DaveInDaytona
Pro
Posts: 1696
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posted January 16, 2003 07:06 AM
OT - NASA's Shuttle Columbia Launch Today
STS-107 is due to lift of @ 10:39 AM today, 1/16. There's has been TONS of talk about around this area it since this is the most secured launch ever because Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon is the first Israeli astronaut to fly on the shuttle.
You can ATTEMPT to get live coverage here http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/KSCDirect/day3.htm but that server gets pretty crowded.
Countdown info http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/sts107/index.htm
Mission Info http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/
If you want to register you can listen to radio traffic from a scanner in the area. Here's the text from that note:
Now broadcasting live, NASA and Combat Air Patrol UHF/VHF comms in support of Shuttle Launch STS-107. Callsigns ARROW ## will be US Airforce fighers flying CAP Cover over the Kennedy Space Center, OAKGROVE will be NORAD. Other callsigns you hear will be other aircraft in support of STS-107. At times you'll NASA ##, this will most likey be the Shuttle Training Aircraft doing approaches to the Shuttle runway (15/33) and doing weather checks. Live comms thru launch time can be found at http://www.MilAirComms.com
The text below is from NASA about the additional restrictions. There is a bunch of things they don't make officially public that are common knowledge. Even with all the nocite there's always at least some fool that gets too close to the airspace. They are quickly shown to the closest spot on the ground.
Hope it's a go. Today I'll have to watch it from the front yard. Goodspeed Columbia !
Dave
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899
AC 321-867-2468
____________________________________
George H. Diller For Release: Jan. 13, 2003
321/867-2468 KSC Release No: 007-03
The launch of Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-107 is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 16. All restricted areas surrounding the Kennedy Space Center will be active and the area covered by flight restrictions has once again been expanded for this launch. The length of time the restrictions will be in effect prior to launch has also been extended.
Due to international terrorist activities, heightened security is essential to protect the Space Shuttle as a national asset. An inadvertent unauthorized incursion into the area of the Cape Canaveral Temporary Flight
Restriction (TFR) could cause a scrub in the launch of Columbia, the activation of airspace defenses and an FAA enforcement action. Local pilots are asked to help NASA by respecting these temporary but necessary restrictions so that the launch can occur on time and without incident.
The expanded area will be activated on Thursday, Jan. 16 beginning at 1:40 a.m. EST and will remain in effect until 5:40 p.m. EST. However, the TFR is expected to lifted earlier once it can be confirmed that Columbia is safely
on orbit and no return to launch site (RTLS) or abort once around (AOA) will be necessary. Should the launch be scrubbed after the astronauts have boarded Space Shuttle Columbia, the restrictions will remain in effect for
three hours after the postponement has been announced. The launch time will be issued 24 hours in advance, but not later than 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
FAA Part 91, Part 125, general aviation and VFR operations are prohibited within a 30 nautical mile radius of Launch Pad 39-A from the surface to but not including 18,000 feet (located on the Melbourne VOR/DME 004-degree radial at 30 nautical miles). Among the general aviation airports affected within this area are Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville, Arthur Dunn Airpark in Titusville, Merritt Island Airport in Merritt Island, Rockledge Airpark in Rockledge and Massey Ranch in Edgewater.
Within an airspace radius between 30 and 40 nautical miles of Pad 39-A, a discrete transponder code must be obtained and clearance granted from air traffic control before entering this airspace. Continuous radio communications must be maintained.
Before flight, pilots should contact the FAA Flight Service Station at 1-800/WxBrief (1-800/992-7433) for details of the restrictions contained in the NOTAMS. In flight, outside Orlando Class B airspace, pilots should
contact Daytona Beach Approach control on 134.95. In the Melbourne area contact Daytona Approach on 132.65, or in the New Smyrna Beach area on 125.35. Flight Service can also be reached locally by radio on the Titusville RCO at 123.6 or the Melbourne RCO on 122.6.
Among the airports affected within the 30-40 nautical mile radius in which flight is permitted but under positive air traffic control are Orlando International Airport, Orlando Executive Airport, Orlando-Sanford International Airport, the New Smyrna Beach and Spruce Creek airports,
Melbourne International Airport and Valkaria.
The necessity for and scope of these increased restrictions is reviewed prior to each launch.
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DaytonaSportbikes Forum
   
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DaveInDaytona
Pro
Posts: 1696
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posted January 16, 2003 08:08 AM
View from inside the garage
And a view from the driveway.
I'm about 68 miles from the launch pad, still a good view. Note the clear sunny blue skies and the 61 degrees at 11 AM.
Back to work now....
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DaytonaSportbikes Forum
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kawachan
Pro
Posts: 1031
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posted January 16, 2003 08:25 AM
Hey Dave, I have almost the same posters you have in your shop right behind me here at work!! Just got the "Oh my God" one last week from a dealer half hour from me. I've asked about it four or five times and this time he told me "if you take it down, you can HAVE it!" BONUS
Nice view from your house, BTW....
And, it's cold as a mo fo here right now. Dang wind is blowing about 25 miles an hour, too!!
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RED NINJAS RULE!!
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Hells Dark Lord
Needs a life
living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted January 16, 2003 09:07 AM
those pictures rock Dave, I woul dlove to see that thing take off one time......talk about HORSEPOWER>>>>>dammmm
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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kcadby
Pro
Posts: 1733
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posted January 16, 2003 11:20 AM
AWSOME Dave!!!
DOOMASS ME...forgot to go outside...again...
Luv yer location (trees)...
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zxlnt
Needs a job
Kawpuke Extraordinare
Posts: 2853
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posted January 16, 2003 01:13 PM
OMG that is awesome. 1 of these days I am going to take vacation specifically to go see a shuttle launch live.
http://www.broadcast.com/learning_and_education/science/space/nasa/nasa_television/
this is pretty good site to get live video feed from the shuttle..
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted January 17, 2003 05:14 AM
Awesome! Some day I too would like to come to watch a liftoff...
Great pics, thanks!
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Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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backfire
Parking Attendant
Posts: 18
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posted January 17, 2003 02:47 PM
The least you could do is clean the place up. JEEEZ
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DaveInDaytona
Pro
Posts: 1696
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posted January 17, 2003 07:02 PM
quote:
The least you could do is clean the place up. JEEEZ
With some work I may be able to get it as clean as your place.
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DaytonaSportbikes Forum
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worm~hole
Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
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posted January 17, 2003 09:21 PM
...coool!...lets get a group ride to Dave's place to watch a launch...we'll have t-shirts made that say: "I DiD it...I saw STS-108"...get it?...
...Dave, the trees in your outdoor pics look...um...how shall we say....Disney's Pirates of the Carribean-ish  ....how much beer and mosquito repellent are we going to need to bring?
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“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men
stand ready in the night to visit violence on those
who would do us harm.”
-George Orwell
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