I am currently in Cocoa Beach Florida awaiting the final launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-133. I was lucky to receive one of the 150 invitations sent worldwide to attend the very special NASATweetup event and witness the launch close up. The launch was scheduled for Tuesday but has been delayed to Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 3:52 p.m. EDT. The official countdown clock should begin at 2PM today.

You can follow me live on Twitter at @mrcadman http://www.twitter.com/mrcadman 

The Twitter account for the Tweetup is @NASATweetup. You can view the list of attendees at http://twitter.com/nasatweetup/sts-133-launch. The hashtag for the event is #NASATweetup. You also can follow along in NASA's Buzzroom at: http://buzzroom.nasa.gov.

STS-133 Mission page: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/index.html

Saturday I watched the Cocoa Beach Air Show. Even with #30 sunscreen on I am sunburned to a color ACI 10, RGB 255,0,0 or more accurately Pantone 213 like a boiled lobster.

Sunday – Halloween I plan to once again tempt the sunburn risk and use #60 sunscreen and watch the Air Show again. Afterwards run around some of the local area to see some wildlife like alligators and manatee and then for Halloween fun check out the Carnival of Chaos at FishLips.

Monday I will be at the Kennedy Space Center for a tour and explore the complex.

Tuesday, November 2/L-1: Tweetup Day 1.5

5:45 p.m. – Meet at press site to travel to Launch Pad 39A to view space shuttle Discovery and retraction of the Rotating Service Structure, scheduled for 7 p.m.

Wednesday, November 3/Launch: Tweetup Day 2

10:00 a.m. – Arrive at Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 Press Site
10:30 a.m. – Astronaut Janice Voss
11:00 a.m. – Group picture beside the countdown clock
12:02 p.m. – Astronauts depart their crew quarters for Launch Pad 39A
~12:10 p.m. – Tweetup participants assemble along the road across from the Launch Control Center to wave to the crew as they drive by in the astrovan on their way to the launch pad
12:30 p.m. – Lt. Col. Patrick Barrett, 45^th Weather Squadron, U.S. Air Force
~2:15 p.m. – STS-133 Closeout Crew member (Discovery’s hatch is closed and latched for launch at 1:47 p.m. EDT)
3:52 p.m. – Launch of space shuttle Discovery on the STS-133 mission
~5:00 p.m. – Post-launch news conference on NASA TV

I love the safety statements emailed to me:

NASA's Kennedy Space Center is part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. While on Kennedy Space Center you may encounter a variety of wildlife, including alligators and poisonous snakes. If you see such an animal, do not approach it or attempt to feed it. Please notify a public affairs officer or other NASA personnel.

Please be advised that hazards are inherent in launching and launch viewing of a space shuttle mission. By accepting the invitation to view the launch or landing you do so with the understanding of the potential risk. Although NASA applies stringent range safety principles and techniques to protect the general public, workforce and property for all areas of the Kennedy Space Center during launch, in the event of an inadvertent circumstance, hazards including debris, blast and toxics could occur.

NASA will use UStream to broadcast the 2:20 p.m.-3:20 p.m. portion of the Oct. 31 NASA Tweetup at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-television. Portions of the NASA Tweetup may be broadcast on NASA Television and online at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv. Photos will be posted online during and/or after the event at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto.

I am so very excited to see such a historical event up close which shows what man can do with science, engineering, and technology.

Cheers,
Shaan

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