Author Topic: How to get a Launch Viewing Ticket?  (Read 9373 times)

Pocci

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How to get a Launch Viewing Ticket?
« on: December 09, 2009, 05:36:23 PM »
Hi folks,

does anybody know how to get a launch viewing ticket?

The space center website: www.kennedyspacecenter.com/space-shuttle-launch-viewing-tickets.aspx says: "currently not available".
Of course I could ring their number (and I tried) but to dial internationally into a dial computer that tells me there are too many callers at the moment and drops the line, can cumulate some costs.

The question is, how long in advance can you by these tickets?

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/Armin
Coordinator of 1st multiplayer Launch on 2009-05-30

spaceboy7441

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Re: How to get a Launch Viewing Ticket?
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2009, 06:02:43 PM »
I believe they go on sale 4 weeks ahead of launch. I can't remember. But they announce that they will be going on sale a couple days ahead of time. If you plan on getting the Causeway tickets (Best viewing site) Than you have to type as fast as you can. Tickets sell out with-in 2 min. Here is the viewing thread from 129. I will let you know when there is one for STS-130. Check through it and you will see how it all works.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=19000.0
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bjbeard

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Re: How to get a Launch Viewing Ticket?
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2010, 01:31:39 PM »
Cant find a link to get to the press area next to the clock or how to get on the VIP area list...

Any ideas?

Huron_Serenity

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Re: How to get a Launch Viewing Ticket?
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2010, 03:04:44 PM »
I vaguely remembering hearing that Americans can ask their Congressional Representative or Senator to give them/get them tickets.
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spaceboy7441

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Re: How to get a Launch Viewing Ticket?
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2010, 05:56:44 AM »
Yes that is how I got my STS-129 tickets and already signed up for STS-133
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JLM

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Re: How to get a Launch Viewing Ticket?
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2010, 07:35:05 AM »
I better hurry up and plan to view STS-130, have to find a cheap hotel CLOSE to the launch pads, get it BEFORE anyone else does, buy launch tickets if available. It is only going to get more impossible to do these things as the shuttle gets closer to possible retirement. :(



Steven

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Re: How to get a Launch Viewing Ticket?
« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2010, 01:34:14 PM »
Cant find a link to get to the press area next to the clock or how to get on the VIP area list...

Any ideas?

Unless you are press, you won't get to the press site as far as I know.  You can get to the VIP viewing area (Banana Creek) or the Causeway..  

You can take the Up Close tour to go right past the press area, directly across from the VAB, and be maybe 1.5 miles from the Shuttle stack.  You'll drive around LC-39B if it's close to launch time, if you're lucky, you can get to drive around LC-39A's outside fence perimeter if they haven't loaded the hypergols yet.  It's definitely worth doing.  

Contact your senator or congressman about launch tickets.  You'll really enjoy it.


I better hurry up and plan to view STS-130, have to find a cheap hotel CLOSE to the launch pads, get it BEFORE anyone else does, buy launch tickets if available. It is only going to get more impossible to do these things as the shuttle gets closer to possible retirement. :(

The Clarion Inn (Space Shuttle Clarion Inn) was about 70 bucks a night for a riverside room - walk out the door and you're staring at the SLF, LC-39B, LC-39A and the VAB.  I think we booked a month in advance and it was 69.99 a night or something.  Worth it once we got to see the crew do some STA dives on the SLF for STS-129 ;)
« Last Edit: January 16, 2010, 01:35:56 PM by Steven »
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inthedraft6

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Re: How to get a Launch Viewing Ticket?
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2010, 04:45:26 AM »
Quick question for you guys that know.  The tickets that you can get from the congressman, what viewing site are they for?

spaceboy7441

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Re: How to get a Launch Viewing Ticket?
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2010, 04:48:13 AM »
Causway
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inthedraft6

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Re: How to get a Launch Viewing Ticket?
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2010, 06:51:22 AM »
OK, thanks.  Now the next question is, how do you start a letter like that?  Dear Bob, I didn't vote for you and disagree with pretty much everything you have to say, but would you mind hooking me up?   ;D

Huron_Serenity

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Re: How to get a Launch Viewing Ticket?
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2010, 08:17:15 PM »
If the time it takes for politicians in the Union, more specifically their offices, to respond to correspondence is similar to the time it takes politicians in Canada to do so, I suspect it is too late to write for tickets.

I'd suggest calling their office directly. No need to mention anything about politics. Just say that you're a passionate supporter of about your nation's space program and would like the opportunity to watch the Space Shuttle lift-off in person before the program is over.

Ideally, perhaps you could also ask them to oppose any cuts to NASA and the human spaceflight program while you're on the phone? Since you're playing SSM2007, I suspect that you're against any potential cuts, plus it will further show your passionate support for the space program.

Even if you don't get tickets for this launch, it isn't too early to ask for tickets for the next launch, I suspect.
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