 
 Trip ReportNicholas Disabato
 Satellite Launch and Endeavour Touchdown
 

Introduction----------------------------------------What's happening???

This story covers my 4-day trip to Florida with my parents to Cape
Canaveral, to watch Endeavour touch down, and the real reason I came
is to watch a Telstar 401 (a communications satellite) launch,
because Telstar 402 will benefit my dad's buisness (McDonald's
Corporation).  Unfortunetly, that satellite is getting launched in
April.  Not so bad, huh?  Well, it wouldn't be if it was launched in
the US <g>.

chapter one-----------------------------12/12/93----Endeavour day

The beginning of this chapter is still when I'm in my house, before
I arrive in Florida.

7:20 AM Central Time (T-17h45m)

I smash the "SNOOZE" button and fall asleep.'

7:30 AM (T-17h35m)

Actually decide to wake up.  I got out of bed, put on my clothes,
and had breakfast.  After I had a nutritious meal of Sugar-Infested
Fruit Loops, I found my dad packed my suitcase, so we called the
taxi and watched 50's movies until the taxi came.  We left, and we
were heading for the airport.

8:00 AM (T-17h05m)

At the airport.  I found out that we were a tad early, and had to
joyously wait an hour before boarding.  JOY!!  So, I sat there in
the waiting area, playing my Game Boy and talking with someone about
high speed modems.  Finally, they were boarding.  I got my things
and walked up to the plane.

8:54 AM (T-16h11m)

I boarded the plane and sat down at the window seat.

Dad: Nick, you have center seats.  I have the window.

Me: That means I have to get smashed between 2 people for 2 and a
    half hours, right?

Dad: Yeah.

Me: Ok.  I'll move.  (murmuring to myself-- ugh.)

A flight stewardess said through the loudspeaker that we would be
departing shortly.  I fastened my seatbelt and we were off!

12:35 PM Pacific Time (T-12h00m)

We landed in Orlando International Airport.  I got off the plane and we
headed to the Baggage Claim A.

12:50 PM (T-11h45m)

Picked up our bags, rented a car, and parked in the lot of the
Contemporary Resort (that's where we stayed).

1:10 PM (T-11h25m)

We checked into the hotel, and when we were heading to Floor 5 and
Room 4106 (just add the first 2 numbers of the room together to find
the floor), when we walked by the arcade.  Of course, my dad felt
the wrath of bugging the rest of the trip.

1:30 PM (T-11h5m)

We ate a small snack at the resturant next to the arcade, and my
parents let me go to the arcade.

2:30 PM (T-10h5m)

Got back from a few games of air hockey and went up to my room.
Then, it was a matter of hours before the bus left for the Cape.
So, I watched TV to kill the time.

8:00 PM (T-4h35m)

I ate a dinner before the launch.  That killed 1 hour.

9:00 PM (T-3h35m)

30 minutes until the bus leaves.  I decided to wait around at the
buffet with my parents.

9:30 PM (T-3h05m) [ON BUS]

The trip was supposed to take 45 minutes until we reached the base.
Of course, the weather in Florida is supposed to be warm all year
round, right?  That's what I thought.............

10:15 PM (T-2h20m) [AT VISITOR'S CENTER]

I got to the cape and got off the bus.  We were at the visitor's
center.  Ah yes, the snow on the palm trees, the oceans freezing
over...  Very hot.  25 degrees farenheit.  I was

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZING!

Good thing we got back in the bus after a while and headed to the
landing site.

10:30 PM (T-2h5m) [AT LANDING SITE]

OK.  So I was sitting on an ice-cold iron bleacher wrapped up in 15
blankets.  That still didn't prevent me from seeing the launch.  We
arrived at the landing site a short while ago, and I'm armed with
binoculars and DANGEROUS.

chapter 2------------------------------12/13/93----Disney Day

Techincally, the first entry for this is on Dec.  13, 1993, although
I'd consider the entries until 2:00 AM Pacific Time still Endeavour
Day.

12:31 AM Pacific Time (T-4m32s) [AT LANDING SITE]

The 2 sonic booms that were supposed to come when the shuttle made
its final turn came.  They sounded like dynamite and shook the
bleachers.  Also, all the car alarms went off.  JOY!!

12:34 AM (T-1m00s) [AT LANDING SIITE]

The shuttle came into view.  It looked like it just appeared there.
Still, there it was, getting closer..

12:34 AM (T-00m30s) [AT LANDING SITE]

It touched down.  Endeavour touched the runway.

12:35 AM (T+00m00s) [AT LANDING SITE]

Then, we headed for the bus when the shuttle stopped.  It felt good
to be warm again.  <g>

1:30 AM [ON BUS]

Now, there won't be any more T minus time until Telstar Day (Telstar
is the name of the soon to be launched satellite).  We arrived at
the Contemporary Resort, and we went to our room.

1:35 AM

We entered the room, and I went to bed.  MAJOR.

1:36 AM

I fell asleep at about then.

7:00 AM

I ate a good breakfast, and I got to go to Epcot for the rest of the
day.

8:00 AM

We boarded the monorail, and arrived at Epcot.

8:30 PM

We got back from Epcot, and I had the best time I ever would have.
I went on nearly all the rides they had, including Spaceship Earth,
The Living Seas, Body Wars, and TONS more.  Even better, there were
barely ANY lines to wait; nobody comes to the park now because
everyone's in school!

8:40 PM

I ate dinner and went to my room.

9:20 PM

I went to sleep early, thanks to last night <g>

10:00 PM

All of a sudden, I was awakened by blaring music about 120 decibels.
I rushed to the window and so did my mom (my dad was in the Telstar
Suite where you can print, fax, etc).  Then, I saw that it was an
electrical parade that Contemporary does over the lake adjacent to
it.  My mom and I watched, it was great!

10:30 PM

I went to sleep AGAIN.

chapter 3-----------------------------12/14/93----Telstar Day

I should save you the time.  The launch got called on account of bad
weather; that's the reason I won't put T minus time here.

8:30 AM Pacific Time

I got up and ate breakfast.  I had some time to kill because the bus
left at 12:00.

11:30 AM

I ate a buffet lunch and I met a new friend.  Corey Palubiak.  Even
better, he is going to see the launch too!  Then, I realized it.  MY
GAME BOY DOESN'T HAVE BATTERIES.  I ALWAYS play it on long trips!
And, I realized it at 11:50 AM; 10 minutes before the bus leaves!
Now, here I was, asking the cashiers at virtually ALL the shops,
when at the last one, they had the batteries.  I bought them and got
to the bus.

12:00 PM [ON BUS]

I got on the bus and sat next to Corey.  We pretty much played the
Game Boy until we got there.  Even better, he brought his GB, so we
played a couple 2- player games as well!

12:50 PM [AT VISITOR'S CENTER]

Now, I was able to get Ice Cream at the Visitor's Center without
geting pneumonia.  So I went over to the stand, and I asked for a
small cone of chocolate ice cream.  They gave me a small cone.  Yeah
right.  It was about 6 inches high!  Oh well.  I inhaled it anyway.
<g> Then, we saw a film (The Dream Is Alive) and heard a briefing
from the president of NASA.

2:00 PM [ON BUS]

Now, we were supposed to get on the bus and head to view the
launchpad and see if it was scrubbed (called on account of bad
weather for 24 hours).  So, I played the GB again, until we got
there.

2:25 PM [AT LAUNCHPAD]

Normally, if it wasn't scrubbed, we'd go over to the place where
we'd see the launch, which was 2 miles away from the launchpad.
Right now, we were about half a mile away from the pad.  And, it
happened.  I felt a drop of rain on my face.  I swore silently.  In
5 minutes, the launch was scrubbed.  We got back in the bus and I
told my dad, "Is this your first scrubbed launch?"

2:50 PM [ON BUS]

Now, we headed for Contemporary Resort.  Everyone was disgusted that
they couldn't see the launch.  Well, at least I saw Endeavour touch
down.

3:30 PM

We got back in the resort.  Now, there was supposed to be a
post-launch party, But, NOW it's a PRE-launch party.
Riiiiiiiiiiight.

9:00 PM

It was time for the party.  I got downstairs and peeked in the room.
I freaked.  There was a video wall, those glow in the dark neon
bands, it was AWESOME!  Of course, Corey ws at the kid's party, and
my parents decided to take me in wiht the adults.  So, I went, ate
my heart out, took about 10 neon strips, and I headed over for the
kids party, 12 pounds heavier.  Then, when I walked in, I said,
"Anyone for NEON???"

11:30 PM

I got back from the kids party and went up to my room.  It was GREAT
there!  Then, I went to sleep.  It was still tiring.

chapter 4-----------------------------12/15/93----Checkout Day

OK.  Today we checkout at 8:00 AM, and the plane leaves at 5:00 PM.
What do you think we'll do to kill the time??

7:30 AM Pacific Time

I got out of bed.  packed my things, and checked out at 8:00 AM.

8:10 AM

We get to the car, and we drive to the Historical Museum.

8:30 AM

We arrive at the Historical Museum, and we look at the exibits.
They had a superb exhibit on Anne Frank, and we watched a video on
it.  Also, I'd like to plug "Shindler's List" by Steven Spieldberg.
It deals about Anne Frank and the Holocaust, and I've heard it's
very good.

11:00 AM

We then go to the Science Center, which is adjacent to the museum.
Many nice exhibits were there, like a blower that you fit into a
pipe to create different sounds, and much more!

1:00 PM

We go to Burger King, where we eat lunch.

1:20 PM

Finally, we arrive at the art museum.  Many good paintings were
there, mostly landscapes and prints.

4:00 PM

We leave the museum and go to Orlando International Airport.  It's 1
hour before the plane leaves.  We check our bags and get to the
waiting booth.

4:30 PM

Apparently, they were boarding already.  We boarded and it seemed
like there weren't a lot of people on the plane yet.  So, we waited.

5:00 PM

About thirty people were on this huge DC-10, where about 100 seats
were empty.

5:10 PM

The plane lifts off.  We had a good flight, and I could stretch out
on the empty seats <g>

9:00 PM

We arrive at O'Hare Airport, where we claim our bags, and get a
taxi.

9:15 PM

We arrive home.  I just go upstairs and go to sleep.  I had a big
day.

Conclusion----------------------------In the end...

The satellite launched at 7:34 PM on Wedensday, December 15, 1993.
I had quite a good trip.  Disney World, Endeavour, Telstar 401, I had
it for the week.  I slept in for 4 hours.

