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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!duke!giles@ucf-cs.UUCP (Bruce Giles)
From: giles@ucf-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Re: CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING TICKETS
Message-ID: <1075@ucf-cs.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 15-Nov-83 21:23:21 EST
Article-I.D.: ucf-cs.1075
Posted: Tue Nov 15 21:23:21 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 22-Nov-83 00:04:24 EST
References: <404@psuvm.UUCP>, <1070@ucf-cs.UUCP>
Organization: University of Central Florida
Lines: 47

I meant to mention this in the other article, but it was missed
somehow:

<1>:    NASA recommends you allow at least 4 months to obtain passes
	to a launch.  Thus, the next launch you could get passes to
	would be in March, if not later.

<2>:	Although no widely known (as far as I know), the SRB/Sound
	Suppression System forms a *LOT* of acid rain.  I have heard
	stories of plants having holes in all of their leaves up to
	1/2 mile away, the gantry being severely corroded, ....

	So -- if you have a pass it would be a good idea to take
	along some protective clothing just in case.  A list
	follows:

	(a):  Windbreaker -- to protect your clothes.
	(b):  Hat -- to protect your head, face.
	(c):  Decongestant/antihistamine -- in case you inhale
	      any of the vapors, they are very irritating.
	(d):  Hankerchief/face mask -- to protect your lungs.
	(e):  Baking soda solution -- to protect the paint on your
	      car in case the cloud is unusually heavy.

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sidenote:
	According to one of my professors, (who was already doing some
	work in air studies at KSC) when the engines ignited for the
	first launch, they made a loud sound.  Big deal.  Except there
	was a large concrete slab under the shuttle.  Hence, almost
	immediately after ignition, **WWHHAAMM**  the shuttle is hit
	by the echo of its engines.  Appearently the only damage was a
	bent rod in the nose of Columbia, but it was (about 2 months
	after the flight) considered the single most dangerous point
	during ascent.  If this was related to the shuttle *walking*
	across the pad (also documented both on film and in pad damage),
	I don't know.  The solution was to dump tons of water between
	the engines and the concrete slab right after ignition, and
	it seems to work.  I think it has something to do with con-
	converting the acoustical energy into mechanical energy by
	splitting the water drops into water mist.
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			    Bruce Giles
			    decvax!ucf-cs!giles (UUCP)
			    UCF, Dept of Math, Orlando Fl 32816 (Snail)