Watch a space shuttle launch

OK, I’m putting this on my list, with the expectation that I will have to give it up. I can’t wait any longer for a voice from heaven to tell me if I should do this or not.

If I go to see the Space Shuttle launch scheduled for the 4th of February 2010, I will be able to run a marathon of a half with TraumaJunkie and friends, see some other friends and acquaintances, and attend Pittcon 2010 (a huge conference and exhibition) in Orlando.

It’s going to cost a mint of money just to get there, but I can just about afford it from my travel fund. Fortunately I have a valid visa, so that won’t be a hurdle.

Finding low-cost or free accommodation (and perhaps travel) is an imperative for this journey. I will have to stay in Florida for a month if I wanted to do both the Shuttle launch and Pittcon.

I find it hard to justify the time away from my PhD, given the delays I’ve had this year, but then it’s a question of now or never, because the shuttle is being retired.

The Atlantis, Discovery, and Endeavour are all scheduled to have their last flight in 2010. Since I haven’t had the chance to see a space shuttle launch just yet, I’m looking forward to seeing at least one of those launches next year.

So far I’m planning to see the Endeavour launch which is set for July 29, 2010, depending on how my schedule works out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-134

A friend gave me a free ticket to Florida (I live in CA), so it looks like I’m going! I should be around for the Delta II on the 17th, and the shuttle on the 25th. I’m still figuring out how on earth I’ll be getting to the coast, and what to do with my free time, so I’m pretty open to ideas here.

Time is running out to see a space shuttle launch and I am serious about getting a ticket to Orlando to see a shuttle launch before there are no more. It would take some coordination and I really wish I could take my kids too, but I’m willing to do it by myself if I have to. If the November launch gets delayed, maybe I could go with my fiancee during her vacation. I’ll be watching the launch updates and deciding when the best chance is to go.

The launches are so unpredictable because of delays, so I might commit to going and still miss the launch. Wish me luck on this one.

You can look up the launches online.

There’s a launch in 3 hours, at 2:22am California time:
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d338/status.html

Delta II rockets are 40 meters high, and the launch at Vandenberg AFB should be visible from the SF Bay Area, as indicated by the attached visibility map image.

i have to take this one off the list. i tried to see the launch in autumn while being on holiday, but it was moved back a month so i couldn´t. and since i won´t be able to travel to florida in spring when the very last shuttle launch happens, i won´t be able to reach this goal. yes, there are more important things, but it does make me sad.

I was actually in Orlando for a convention. We were coming back from the store and saw a group of people out staring into the sky. We were wondering what was going on, and then before we knew it… Up in the sky we saw the shuttle launch under a full moon! I snapped a picture :) I still would like to see the launch closer, but it still was amazing to see the launch!

This is a goal I’ve wanted to do since childhood. I think space is fascinating and the fact that we’re at a point were we can regularly travel though it, astonishes me. I think the space shuttle is an awesome vehicle, but I know I’ll have to get on the ball if I want to see this before they phase them out.

With the program coming to an end in two years, who knows what type of launch the next program will bring, it’d be cool to see the traditional type of launch.