# We want to see a shuttle launch while we still can. Best bet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 14, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-want-to-see-a-shuttle-launch-while-we-still-can-best-bet/517569 "2009-11-14T17:55:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-want-to-see-a-shuttle-launch-while-we-still-can-best-bet/517569/1 "2009-11-14T17:55:41Z")
Until my parents sell their beach house we have digs in Fernandina Beach, which is a few hours away from the launch site. As we all know, you can get there and huddle out in the freezing cold and they don’t launch after all. So my question is, since I have to take off work to do this, are any of the launches more “sure things” than others? Specific shuttles, specific times of the year? Here’s what’s left: February 4, 5:52 AM - Endeavour (why is it spelled like that, BTW?) March 18, 1:34 PM - Discovery May 14, 2:28 PM - Atlantis July 29, 7:51 AM - Endeavour September 16, 11:57 AM - Discovery And that’s it, forever. Is the optimal strategy to hit February and hope that even if that one doesn’t go off we can try again in March? How long a notice do you usually get that it isn’t going to happen? (I know that’s hard to answer, when it could be anything from weather to a mechancial issue.) We have no mission preference or anything and I’ve wanted to go my whole life and it’s my last chance, so I’ll go to one at any time. (I did see a night launch once from the beach house driveway, which was awesome.) What’s the statistical probability of any of these launches occurring on time? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-want-to-see-a-shuttle-launch-while-we-still-can-best-bet/517569/2 "2009-11-14T18:35:18Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > (why is it spelled like that, BTW?) > [@](#): > > Endeavour was named through a national competition involving students in elementary and secondary schools. Entries included an essay about the name, the story behind it and why it was appropriate for a NASA shuttle, and the project that supported the name. Endeavour was the most popular entry, accounting for almost one-third of the state-level winners. For example, Utah’s state level winner, Nolan Butcher, a sixth grade student from Nibley Park Elementary school located in Salt Lake City Utah, selected Endeavour because some definitions of the word mean to be bold and put forth great effort. The national winners were Senatobia Middle School in Senatobia, Miss., in the elementary division and Tallulah Falls School in Tallulah Falls, Ga., in the upper school division. The national winners were selected based on the quality of the project submitted with their entries. They were honored at several ceremonies in Washington, D.C., including a White House ceremony where then-President George H.W. Bush presented awards to each school. > > The orbiter is named after HM Bark Endeavour, the ship commanded by 18th century explorer James Cook; the name also honored Endeavour, the Command Module of Apollo 15. This is why the name is spelled in the British English manner, rather than the American English spelling of “Endeavor.” This has caused confusion, most notably when NASA themselves misspelled a sign on the launch pad in 2007. [Cite](http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Space_Shuttle_Endeavour#encyclopedia). Sorry it’s not more authoritative. I had worse than bad luck trying to search NASA for this info. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-want-to-see-a-shuttle-launch-while-we-still-can-best-bet/517569/3 "2009-11-14T18:41:12Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > (I did see a night launch once from the beach house driveway, which was awesome.) What’s the statistical probability of any of these launches occurring on time? Depends on what you mean by on time. Their have been eleven STS missions since the start of 2007, with only two launching on the scheduled day. Four others launched with delays of 6 days or less. The other five had delays of over three weeks. The longer delays were either due to “mechanical” issues or scheduling issues relating to other missions. Those delays were typically announced long in advance. Bottom line: if there’s a launch scheduled for next week and a delay hasn’t been announced, it’s likely to happen next week, though not necessarily on the exact day/time scheduled. As for the name, wikipedia says: > [@](#): > > The orbiter is named after HM Bark Endeavour, the ship commanded by 18th century explorer James Cook; the name also honored Endeavour, the Command Module of Apollo 15. This is why the name is spelled in the British English manner, rather than the American English spelling of “Endeavor.” This has caused confusion, most notably when NASA themselves misspelled a sign on the launch pad in 2007. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-want-to-see-a-shuttle-launch-while-we-still-can-best-bet/517569/4 "2009-11-14T19:17:50Z")
You probably want to schedule a few-weeks vacation in Florida, starting on the day the Shuttle is scheduled to launch. Then, in all the time that it’s not actually launching, either before or after, go see Disneyworld or something.