Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ucf-cs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!zehntel!dual!amd70!decwrl!decvax!mcnc!duke!ucf-cs!giles From: giles@ucf-cs.UUCP (Bruce Giles) Newsgroups: net.columbia Subject: Re: Re: Spectator needs help Message-ID: <1346@ucf-cs.UUCP> Date: Sun, 24-Jun-84 21:30:28 EDT Article-I.D.: ucf-cs.1346 Posted: Sun Jun 24 21:30:28 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 28-Jun-84 04:44:21 EDT References: <303@inuxg.UUCP>, <670@ariel.UUCP> Organization: University of Central Florida Lines: 92 Geesh, I don't read news for one week and I was needed... It's too late for everyone coming to watch 41-D, but for future information: (1): Car Passes: Per NASA (last time I asked), allow at least 4 launch notice. That is, if you want to attend the n-th launch on NASA property, request the pass by the n-4 th launch date. (2): Good Sites: Traffic is really starting to thin around here as everyone is getting used to the launches. You can probabily get by arriving at *near* the viewing spots only 1-2 hours in advance (like me tomorrow!). On good site is the north NASA entrance (the one leading to Playalinda National Seashore). Park in a nearby shopping mall, walk 1/4 mile past all the bums sitting in their cars, and camp out near the top of the bridge. You can actually see the launch gantry from the top of the bridge!!!!!!! Of course, it's also nearly due east, so looking into the sun can be a problem. The south entrance also has devoted followers, contact the Titusville CofC for other sites. Personally, I think I may try the north end of the PNS tomorrow. If I do go there, I will be on NASA property ~15 miles north of the pad. BUT, I will be the closest non-NASA person on Merritt Island excepting people on the east side of the above beach. And I won't have to look into the sun. (3): NASA Tours: They offer them daily, EXCEPT FOR THE DAY OF LAUNCHES. Therefore, arrive a few days early (if possible), and you'll get *very* close (or so I hear) to a shuttle on the pad. You can also go to PNS. It seems strange, but I've actually gotten use to seeing a shuttle towering over the beach when I go. (It's not *that* bad, but you do get a pretty good view of the launch complexes from the access roads, and NASA has become *VERY* liberal with its security perimeter near PNS). They also just opened a 5 1/2 story IMAX screen!!!! The ads say they are showing an edited version of *Hail Columbia* -- perhaps they have included shots from the lastest missions ?!?!?! (Review if requested -- I'm going sometime this week). (4): Cheap Lodging: If you want it cheap, DO NOT stay in Orlando (for Ricky Rat & fiends) and drive to Titusville for the launch date. Orlando has *lots* of hotel space, but you pay for it during tourist season. Of course, off season (fall, early spring) it may well be cheaper to stay in Orlando, as the hotels are trying desperately to increase their occupancy, a pressure Titusville hotels do not feel as strongly. (5): Weather et al: Florida + Summer = Rain Rain Rain Rain Rain .... Also, Florida + Summer + Snowbirds = Burn Burn Burn Burn Burn .... So, if you are out for any length of time, bring along an umbrella (wood handle, not metal!) and sunblock (PF 15 if you are from north of the Mason-Dixon line). Seriously -- I used to work at Dismal World (we're all mad at Disney "management" right now...) and an unbelievable number of people got fried because they forgot that the sun is only a few degrees from overhead during the summer. Remember -- Central Florida is at 29.5 degrees north! After all, I, a native of Orlando, generally go to the beach for only 2-3 hours (after months of conditioning) and *still* have a minor sunburn afterwards. (6): Ripley's Section: Believe it or not, KSC is having problems with a PIG POPULATION EXPLOSION!!!. Less than two weeks ago I jogged on a nature trail *directly* across from the landing strip (it was visible when they showed the shuttle landing -- green then road then runway) and encountered a moderate sized pig. After I returned to my car, I met someone else who frequents the trail, and he said they are extremely common. I knew NASA estimated they have ~ 1000 pigs on site, and that they were/are worried about one darting out in front of a landing shuttle, but somehow it didn't seem real until I saw them! If anyone has specific questions, (I may live to regret this) mail them to me. I am pretty sure that we are the closest USENET site to KSC; I think nothing of a trip to it, it's so close. (Literally, I go to PNS in part because it's the closest beach by far. Primarily because it's NATIVE). ave discordia going bump in the night ... bruce giles {decvax, duke}!ucf-cs!giles university of central florida giles.ucf-cs@Rand-Relay orlando, florida 32816