STS-133: the other draw

 

As for NASA’s Tweetup sessions, the Visitor Complex is organising a draw to determine who can attend a space shuttle launch. Crédit : KSC Visitor Complex

To date, the official schedule for space shuttle missions consists of only two flights! This means that there are only two more chances to see a NASA space shuttle leave for space, STS-133 on 1 November this year and STS-134 on 26 February 2011.  An additional flight, STS-135, may be added in summer 2011, but the American congress has yet to approve the necessary budget.
Whether STS-135 becomes a reality or not, the end of the shuttle program is causing a real surge of nostalgia and people are literally rushing to the right places to see a launch. An exaggeration? No and one unmistakable sign is the new system set up by the Visitor Complex at Kennedy Space Center. This tourist attraction is the Space Center’s showcase and its policy has always been to sell entry tickets on launch days for the same price as other days.  However, a specific ticket is required for this day. Previously, when these tickets became available for a shuttle launch, people had several days to buy their precious entry. However, since 2009, tickets for the most recent launches have gone in a few seconds on the Internet! The Visitor Complex (managed by a private company under contract to NASA) has therefore decided to keep the normal price but to use a random draw to give everyone a fair chance. This is the same process as is used for the American agency's Tweetup sessions, where internet users who have subscribed to the @NASA Twitter account may be invited to a launch. Previously, the process was that the first 100 or 150 people to register were selected. Now, there is a draw (see this article). This is now the same process used by the Visitor Complex where those taking part in the random draw will be able to buy an admission ticket to the park for 41 dollars (normal, adult price) or 59 dollars to take a bus to the NASA Causeway. From the Causeway, visitors are slightly closer and can see the launch pad, while from the Visitor Complex, the shuttle emerges from the tree canopy as it rises into the sky.  To take part in the random draw, visit this page and complete the form before 23 August. You will notice that this other Visitor Complex web page lists alternate sites where you can attend a launch in good conditions. Obviously, a lot of people are expected... For those who have difficulties with English, we would advise them to consult the  French Forum de la Conquête Spatiale where this subject is regularly covered.

Visitor Complex Form for STS-133

Other sites to see a shuttle launch (Visitor Complex)

Published 17 August 2010