There’s usually a line for the bus, trip to Saturn V Center takes about 15 minutes with a quick drive by of the VAB so I’d get there about 12:40 not to be too rushed. Launch could also be pushed back as far as 5:29pm so I’d check here for updates: https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/8097
Is that open on launch days now? I didn’t think they ran bus tours on launch days. I remember getting out to the crawler turn with a shuttle on the pad once.
And this is due to much smaller Launch Danger Area (LDA) that has to be verified clear of all people before a launch can happen. Shuttle used the same LDA as the Saturn V, so the closest you could be to 39A was 3 miles, right next to the VAB/LCC.
For Space Shuttle launches, tours were terminated when the built-in hold (BIH) at T-11 hours was released and clock began counting down again. This was around 17 hours before the launch.
Rollouts are not considered hazardous operations, so no clears are in effect at the time. Loading of propellants are considered hazardous operations but to the same extent as a launch, so they only clear the general pad area, called the Blast Danger Area (BDA) which is a 1 mile radius-circle situated at the center of the pad.
I usually go an hour/hour and a half before but I play it safe. There's enough stuff to look at to kill time. Though I wouldn't expect a Thursday launch to be busy so you could probably be more lax about it.
There’s usually a line for the bus, trip to Saturn V Center takes about 15 minutes with a quick drive by of the VAB so I’d get there about 12:40 not to be too rushed. Launch could also be pushed back as far as 5:29pm so I’d check here for updates: https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/8097
3:30am sharp
Is that open on launch days now? I didn’t think they ran bus tours on launch days. I remember getting out to the crawler turn with a shuttle on the pad once.
For regular Falcon 9 launches during operating hours, yes it's open with regular admission.
And this is due to much smaller Launch Danger Area (LDA) that has to be verified clear of all people before a launch can happen. Shuttle used the same LDA as the Saturn V, so the closest you could be to 39A was 3 miles, right next to the VAB/LCC.
For Space Shuttle launches, tours were terminated when the built-in hold (BIH) at T-11 hours was released and clock began counting down again. This was around 17 hours before the launch.
Rollouts are not considered hazardous operations, so no clears are in effect at the time. Loading of propellants are considered hazardous operations but to the same extent as a launch, so they only clear the general pad area, called the Blast Danger Area (BDA) which is a 1 mile radius-circle situated at the center of the pad.
I usually go an hour/hour and a half before but I play it safe. There's enough stuff to look at to kill time. Though I wouldn't expect a Thursday launch to be busy so you could probably be more lax about it.
Wednesday.
12:00