Press Release

Airspace, Road, Bridge and Waterway Closures for STS-127

By SpaceRef Editor
July 8, 2009
Filed under , , ,
Airspace, Road, Bridge and Waterway Closures for STS-127
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Launch Date: July 11, 2009
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Endeavour
Launch Pad: 39A
Launch Window: 7:34 – 7:45 p.m. EDT
Targeted Launch Time: 7:39 p.m. EDT

NASA KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AREA AVIATION FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS

What: Cape Canaveral Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR)

When: From 12:34 p.m. until no later than 8:15 p.m. EDT, Saturday, July 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 terminal area and Jacksonville sectional

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) will close for launch on Tuesday, July 7, at 6 p.m. and will reopen after launch. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge will close on Friday, July 10, at 6 p.m. and will also reopen after launch.

– State Road 406 east to State Road 3, and State Road 3 south from the Haulover Canal bridge to County Road 402 leading to Titusville will be open to badged personnel only. These roads will close to all vehicle traffic at 5:34 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, until after a successful launch is confirmed.

– 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 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 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. The roads will reopen two hours after launch.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AREA BOATING RESTRICTIONS

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Beginning at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7 (L-4 days), 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 extending 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 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 the Haulover Canal and east of the Indian River’s main channel. Restrictions begin four days prior to launch at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7.

MOSQUITO LAGOON: This area south of the Haulover Canal in the Mosquito Lagoon is off limits to all boats four days prior to launch beginning at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7.

BANANA RIVER: Security limits begin at the Banana River Barge Canal south of Kennedy, located immediately above State Road 528, and extend north. The area includes KARS Park on Merritt Island. This restriction is effective four days prior to launch beginning at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7. All boating restrictions will be lifted approximately one hour after launch.

Boating interests should monitor U.S. Coast Guard Radio transmitting on Marine Channel 16 from Port Canaveral.

SpaceRef staff editor.