Flights

We cannot stress enough to try and leave your schedule as open and flexible as possible.  Most launches slip from their original date.  This slip can occur months or days ahead of time or slip on the day.  Some reasons for a flight to slip could be that NASA has come across something to fix on the orbiter after its previous flight or a payload is not going to be completed and packed on time or the weather decides to dictate! Whatever the reason, know that NASA has set some specific safety rules in place to help keep the crew safe and even though we don’t want to see a change or delay it is usually to keep the crew as safe as possible. Some suggestions to help deal with the possibility of change are:

1) If you must book a flight well ahead of time, then book one that is either fully refundable or one that can be changed.  There is almost always a change fee with airlines now so make sure you understand what those fees are. The main airport you will fly into is Orlando.

You will need to rent a car and drive to Cocoa Beach that takes approx. 45 min. You will be driving on a toll road so you should have $5.00 American in change and one dollar bills for the toll.

2) Try to book your flight closer to the actual date of the launch so if it slips a month out you are not affected.

3) When planning for your time at the Cape and area plan to arrive 2 days before the launch and then stay as long as possible.  Usually, if the flight does not go on the planned day, they will try the next day, and then the next day, and then stand down for a day, and then try again the next day.  So, planned launch on the 16th, second try 17th, third try 18, stand down 19th, fourth try on the 20th.

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Hotels

Book your hotel early.  It is going to be crazy out there for the last launch and hotels DO and WILL fully book up. Most hotels will be flexible for date changes; early departures etc. so make sure you ask how they handle that aspect. When booking your hotel room, be aware that the town of Melbourne, which sometimes comes up on travel sites is further away than it looks on the map!  If all other hotels are booked then stay down there but if at all possible to avoid a lot of time in the car, stay in Cocoa Beach.

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Schedule of Events

Arrive two to three days prior to the launch in order to pick up your package.  You must pick up this package as it will include your individual information on where to meet your bus and other goodies.  They will probably check your ID when you pick up the package so remember to bring that along. Pick up your package at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Guest Operations.  L-2 (Launch Day minus 2) 12pm-4pm, L-1 9:00-4:00.  No pick up available on Launch Day.

Map to KSC at www.ksc.nasa.gov. 

Phone number  321-449-4444.

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Reception

Alvin will be having a reception for his guests that will take place the day before the launch. 

Be sure to RSVP before October 15, 2010. Send an e-mail to: kdhigginb18@gmail.com - the reception will be held at Sandbar Sports Grill & Bar the day before launch. For more details see the invitation PDF

Come meet friends and family of the “Drew Crew”. Watch the home page for more details.

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LAUNCH DAY!

The Kennedy Space Center is basically surrounded by swamp and is an animal refuge. That means bring Bug Repellent and don’t go in the water- the alligators will be watching you!  Leave the swimming and water play to the beautiful beaches along Cocoa Beach.

If the launch happens to move to a night launch then bring a small flashlight.

Of course bring your camera/video camera. There will be beautiful scenery, interesting people and new friends to capture. But PLEASE, PLEASE when it comes to launch time don’t take any pictures.  Many people miss the effect, emotion, power and sheer beauty of a launch because they are trying to take pictures and track the shuttle.  NASA has many professional photographers and cameras positioned around the facility to capture the launch better than any of us ever could.  These images will be available online after the launch.  So, enjoy with your own eyes and let NASA capture it for you.

Whether you are sitting on a bleacher or sitting on the ground and depending on the time of day you might want to bring a blanket or a folding seat.

If it is warm and sunny outside, bring a hat and sunscreen.  The shuttle launches outside and you will be bused to your site hours ahead of time so protect yourself from the hot Florida sun as much as possible.

The shuttle will launch, we will be cheering, crying, jumping up and down and then it is over before you know it, or so it seems.  The shuttle moves very fast but it does not reach orbit until 8 ½ min. into flight.  So, even if you don’t see it anymore (depending on weather), stay and listen to the audio broadcast.  When you hear MECO (Main Engine Cut Off) then you will know they have made it safely to orbit and you can breathe again!

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Shopping

If you need to do some ”normal” shopping there is the Merritt Square Mall /Walmart & Target on 777 East Merritt Island Causeway(Hwy 520) 321-452-6411.  There are also gift shops at the Visitor Center that will have souvenirs of all kinds.  One thing that is a tradition at a launch is to purchase the launch envelopes and mail them off to friends and family from the space center and stamped with a special stamp to commemorate the launch.  A nice souvenir and surprise in the mail for friends and family. You will find these at the Visitor Center shops.

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