Goddard SFC SDO Tweetup | Space Tweep Society

Joined: 11/26/2009

Posts:

Launch Delays

Afternoon all!

I am in contact with the Smithsonian people. We should know if we can reschedule the tour by later today. For those of you that registered I'll be emailing you with details. If you haven't registered please go to https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dDIyWm0tNDVnU2RQS... and enter your information to receive updates.

Talk to you soon!

Aleya

Mon, 02/08/2010 - 11:29

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

Re: Launch Delays ... also Metrorail Delays

Aleya, I hate to keep bringing up potential bad news, I just don't want us to get blind-sided. Even if we can reschedule the NASM tours for Tuesday, we're entirely dependent on what the status is with Metrorail, since that's how the bulk of us will get downtown (and perhaps all of those staying at the hotel).

This is from their release yesterday (for Monday):

"Metro staff continue efforts in clearing the above-ground tracks. However, continued re-icing of the electrified third rail and winds are blowing snow back onto the tracks are hampering Metro’s ability to restore service to the above ground tracks."

Greenbelt, being one of those above-ground stations, is still shut down. With the temps going so low tonight and tomorrow, that re-icing problem could go on for days. Then there's the second snow storm coming late Tuesday afternoon. Even if we only get the minimum of the 4" (4-9 additional inches are expected), that's still only going to make problems worse. And even if they do open Greenbelt on Tuesday, I've been through these things -- expect delays, maybe even single tracking.

If worst comes to worst and the tours just don't work out ... perhaps NASM might invite us all back (or those who can make) for another tweetup of it's own -- do NASM-DC, NMNH, Udvar-Hazy, stargazing (maybe when Saturn's up?), whatever -- once the weather's nicer?

Sun, 02/07/2010 - 06:58

Joined: 07/28/2009

Posts:

private tour still on for monday??

Hi tweeps! So apparently because of the #STS130 launch scrub we are delayed one day... does that mean that the tour for A&S and Natural Geo museum gets pushed back or does it stay tomorrow Monday??

Sun, 02/07/2010 - 09:40

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

private tour still on for monday?

I was thinking the same thing earlier this morning. I see few issues here. First, is NASM, NMNH, and NGS even going to be open on Monday? And if so, can we even get there. Lastly, could we, and do we want to, ask to try to reschedule it?

Virginia is having problems with plowing side streets. There's a Virginia Rail station just south of the Mall, where NASM and the other Smithsonian buildings are, plus I-395 passes near there too, giving VA residents easy access to that area. So I'm guessing the Smithsonian has a lot of employees that are VA residents. If those people can't make it in, they may be short staffed. And then there are something like 150,000 people without power in the area from downed power lines -- I'm sure some of them are employees.

Problem two -- most of us, and no doubt other employees at the Smithsonian and NGS, will be trying to take Metrorail downtown. Right now, Metrorail is NOT operating out of its above ground stations. There's so much snow and ice that the trains can't contact the third rail needed to power them. The Greenbelt Metro station is above ground -- at the end of the Green line. (I have the same problem taking the Red Line.) The question is, will they have the tracks cleared by tomorrow morning? I'm sure they are working full shifts, 24 hrs, trying to clear the tracks and get the snow and ice off the platforms, plow the parking lots, etc., but I don't know.

Tuesday is available to all of us to go into town (again, if the trains are running), since without SDO on Tuesday, no one has anything else planned to do right now. But would the Smithsonian staff be able to reschedule?

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 10:39

salottimc

Joined: 08/25/2009

Posts:

Another Weather Warning

I just wanted to give a warning about the weather also. Last I heard, local weather is predicting anywhere between 10-20 inches on Friday and Saturday in central Virginia. I'm not sure what that will mean for the DC area. We just got hit with 11 inches this past weekend. The roads are still a mess.

Fri, 01/29/2010 - 22:16

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

Is Feb. 9th a "lock" for SDO?

The problem is, we might be stuck, even if we skip Udvar-Hazy, until we know whether Endeavour is safely launched on Feb. 7, or until we know what would happen if they scrub. If people go ahead and order tickets in advance for the Terra Cotta Warriors for Feb. 8th, what happens if STS-130 is delayed by a day or two? They talked about it briefly at the STS-130 Post Flight Readiness Review Briefing Thursday, but I wasn't entirely sure I understood the discussion.

Mike Moses said that STS-130 had priority for "a couple or three days," and if there was a confict, being an internal NASA decision (STS-130 and SDO both being NASA launches), it would be easier to work out the priorities (I gathered he was thinking, at least at first, that Endeavour might still be given priority), but Bill Gerstenmaier seemed to imply SDO would go first because of some "cryo load issues" that would delay a turnaround on STS-130, but then he fudged it by saying they would have to look at what would be the best use of the range. (See the discussion at the 20:20 mark on YouTube.)

Is there any way to clarify what the launch priorities will be in the event of an STS-130 scrub on Feb. 7, or if they need to delay for a day or two beforehand?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:12

Joined: 11/26/2009

Posts:

Air and Space Museum Private Tour

GOOD NEWS!!

Sarah Banks and Victoria Portway from the Smithsonian Institution have gotten together to plan a private behind the scenes tour for the Goddard SDO Tweetup participants!!

If you'd like to come please register here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDIyWm0tNDVnU2RQSkFsLXF...

We are still working on a time. Would afternoon be better?

Hooray!

Aleya

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 21:36

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

NASM Private Tour

Are we at a point yet when we can start finalizing our priorities for Feb. 8th? I'm mostly concerned for our Smithsonian hosts. It would probably be a good idea to let them know when we'd like to do the private tour and it's getting late. They may need to rearrange their own schedules to accommodate us. It wouldn't be courteous to leave them dangling.

Craftlass proposed NASM first, Photo Op at NASA HQ, then Terra Cotta Warriors. That sounds like a plan to me. Does anyone have any objections?

Aleya, you never answered my question about the NMNH private tour -- is that invitation still open or has the NASM tour displaced it? In other words, can we do both? (One in the morning, one in the afternoon?) I can see the Terra Cotta Warriors another time, since I live in the area, but a Smithsonian private tour doesn't come along very often.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 21:44

Joined: 01/12/2010

Posts:

Wow this is epicly amazing!

Wow this is epicly amazing! Awesome work!

The timing is hard to plan or decide though. Would it be possible to get together with the two to discuss the timing issues that were discussed about attending NASM and Terra Cotta warriors exhibit?

I know that's asking more from two great people donating their time but, since they live/work in the area, they may have the best insight into it. :)

Fri, 01/29/2010 - 10:50

#10

Joined: 11/26/2009

Posts:

Air and Space Museum Private Tour

Sure we can. I would suggest scheduling time with National Geographic (You can buy tickets for a specific time) in the mid morning - Go to NASM by Dulles first, then National Geographic, then do the A&S tour in the later afternoon - possibly 3 or 4pm.

Aleya

Fri, 01/29/2010 - 12:04

#11

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

Air and Space Museum Private Tour

Aleya, there's a problem with that scenario. It's going to be hard to pull off because of the travel problem getting to and from Udvar Hazy. Most out-of-towners are using MetroRail, which doesn't go to Dulles. We could take MetroRail to Vienna, but hopping busses to Dulles and then to U-H is probably going to eat up a lot of time. On top of that, even by car (which most won't have at their disposal), that's at least an hour drive from Greenbelt, longer if traffic is bad. People would have to spend at least two hours (maybe much longer, and certainly much longer if they try to do it by public transportation) in the morning traveling back and forth to Udvar-Hazy. Do people want to eat up that much time traveling when they only have one day to see things? And how would they do it? (Goddard isn't offering to shuttle everyone around in vans, are they?)

Otherwise, I would hold off scheduling the NASM-DC tour until we can think this all through a little better. I really don't know if we'll be able to do all three. And if was skip Udvar-Hazy, my feeling is it would be better to do the NASM-DC in the morning, right when it opens. Getting that done first leaves more of the day open to see the Terra Cotta Warriors or anything else, and going to NASM early is a lot better before the crowds start to build -- we'd have a better chance of actually hearing our tour guides.

Fri, 01/29/2010 - 19:45

#12

Joined: 11/26/2009

Posts:

Air and Space Museum Private Tour

I completely agree with you,

But not being in the group myself I want to hold off on suggesting canceling things. As a local I'd suggest staying in the city. The Udvar Hazy center is great, but you won't get to see anything else really if you go out there. (No Goddard is not providing a shuttle.) I'd stay in DC where you can hit up the Air and Space and a few more Smithsonians as well as the National Geographic. I have to warn you too that too many museums is draining. I'd pick three (Maybe even two) goals for the day and then take it slow. It's much more fun that way. I haven't started talking times with the Smithsonian ladies yet, still waiting to see what you guys think.

Cheers,

Aleya

Fri, 01/29/2010 - 20:54

#13

Joined: 01/12/2010

Posts:

Well what would you say with

Well what would you say with your experience? I'm up for hitting NASM & Nat Geo but do you have any experience to what times would be best for hitting each one? IE better to hit NASM in the morning and Nat Geo in the evening or vice-versa.

I'm thinking our best bet would be to do NASM in the morning, it'll probably have lesser crowds then what it would in the evening and nat geo will probably have lesser crowds (in the afternoon) then what NASM would. You concure?

I'm pretty flexible so I'm kinda chilling and observing :)

Sun, 01/31/2010 - 23:31

#14

Joined: 10/06/2009

Posts:

My Latest Opinions

At this point, I think we should start with NASM, swing by NASA HQ for pics, then go to Terra Cotta Warriors. We could always hit another museum in the area if we somehow ended up with spare time (but I doubt we will). If anyone is arriving even earlier, @astroivy, @zippyg2, and I are planning to go out to Udvar-Hazy on the 7th in the afternoon (we're driving from NYC in the morning), the more, the merrier!

Also, @zippyg2 sent me a list of restaurants in the NASM area if we want to have dinner in town that night. I would be happy to make a reservation now that we are getting an idea of who is coming. It could also be an opportunity for those who live in/near D.C. bu can't get out of work on Monday to join in on the extre-tweetup fun. :)

Huge thanks to Aleya for helping us out even MORE!! This is really turning into a huge event!

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 14:20

#15

Joined: 01/12/2010

Posts:

I plan on leaving on the 7th,

I plan on leaving on the 7th, baring any major storm, but I probably won't arrive till somewhere between 5/6pm. What time do you guys plan on arriving?

If we both arrive at the same time we could meet at the hotel and head on over to Hazy (you're staying at the recommend hotel correct?). It'd be awesome to see the enterprise. :)

Thu, 02/04/2010 - 11:25

#16

Joined: 07/28/2009

Posts:

btw Udvar Hazy hours

btw Udvar Hazy hours are 10:00 am - 5:30 pm !! just be aware

Fri, 02/05/2010 - 10:18

#17

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

This could get seriously bad

This is really breaking my heart -- this could have been such a great weekend (even week?). I really hope I'm wrong. But from past experience, it will take at least two days for the DC area to recover from this storm (if it turns out as bad as predicted). It's not just a matter of weather the roads will be open, but also whether people can dig out to get to work. The Smithsonian, including Udvar Hazy, National Geographic, other places — they won't open if they don't have enough staff to safely operate their facilities.

My fear is, there's a chance we may lose Monday, too. The last big storm (my area got 22 inches last December), they were pretty good plowing the side streets. And this will be a weekend, with less people on the road, making plowing easier. So we'll have to see. But we had one storm ten years or so ago (28" by me) where they didn't plow my street for three days. (If DC gets the 20-28 inches forecast this weekend, my area may be in the 30s.) If it's that bad again, this could shut everything down, as I said, for two days.

For those driving, Accuweather has a list of links to the various state departments of transportation for the all the states involved in this storm, to help check for road conditions:

Paralyzing Snowstorm Overtaking Mid-Atlantic I-81, I-95 (this page changes over time)

And then there's a weather "yellow alert" for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, While nothing like this storm, the forecast still bears watching. Right now, those days are calling for periods of intermittent snow, rain, freezing rain and sleet, with Tuesday getting the most precip.

I tweeted this earlier, but if you missed it, here's the Smithsonian's number for snow closing announcements: 202-633-1000.

Hang in there. We'll get through this.

Wed, 02/03/2010 - 14:52

#18

Joined: 08/30/2009

Posts:

Udvar Hazy

Me want to join! :)

Mon, 02/01/2010 - 06:59

#19

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

Watch the weather this weekend

I don't know yet if I'll be able to meet you guys at U-H. If I can, I'll let you know.

But I just wanted to caution those who are driving here that weather may cause some problems. Yes, we're six days off and things can change a lot by then, but as of now, the National Weather Service for Washington is calling for:

Saturday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 21:16

#20

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

NASM Tour

Aleya - Thank you for arranging this. It's very much appreciated.

So what happens to the NMNH tour? I gather that is now off? :-(

Also, I skipped the question "If you registered a guest for the Tweetup, will they be coming with you to the tour? *" There was no way to answer it honestly, since it I never registered a guest. But the form wouldn't go through otherwise. So I lied and said "no." Don't tell Santa.

Tue, 01/26/2010 - 18:01

#21

heathermg

Joined: 08/15/2009

Posts:

Thumb's out: Going my way?

Hey tweeps,

I live in D.C....and it's probably time I pony up and ask a crucial question: is there a generous person out there who might be able to give me a lift to/from the tweetup? I can meet you at the Greenbelt metro (end of the green line, not too far from Goddard) or anywhere else that's metro accessible. I also live in Columbia Heights if that happens to be easier.

(I was counting on a bunch of my car-owning friends to get into the Tweetup, but I'm the only one who made it!)

I would be MORE than happy to buy you a couple of beers in return at the post-tweetup happy hour I hope we'll be planning. :) If you'd like to reach me off-forum you can find me @heathermg or heathergoss@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Sun, 01/31/2010 - 23:17

#22

Joined: 10/06/2009

Posts:

No Problem

I'm staying at the hotel, would be happy to pick you up at Greenbelt. Only thing is, after happy-hour I won't be able to drive (I don't drive after even one drink).

Tue, 01/26/2010 - 17:38

#23

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

Endeavour visible on Morning of Feb. 8th?

I've been watching the updates NASA posts to its "Realtime Date Orbital Elements" page for the ISS for the past week or so. Nothing looked especially hopeful. But they've finally posted what is the current planned orbital elements for Feb. 8th and it came with a small surprise. Running them through a pass predictor came up with a visible pass for the ISS at 05:32:40 A.M, on Feb. 8th, coming out of the Earth's shadow roughly 28° above the northern horizon. That's not a great pass by any means but, so far, it appears to be the best I've found during the entire STS-130 mission for the DC area. (There's an ISS orbit reboost scheduled for flight day 11, so things may change for later in the flight.)

The question this raises is -- where will Endeavour be? Unfortunately, they haven't posted the planned orbit elements for STS-130 itself yet and likely won't until a day or so before the launch. But since docking won't happen until early Feb. 9th, and Endeavour will be chasing the ISS (meaning, it will be behind it), my guess is it will appear somewhere in the north or northwest sky, probably a bit higher than the ISS, hopefully before the sky brightens too much. I will keep on eye on this.

(Of course, for those who have ever been involved with public stargazing programs in the DC area, by talking about this, I'm risking overcast that morning. :-\ )

- Jim

PS. Here's what -- "weather permitting"-- the ISS pass should look like. (The bright star in the upper left is Polaris; the ISS pops out of the Earth's shadow just below and to the right of it. The speed is exaggerated. Ignore any other satellites that you see -- those probably shouldn't be there.)

http://www.jacook.name/clips/ISS_020810.mov (QuickTime movie, made with Starry Night Pro 6)

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 21:58

#24

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

Museum of Natural History

Is there a minimum?

So far, I've sat on the sidelines in picking what things we might do because I live in the area -- I can go to NASM, Udvar Hazy, or TCW any time. I wanted those who don't come here often to pick the options. But this is something I can't do anytime. So, yes, I would enjoy that -- and not just the space-related collections. No, I'm not bowing out of the NASM group. I was thinking more along the lines of some of us go to see the Terra Cotta Warriors, and some take the NMNH tour in the afternoon? (Or in the morning, if others want to hit the TCW first.)

Would the Lorton meteor be on the tour? (I think the folks on the HAL and NOVAC email lists would enjoy a photo of this little visitor in its new surroundings. A number of them saw it on "final descent." ;-)

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 21:23

#25

Joined: 11/26/2009

Posts:

Museum of Natural History

Hello all!

I have another option for you... @NMNH has offered to put together a private tour of the Museum of Natural History, possibly including the meteorite collection. This one won't be dependent on numbers - would anyone be interested?

Aleya

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 14:29

#26

Joined: 01/12/2010

Posts:

cut me in on a piece of the

cut me in on a piece of the action ;)

You've done a terrific job pulling this all together! It'll be a blast to meet up with everyone!

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 14:11

#27

Joined: 08/30/2009

Posts:

Next try :)

OK, taking a different approach - I will compose a twitterlist to keep track of all that want to take the NASM SpaceTweep tour - and I would love it to hear your very personal space history narration of the place @JimCook310 !

So please everyone take a look at @travelholic/NASM and if you're not included, please tweet me or leave a post here.

Now spread the word :)

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 13:25

#28

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

Tour

Well it was certainly worth a try. I'm sure I speak for everyone in thanking you for the effort.

I'm sure it's not much of a consolation prize for an actual guided tour, but I will turning 58 soon (ggaawwwdddd :-\ ) and I have lived through pretty much the entire space program, so I'd be happy to share my memories of the different events embodied by the spacecraft and exhibits we'll be seeing, if anyone is interested. Heck, I even remember seeing the front page of the NY Times when Sputnik was launched. (I was 5. I remember being both unimpressed — and disappointed. Seriously. I remember thinking "So why is this such a big deal? You mean, we're not ALREADY in space?" :-O It was a traumatic moment - my expectations of interplanetary travel at will were seriously threatened. I was a space cadet the moment I arrived on Earth. At 7:15 A.M. each Saturday morning, I was planted in front of our B&W TV watching Colonel Bleep. Frankly, I still don't understand why he's not in the Smithsonian.)

As for the Terra Cotta Warriors, we may have to wait and see what times, if any, are available when the time comes. I suspect we should probably holdoff buying tickets for that until Endeavour is safely launched on Feb. 7, in the event they scrub that day (e.g., bad weather). Even if they were to try for a 24-hour turnaround, that might still impact the SDO launch. I think I remember hearing once that the Air Force range safety people need two days to switch from one launch to another.

According to the NGS Tickets page, the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit runs on a half hour basis, starting on 11:30 AM on Feb. 8th, with the last time starting at 5:00 PM. (To see what I mean, go here, then click "Buy Tickets" for Monday, Feb. 8th. That will take you to a page with a pulldown menu listing the times available.) Logically, it would make sense to visit NASM first, since it opens at 10:00 AM, and try to visit the TCW exhibit later in the day.

The problem comes in if, say, checking on Feb. 7, we find the later afternoon TCW tickets for Feb. 8 are already sold out. Would we want to go later and cut NASM short? (NASM closes at 5:30PM. From my experience, mornings tend to be quieter and less crowded at NASM.) But if later afternoon tickets for the TCW are available, and we try to buy them online on Sunday, Feb. 7 to make sure we get them, there's still the possibility SDO might get delayed for some other reason, pushing back the SDO Tweetup itself.

This could get a little messy.

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 13:16

#29

salottimc

Joined: 08/25/2009

Posts:

Tour

Don't forget to count me in. @craftlass just informed me about this page.

Sun, 01/24/2010 - 20:57

#30

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

How are we doing on the NASM tour head count?

Unless I misread the NASM tour page info, we need to submit our request for a guided tour no less than two weeks prior. That would be Monday, Jan 25. I'm guessing we're coming up short of the 20 people needed?

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 03:46

#31

Joined: 08/30/2009

Posts:

Tour

You are right. Today would be the final day according to the Website.

I have been warned, that a poll might not show the desired results, but I had to try it anyway - guess what: Didn't work :)

But, even if I count the participants in this thread, I get only 8 tweeps, which would be far less than the 20 required.

So, in my opinion, we should just meet at NASM and join a regular tour or explore on our own (Hey, we are Spacetweeps, so I would expect that together we know every switch in every capsule that might be there :D).

This way, we are even more flexible to view the Warriors in the morning, hop over to HQ have a quick look around and then spend the rest of the Day at the museum.

Tue, 01/19/2010 - 07:35

#32

NASAGoddard

Joined: 01/14/2010

Posts:

You'll be spending a fair bit

You'll be spending a fair bit of time in our visitor's center as is because that's where we're planning to be during the launch (and for a little while beforehand) so I wouldn't worry about scheduling extra time for it.

Mon, 01/18/2010 - 15:27

#33

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/visitor/home/index.html

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

Visitors Center at Goddard

In case anyone was wondering, the Visitors Center at Goddard itself is closed on Mondays (for purposes here, meaning the day before the SDO launch) and will probably be closed by the time they let us loose after the SDO events on Tuesday, too. (This time of year, it closed at 3:00 PM.) It would have made a good place to visit for those not going into DC.

Mon, 01/18/2010 - 16:08

#34

Joined: 11/26/2009

Posts:

Goddard VC

If there is a group that would like to visit the VC on Monday (If launch doesn't slip again) that can be arranged. Just let me or Andy know.

Aleya

Thu, 01/21/2010 - 06:51

#35

Joined: 01/10/2010

Posts:

Smithsonian - NASM or Udvar Hazy

I live northwest of DC, so count me in for any headcount needed for a possible NASM tour. Given a choice between NASM and Udvar-Hazy, however, I suspect those who have never been to either would be better off going to NASM in DC, if for no other reason than, when it comes to space program history (except perhaps Yuri Gagarin's Vostok 1), you just don't get more historical than the Apollo 11 command module. I've been to both (I worked at NASM for a brief time, as well), plus I live in the area, so I will abstain from any vote. But I do need to get back to U-H eventually, though, if that's where most want to go. (Some of my Enterprise photos taken last March came out a bit fuzzy. http://tinyurl.com/yd9gwov) The one thing in favor of seeing Enterprise now, however, is that, if all goes as planned, it will eventually be replaced at Udvar-Hazy by the space shuttle Discovery. I have no idea where Enterprise will go after that. (Dryden AFB in CA would seem a logical choice.) But my guess is that's at least two years off. [Note: I changed the URL for my Enterprise photos. I hope the link will work this time.]

Mon, 01/18/2010 - 15:14

#36

Joined: 10/06/2009

Posts:

My Two Cents

I've been considering our options, and I'm thinking we should focus on Air & Space in DC and Udvar-Hazy is something we should do if launch is delayed.

The website for National Geographic Museum says the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit takes about an hour. They also close at 6:00, a half-hour after Air & Space. It should take about a half-hour to get between them, too. So, it might be smart to plan on leaving Air & Space by 4:15 if we want to throw in the Terra Cotta Warriors.

We really do need a list of participants, we know that the folks who have mentioned it on here are in, but we should all tweet this a lot and see who else might want to go.

Mon, 01/18/2010 - 15:17

#37

http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2550505/

Joined: 08/30/2009

Posts:

Poll

Tweeps,

please vote, which tour you would like most. A combo of Nat Geo + A&S or Udvar-Hazy.

Please leave your twitter name in the comment and if you would participate if your primary choice does not win (you do not have to leave your actual mail-address - no one will see it tho)

Here's the link:

And please tweet the link so all #SDOisGO can take the vote and participate - this is gonna be a great tour.

Fri, 01/15/2010 - 13:51

#38

Joined: 07/28/2009

Posts:

Udvar-Hazy sounds amazing!!!!

Udvar-Hazy sounds amazing!!!! Space Shuttle Enterprise is there <3 <3 <3 OMG this trip is getting better and better by the day... im very excited to see Goddard.

About HQ, yeah i would definitely like to take a photo!! hehe

but don't get me wrong... i am VERY excited about the VIP Goddard tour!!!!! :D

Sun, 01/17/2010 - 09:02

#39

Air and Space Museum National Mall Building

Joined: 08/30/2009

Posts:

Udvar-Hazy

I have been to Udvar-Hazy last year and have to say that is a great location too!

Heck there is a shuttle, so what more would a space geek need :-D

Like Andy from @NASA_SDO said, it's at Dulles Airport, so driving there will need more considerations and it's the only thing there, so it probably will be the only thing we can do on that day.

Don't get me wrong, Udvar-Hazy is worth a visit and some troubles. And if the majority want's to see Enterprise, that is more than fine for me.

Have a look at the exhibit plans here, if you want to get an overview what's there

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Unfortunately I do not have an answer from the Tour Office in my endeavor to get a private tour for us (maybe I'll tweet @airandspace)

Posted at L-22/23:29:04 :)

Sun, 01/17/2010 - 18:41

#40

Joined: 01/12/2010

Posts:

sounds like we need more time

sounds like we need more time in the day! I'm also fine with either or. I've yet to see space shuttle enterprise so that would be something exciting to see! :D

can't believe air and space never got back to you. :S

Mon, 01/18/2010 - 11:55

#41

Joined: 08/30/2009

Posts:

Spamfilter

To be fair, you never know these days, if a SPAM filter strikes somewhere.

Got a very nice answer on twitter from @airandspace

Now I really need to know, how many we will be.

I have to check, if we have a poll-system in the forum... Hang in there :)

Fri, 01/15/2010 - 13:23

#42

Joined: 10/06/2009

Posts:

Anyone else from NYC?

As I was going through the list of attendees I thought I noticed someone besides @astroivy and me with New York in their profile. If anyone else IS coming from the area and needs a ride down, let me know. I'm planning to leave on the 7th, most likely around noon or 1 and return by noon on the 10th if launch goes as planned.

Ah, the joys of living where a car is more of a burden than a help! lol

Thu, 01/14/2010 - 11:23

#43

NASAGoddard

Joined: 01/14/2010

Posts:

Looking forward to your visit

Hey crew, sorry we didn't get on here earlier, but we'll try to check in regularly from now on to help with any questions or logistics for the Goddard tweetup. We're busy working out the activities for the day now and once we've firmed things up more, we'll let you know what the schedule is going to be like. Have no doubt though, it's going to be very interesting and a lot of fun!

Just a few comments on the discussion so far. First, launch is currently set for no earlier than February 9th. If it moves, it will move backward, and likely would be the 10th or 11th. That said, these things tend to be pretty fluid, so check the SDO twitter and web site (nasa.gov/sdo) often and plan to be flexible since we have zero control over when the launch actually happens. If you arrive early, any time before the 9th is yours to do with what you will.

Obviously DC has no shortage of sites, the Air and Space Museum obviously being an excellent one. I actually wouldn't get too excited about NASA HQ though, there's actually very little to see there. I think they have a few small exhibits in their entry area, but otherwise its really just a building with lots of offices. All of the exciting stuff NASA does is at the field centers (like Goddard!). If you want to take a serious field trip, the "other" Air and Space Museum out at Udvar-Hazy is also really cool and has a full sized shuttle. It's all the way out by Dulles Airport though, so transportation would be more difficult.

Fri, 01/15/2010 - 13:10

#44

Joined: 10/06/2009

Posts:

Thanks for the info!

Thanks for the update. We were using the 8th/9th dates due to the first email, good to know where it stands now. :)

Crew, what do you think about NASA HQ? I think it's worth stopping by due to it's proximity to Air & Space. At the very least it would be cool to take some group shots there at the "mothership". lol It might be good that there isn't too much to see, so it wouldn't take long to check out what they do have in the public lobby, since our day will be fairly packed.

I would LOVE to go out to Udvar-Hazy if we end up down there for an extra day due to launch delays and would be happy to drive as many as can fit in my rental. It's not that far, really.

Thu, 01/14/2010 - 06:02

#45

Joined: 07/28/2009

Posts:

do we know somebody at HQ

do we know somebody at HQ that would give us a mini tour?? :D

hey... it doesnt hurt to ask right? :P

Tue, 01/12/2010 - 21:54

#46

Joined: 10/06/2009

Posts:

Google Map

I made a Google Map to include all of these ideas and so we can easily see relative locations and get good directions no matter what form of transportation is used. It's at http://bit.ly/80H8oy

I definitely think Ivy's idea is a must - plus it's very convenient to the Air & Space Museum!

Tue, 01/12/2010 - 15:19

#47

Joined: 08/30/2009

Posts:

Private Tour at Air and Space Museum

The website says you need to be 20+ people to have a pre-booked tour.

I mailed them about the possibility of a special space themed tour even if we might be not 20 in number (which we could, considering there are 50 ppl at the tweetup + some spacetweeps from DC maybe).

Another thing is, that they need to be flexible, because of the launch could either be on 9th or 8th.

I will let you know their answer, as soon as I get it.

Fri, 01/15/2010 - 11:33

#48

heathermg

Joined: 08/15/2009

Posts:

Mondays at NASM

Just a suggestion if you plan to visit Air and Space: The main observatory happens to be closed for maintenance right now, but every day EXCEPT Monday, the volunteers bring portable solar telescopes out on the front steps to view the sun (how appropriate for us, huh?) from 12 to 2 p.m., then bring them out again from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. to see Jupiter.

I know it'll be hard to plan around the SDO launch so Monday may be the best day, but just thought I'd throw that out there. (I'm a volunteer with the NASM observatory and man the 'scopes every Friday -- it's a very cool sight!)

Tue, 01/12/2010 - 21:09

#49

Joined: 07/28/2009

Posts:

most definitely count me

most definitely count me in!!! :D i would also like to see NASA Headquarters in DC :) who's with me?

Tue, 01/12/2010 - 14:11

#50