Airspace, Road, Bridge and Waterway Closures For STS-119
Launch Date: March 9, 2009
Launch Vehicle: Space shuttle Discovery
Launch Pad: 39A
Launch Window: 9:15:10 – 9:25:10 p.m. EDT
Targeted Launch Time: 9:20:10 p.m. EDT
NASA KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AREA AVIATION FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS
What: Cape Canaveral Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR)
When: From 2:50 p.m. until no later than 10:06 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Where: General aviation and VFR operations are prohibited within a 30-nautical-mile radius 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 airspace
Additional airspace restrictions: Within an airspace radius between 30 and 40 nautical miles of 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) is closed and will reopen the day after launch. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge will close for launch on Tuesday, March 10 at 6 p.m. – State Road 402 east to State Road 3, and State Road 3 south from the Haulover Canal bridge to State Road 402 leading to Titusville will be open to badged personnel only. These roads will close to all vehicle traffic at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, until after a successful launch has occurred. – 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 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11. NASA Causeway between the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will also close starting at that time. Roads will reopen two hours after launch.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AREA BOATING RESTRICTIONS
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Now in effect and continuing through launch, a general exclusion zone will be in effect three miles offshore from the Haulover Canal, near the north end of Kennedy, and southward to Port Canaveral. Four hours prior to launch, all ocean-going traffic will be restricted from entering an area measured from nine miles north and south of the launch pad and extending 64 nautical miles east into the ocean. An additional three-mile-wide exclusion zone will be extended eastward along the flight path of the shuttle.
INDIAN RIVER: Restrictions apply from the NASA Causeway north to the Haulover Canal and east of the Indian River’s main channel. Restrictions begin 72 hours prior to launch.
MOSQUITO LAGOON: This area south of the Haulover Canal in the Mosquito Lagoon is off limits to all boats beginning 72 hours prior to launch.
BANANA RIVER: Security limits begin at the Banana River Barge Canal south of Kennedy at the State Road 528 crossing and extend north. This restriction is effective 72 hours prior to launch. All boating restrictions will be lifted approximately one hour after launch. Boating interests should monitor the U.S. Coast Guard Radio transmitting on Marine Channel 16 from Port Canaveral.
