Press Release

Airspace, Road, Bridge And Water Closures For Final Shuttle Launch

By SpaceRef Editor
June 30, 2011
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Airspace, Road, Bridge And Water Closures For Final Shuttle Launch
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Launch Date: July 8, 2011 Launch Vehicle: Space shuttle Atlantis Launch Pad: 39A Launch Window: 11:21 – 11:31 a.m. EDT Targeted Launch Time: 11:26:46 a.m. EDT

NASA KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AREA AVIATION FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS

What: Cape Canaveral Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR)

When: Friday, July 8, from 4:21 a.m. until no later than 12:06 p.m. EDT. If postponed 24 hours to Saturday, July 9, from 3:59 a.m. until no later than 11:40 a.m. EDT.

Where: General aviation and VFR operations are prohibited within a 30-nautical-mile radius (34.5 miles) of Launch Pad 39A from the surface to, but not including, 18,000 feet located on the Melbourne VOR/DME 004-degree radial at 30.6 nautical miles. Pilots should obtain NOTAM information regarding affected airports.

Aeronautical Chart in Use: Orlando Class B terminal area and Jacksonville sectional

Additional airspace restrictions: Within an airspace radius between 30 to 40 nautical miles (34.5 to 46 miles) of Launch Pad 39A, a discrete transponder code must be obtained and clearance granted from air traffic control before entering this airspace. Continuous radio communications must be maintained. All VFR aircraft are restricted to 180 knots or less unless a variance is granted by air traffic control. Pilots should obtain NOTAM information to determine the affected airports within this radius before departure.

NOTAM Information: St. Petersburg Flight Service Station Telephone: 1-800-992-7433 Radio frequencies: 123.6 MHz (Titusville); 122.6 MHz (Melbourne)

Radio Communications: FAA Orlando Approach Control Titusville/Cocoa area: 134.950 MHz Melbourne area: 132.650 MHz South Volusia County: 125.350 MHz Space Coast Regional Airport control tower: 118.9 MHz

PUBLIC ACCESS ROAD CLOSURES

– The Cape Canaveral National Seashore (Playalinda Beach) will close for launch on Monday, July 4, at 8 p.m. and will reopen after launch. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge will close on Wednesday, July 6, at 6 p.m. and will reopen after launch.

– State Road 406 east to State Road 3, and State Road 3 from the Haulover Canal bridge south to County Road 402 leading to Titusville will be open to badged personnel only beginning on Wednesday, July 6, at 6 p.m. These roads will close to all vehicle traffic on Friday, July 8, at 9:20 a.m. until after a successful launch is confirmed.

– The A. Max Brewer Causeway bridge on S.R. 406 in Titusville (north bridge) will be closed to all motor vehicle traffic beginning two hours prior to launch on July 8 and will remain closed up to two hours after launch.

– State Road 3 from the Gate 2 News Media Pass and Identification Building to State Road 405 (NASA Causeway) via Space Commerce Way will be closed for launch to unauthorized vehicles beginning at 4 a.m. on Friday, July 8. NASA Causeway between the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will also close at that time. The roads will reopen two hours after launch.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AREA BOATING RESTRICTIONS

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 4, and continuing through launch, a general exclusion zone will be in effect three miles offshore from the Haulover Canal, on the northern end of Kennedy Space Center, and southward to Port Canaveral. Four hours prior to launch, all ocean-going traffic will be restricted from entering an area measured from nine statute miles north and south of the launch pad and extending 64 nautical miles (73.6 miles) east into the ocean. An additional three-mile-wide exclusion zone will be extended eastward along the flight path of the space shuttle.

INDIAN RIVER: Restrictions apply from the NASA Causeway north to Haulover Canal and east of the Indian River’s main channel. Restrictions are in effect beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 4.

MOSQUITO LAGOON: This area south of Haulover Canal in the Mosquito Lagoon is off limits to all boats beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 4.

BANANA RIVER: Security limits begin at the Banana River Barge Canal south of Kennedy Space Center and extends northward, including KARS Park on Merritt Island. This restriction is effective beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 4.

All boating restrictions will be lifted one hour after launch. Boating interests should monitor U.S. Coast Guard Radio transmitting on Marine Channel 16 from Port Canaveral.

For information about Atlantis’ STS-135 mission to the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

SpaceRef staff editor.