my perspective, so look for that shortly after launch either on Friday afternoon or Saturday if the launch goes as planned.
I can't think of a better way to top off an insane tornado season than with a Space Shuttle launch.
Space Shuttle Launch Dates - Bookshelf
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NASA - Shuttle Operations
Provides access to information on the Space Shuttle, including news, missions, astronaut crews, and shuttle processing.
NASA - NASA's Shuttle and Rocket Launch Schedule
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