Fail: Witness a Space Shuttle Launch
February 23, 2011 12 Comments
Tomorrow marks the final launch of the Space Shuttle, and I won’t be there to see it.
I can’t say that I didn’t try my damnedest, though. I was in Miami for the last (previous) launch but it was postponed. So, instead of watching the Shuttle launch, I spent a long weekend at Disney and Sea World. I shouldn’t complain since I did have a good time at Disney (the fireworks were absolutely amazing) and the rollercoasters at Sea World were really fun (though I refuse to patronize establishments like Sea World after spending a week in Taiji, Japan to protest the dolphin slaughter. Please watch The Cove if you haven’t. It’s on Netflix streaming.)
The Kennedy Center implemented a lottery program for people to have a chance to buy tickets to watch the launch. I entered the lottery but wasn’t fortunate enough to be chosen. C’est la vie! Of course, now that the launch is tomorrow, I thought maybe, just maybe, I’d try flying down there for the day, but I’m not dropping $800 for a flight to Miami when I can fly to Mexico for half as much.
And so, I admit defeat, but not for a lack of trying.
About Steven
I don’t think you’ve failed quite yet. It’s a little confusing because I also have heard that today’s was the final shuttle launch, but the NASA website says otherwise:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts134/index.html
and
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html
Apparently there are at least two more launches currently scheduled for April 19th and June 28th. My husband and I were also unable to make it to today’s launch, so we may be competing with you for tickets in April. Even if we can’t get tickets, we’ll probably go down there to watch from the “outside.” You can actually see the shuttle’s con-trail from where we live (about 150 miles north of the space center), so we’re hoping to be able to see a dramatic takeoff even if we’re not on the site. Good luck!
Don’t give up just yet! Today’s launch is the last for Discovery, but there are two more shuttle launces scheduled: Endeavor, on April 19, and Atlantis, on June 28. Link: NASA’s Shuttle and Rocket Launch Schedule
Ack! I tried to leave you a long and complicated post explaining how there are actually two more shuttle launches – one in April and one in June – with links to the NASA pages, etc., but somehow my computer seems to have lost the comment before it posted (this happens to me sometimes – it’s one of those great computer mysteries. Ahh…just found the link again:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html
Anyway, you haven’t failed yet! Good luck on completing this goal.
Yeah, the problem is always that they get postponed. I haven’t actually tried for this one but I’m holding out hope that there will some other super-duper way to get to space and I can watch whatever THAT is go up.
Unfortunately, these launchings get postponed all of the time! The shuttles launch about 2 hours from here so it’s not as big of a deal for me if they get rescheduled. I’d be pissed if I flew down from WI specifically to watch a launch and it was scrapped though. There are still a few more launches, so you’re still in luck, if you’re truly serious about this.
Oh, I’m truly serious about this! I’ve signed up to get tickets (again) so hopefully they’ll pick me this time. If not, I might just end up watching it from the Walmart parking lot in Titusville…and come to your house to celebrate! ;)
Hey – I’m glad I signed up for the comments to this post. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known NASA had opened up ticket registration again. So…I’m afraid we are competing with you in the pool now! However, we may just all end up at the Walmart in Titusville together. :-)
It is a pretty good bunch of people here! You’re all the reason why I keep doing what I do! :) I’ve had a lot of help from readers and it’s made all the difference in the world!
So I got my “We are sorry to inform you” email from the Kennedy Space Center today. How about you? Did you have better luck?
I did have better luck and bought two tickets AND will be having breakfast with an astronaut…so that’s kind of cool! Too bad they didn’t send out “sorry” emails earlier, I could have bought up to six tickets…I’d have helped you out if I’d known. You’ve got one more shot! Don’t get discouraged!
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