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From: johnl@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us (John R. Levine)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Getting into the press area for shuttle launches?
Message-ID: <1990Sep03.165809.7751@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us>
Date: 3 Sep 90 16:58:09 GMT
References: <3876@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US> <1990Sep2.232143@alazif.enet.dec.com>
Reply-To: johnl@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us (John R. Levine)
Distribution: na
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Lines: 29

I had a car pass for the HST launch, and actually went both the time they
didn't launch it and the time they did.  If you call the info number for the
space center, one of the recordings they have tells you about getting a car
pass, and gives the distinct impression that if you merely write to NASA and
ask for one, you'll get it unless they're all gone.  They even give the
address.  (I haven't tried it, since I got mine from a relative involved with
the HST.)  There must be thousands of passes issued for each launch, since
the causeway is several miles long and they park the cars four deep along it.

If you have a car pass, head for the space center two or three hours ahead,
since the best sites go early.  They won't let you in more than four hours
ahead.  People are parked all along the causeway, you may have to walk 1/2
mile or so to get a good view.  Binoculars are essential, with them you can
see the pad clearly, without them you can't.  Take a sandwich, the food for
sale is minimal.  You don't need a radio, as there are large loudspeakers
with the usual NASA soundtrack.  The bleachers don't have any better a view
than the rest of the causeway, though of course there are more cool people
there.

Helpful tip: There are several entrances to the KSC.  The main one, SR 405
from Titusville, was incredibly clogged with traffic, most of which seemed to
be people who had driven over from Orlando and were surprised to be turned
away at the gate since they had no pass.  The Cape Canaveral entrance from
the south which is not usually open to the public had no traffic, so go that
way.  I don't know how busy the SR3 entrance from the south was.
-- 
John R. Levine, Segue Software, POB 349, Cambridge MA 02238, +1 617 864 9650
johnl@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us, {ima|spdcc|world}!esegue!johnl
Atlantic City gamblers lose $8200 per minute. -NY Times