| How much do these passes cost? I know the NSI launch tours are really
expensive, but there's a lot more to the NSI tour than just a launch
pass. I saw the Spacelab launch last April from the Florida coastline,
but being so far away was a letdown. The next time I witness a launch
I'll be watching from KSC.
Ron Bauer
|
| Subject: Re: VIP Shuttle Passes
Posted: Sun Jul 14 20:54:40 1985
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Xref: tektronix net.columbia:01367
Summary: wrong information!!!
In article <[email protected]> [email protected] (Doug Anderson) writes:
> Subject: VIP Shuttle Passes.
>
> NASA has provided an address to write to to get VIP passes for
> future shuttle launches. These passes allow the holder to take one
> (1) vehicle on to Merritt Island (the place you see all the TV
> footage from during the launches). You can pile as many people in
> the vehicle as you wish.
1. The pass mentioned is not called a VIP pass. I forget it's real
name, but the VIP pass is entirely different and is *OFFERED*, not
requested. The TV footage is from the VIP area, not the pass area.
> The sight is about 1.5 miles from the shuttle launch pad and you get
> GREAT viewing!!
2. The site for the pass mentioned is about 5 miles due south of the
launch pad; I think even the blockhouse (Is that what it is called
these days?) is 3 miles away!
> While I've never requested a pass for a particular launch they seem
> to try to get you one for the next launch available so if your
> comming down to Florida you may just want to try and get a pass.
3. I've been to that location twice; both times on someone else's pass.
They seemed to have waited forever for them.
--
Jeff C. Glover, Tektronix, Inc. PO Box 500, MS Y6-546, Beaverton, OR 97077
{ decvax, allegra, hplabs, ihnp4 } tektronix!tekcbi!jeffg
|
| Subject: Re: VIP Shuttle Passes
Posted: Tue Jul 23 13:52:24 1985
Organization: Burroughs Corp. ASG, San Diego, CA.
>
> > The sight is about 1.5 miles from the shuttle launch pad and you get
> > GREAT viewing!!
>
> 2. The site for the pass mentioned is about 5 miles due south of the
> launch pad; I think even the blockhouse (Is that what it is called
> these days?) is 3 miles away!
The closest you can get to a shuttle launch is about 3 miles. That is
where the building with all the big dark windows next to the VAB is.
If you are so lucky as to be there, i.e. family of crew, employee or
someone very important, you get to stand on the roof of this place
with a great view. The press section is about 500 yards from there and
also has a great view, just about 4 stories lower. Then there
is the Offical Guest area, I think this is the area of which a previous
article spoke. It is about 4.5 miles away, and the ascent of the
shuttle is somewhat blocked by the huge steam cloud produced by the
firing of the mains for 6 seconds before launch.
There is also a large viewing area about 5-6 miles away that is open to
the general public for all launches. This may not be true for DoD launches.
This area is really not all that bad, and they have all sorts of loud
speakers and port-a-toilets to handle any size crowd that might show up.
If I were you, I would make it a point to see one of these lift-offs
from where ever. It is really amazing.
--
..!sdcsvax!bmcg!stanley
Stanley S. Acton
Burroughs Corporation
Advanced Systems Group
(619) 485-4494
|