The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)
The space shuttle secret liftoff
After the September 11 attacks, NASA decided that the space shuttle launch dates is no more a public information; the departures will be announced with a few hours forewarning. Till now the space shuttle planned schedule was well advertised, allowing interested people to enjoy the spectacular launches.
To favour the U.S. taxpayers (and the tourists), the Kennedy Space Center offers a dedicated museum/information facility named Spaceport USA, a true space-age recreational area and starting point for guided visits to some launch pads, the Air Force Space Museum, the Challenger memorial, the VAB and other historic installations. Till now, a purposeful display-board, near the gate of Spaceport USA, gave visitors updated schedule of the next forthcoming launch, thus offering people the opportunity to book a first row chair for the exciting phases of final countdown and liftoff.
In the picture: Liftoff of mission STS-73/Columbia, October 10, 1995. (Aeromedia)
(Aeromedia, April 2002)