Kestrachern » Space http://kestrachern.net Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:08:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Space View Park http://kestrachern.net/space-view-park/ http://kestrachern.net/space-view-park/#comments Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:44:34 +0000 kestrachern http://kestrachern.net/?p=2418 Space View Park (Google Map, directions) in Titusville, Florida is the premier location for viewing Shuttle and other rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center if you do not have a ticket from NASA for up close and personal launch viewing.

Things to bring:

  • Binoculars
  • Chairs or comfy blankets
  • Food and Drinks (no alcohol permitted)
  • Still camera (ideally with zoom lens)
  • Video camera
  • Friends

Although there is lots of parking in the area your best chance is to arrive at least three hours before launch. Earlier is always better if you want a better spot along the water.  There is also a 24HR CVS pharmacy nearby if you forget anything and there are a string of restaurants a block or two away.  (I highly recommend you ask for Corina at Caffe Chocolat)

Watching the launches at Space View Park is a relaxed and festive atmosphere where I found conversation to flow in unexpected fun directions.
Looking south from Space View Park The early crowd for STS-127 at Space View Park Condo for sale adjacent to Space View Park The Mercury Commemorative portion of Space View Park The Gemini Commemorative portion of Space View Park One of the Gemini memorial sculptures in Space View Park Looking across the water toward Kennedy Space Center Approximate view of Kennedy Space Center from Space View Spark Close-up view of Kennedy Space Center from Space View Park

]]> http://kestrachern.net/space-view-park/feed/ 1 STS-127 Launch Scrub http://kestrachern.net/sts-127-launch-scrub/ http://kestrachern.net/sts-127-launch-scrub/#comments Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:55:07 +0000 kestrachern http://kestrachern.net/?p=2391 Last night’s trip to Titusville for the launch of Endeavor on space shuttle mission STS-127 was great fun up until a fuel leak was discovered and the launch scrubbed.

If you do not get tickets for the NASA launch site then the best place is Space View Park in Titusville, FL – http://spacelaunchinfo.com/spaceview.html I met a guy named Ozzie a few months ago who runs the SpaceLaunchInfo.com site and he offers the best updates and information on launches I have found.

I’ll be going back as soon as possible to catch a launch before the shuttle program concludes next year. Hopefully this will be the last STS-127 Launch Scrub.

If you are coming into the area to watch a launch let me know I’m always up for another shot!

:-)

Moon rise over the Vehicle Assembly building Clouds and a red moon made for an interesting show, almost UFO like. Lights illuminating STS-127 Lights at dusk on Pad 39A Close up of the shuttle on the pad Landscape of the launch complex. Shuttle barely visible on the left the Vehicle Assembly Building on the right ]]> http://kestrachern.net/sts-127-launch-scrub/feed/ 4 STS-125 http://kestrachern.net/sts-125/ http://kestrachern.net/sts-125/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 21:41:14 +0000 kestrachern http://kestrachern.net/?p=1632 Space Shuttle Atlantis headed off to service the Hubble telescope this afternoon.  The afternoon launch while not as spectacular as a night lunch is still beautiful to see.  It takes about 45 seconds from liftoff till it is visible here in St. Petersburg.  It was exiting to see a crowd gather at the top of The Pier to watch the launch.  (Is there a way to turn this from purely spectator into more of a participatory time?) Only a few more times, six maybe, will a Space Shuttle lift off from Cape Canaveral with June 2, 2009 being the next scheduled launch.  So anyone interested in going to watch please let me know and lets make a road trip!

img_7638 img_7644 img_7650 img_7657 img_7667 img_7679 sts125-patch ]]> http://kestrachern.net/sts-125/feed/ 0 Project Jackrabbit http://kestrachern.net/project-jackrabbit/ http://kestrachern.net/project-jackrabbit/#comments Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:19:17 +0000 kestrachern http://kestrachern.net/?p=1035 The moon has often been a focus of my attention.  When I was in undergrad I had hope of doing planetary studies, but by the time I distilled the proper program I was too far advanced at my institution to change.  I expected to enter into a Planetary Geology program for graduate school but marriage interfered.

I’d love to see people living and working on the moon in my lifetime. Even better would be the opportunity to spend my last moments of consciousness gazing back at the Earth and then past and on to the stars. Enter Project Jackrabbit.  It is to become a repository for thoughts and concepts related to the leaving of Earth, transition from Earth to lunar orbit, landing on the moon, and survival thereafter.

Right now the domain http://projectjackrabbit.com exists and is waiting to be populated with information and discussion.  I’ve got to set up a better framework and get moving on the project.

More to follow :-)

]]> http://kestrachern.net/project-jackrabbit/feed/ 0 Lines Drawn in the Sand http://kestrachern.net/lines-drawn-in-the-sand/ http://kestrachern.net/lines-drawn-in-the-sand/#comments Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:17:35 +0000 kestrachern http://kestrachern.net/?p=668 As part of my sanity day on Wednesday I rode out to Treasure Island beach. I was amazed at the warmth of the water, evidently the water temperature sensing part of my brain vividly expects to find all large bodies of water the temperature of the Pacific off Ocean Beach. As I walked the beach I saw more writing than I what I remember… including a message from Evan and Jacob to give them a call. (Phone number is in the photos) If you do call let me know what happened for you :-)

Other than that there were little to no clouds and only a slight wind. On the ride out I found my thoughts drifting to the problem of low cost to Earth Orbit… and the best I could come up with is a modified step ladder. I’m sure it is a good beginning. It may also be the beginning of usefulness of Project Jackrabbit.

On the way back as I was getting ready to cross the causeway I was startled by a little white Pekinese out for the bathroom. I dunno what I was thinking about at that moment cause the little canine so disrupted my thoughts… hope it comes back… then again I may have been immersed in the Lawgiverz “music to the Core” mix.

img_6343 img_6355 img_6358 img_6359 img_6360 Call Jacob and Evan and say hello! img_6364 img_6365 img_6366 img_6369 img_6373 img_6379 Alligators were everywhere today img_6387 img_6391 Yay for Casey img_6341 ]]> http://kestrachern.net/lines-drawn-in-the-sand/feed/ 0