Path: utzoo!dptcdc!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!ucsd!ames!skipper!belle
From: belle@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov (Steve Belle)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Shuttle schedule
Summary: DoD shuttle landings closed to the public
Message-ID: <257@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov>
Date: 17 Apr 89 15:49:40 GMT
References: <244@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov> <8156@boulder.Colorado.EDU>
Distribution: usa
Organization: NASA Ames-Dryden FRF, Edwards, CA
Lines: 27

In article <8156@boulder.Colorado.EDU>, tomf@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Tom Fredericks) writes:
> 
> 	How does a DOD mission differ from a non DOD?  As in will we not be 
> 	able to get close or are things more restricted than that?  Would 
> 	it be better to go to a non DOD for a first time?
> 			Thanks
> 					Tom...


  A DoD mission is a mission that is carrying a classified payload and/or 
performing classifed experiments.  NASA does not usually announce the duration
of these missions until after they are launched.  

  The landings (I assume the launches also; I know more about the landings 
than the launches) for these missions are closed to public viewing.  This 
means the public viewing site (on the East shore of the lake bed) at Edwards 
AFB is not available.  If you were familiar with the area around Edwards, you 
could find a spot somewhere off the base and watch the glide; I doubt you would
be able to see the touchdown or rollout. You would have to know where and when
to look, though, or you could miss the whole thing.  At a public landing, there
are thousands of other eyes helping you spot the orbiter.

  Your best bet is to wait for a non DoD mission and go to the public landing 
site.

                                        Steve
                                        belle@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov