So, the space shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope is scheduled for May 12 at 1:31. GOES-O is also scheduled for the same date, which can't happen anyway (listed as no earlier than mid-May). If Shuttle delays two days, the exclusion zone around the Cape will be much bigger than usual... If it goes on time, we'll get to see it from the water. But then the GOES launch might cause a large exclusion zone. Could be a good show?
I'm hoping for a good show.
I wonder how big the exclusion zone will be if they're launching.
Very big. Don't think we'd want to go out that far! Latest schedule has the shuttle moving up a day to the 11th. The GOES-O launch is postponed to the June/July time frame. Cool thing for the shuttle is that there will be two shuttles on pads - Atlantis for the Hubble servicing and Endeavor for an emergency rescue backup. There's mention of Eastern Test Range support of military activities stating the 14th - don't know what is, just that the shuttle can't launch after the 14th due to that support. Could be some things to see...
I was told that if the Shuttle is on the pad period, the exclusion zone will be much bigger.
I don't know if that has changed since 2005, but it was on the pad then and we were able to stay 3 miles out.
On the pad is one thing, getting ready to launch is another. Issue might be if launch slipped to the day of the Cocoa to Daytona leg. If it slips beyond that you'll get to see two shuttles on the pads at the same time.