Space Shuttle scheduled for launch 6/8! About This Page:

[rescuesk]

Atlantis has been rescheduled for launch on June 8!

Her original launch date of 3/15 needed to be postponed so that severe hail damage could be repaired. But last week, she was rolled out to the launch platform and put in position, and all systems are currently "Go!"

The team will be doing their flight readiness review next week, at which time they will determine if a "Certificate of Flight Readiness" can be issued.

If you will be in the Orlando/Port Canaveral area in early June, you may get to see a launch!

Here is some info on the mission:

NASA - Space Shuttle - Launch and Landing

[lauren-roxy]

I am so going to see a shuttle launch one day!!

[jullip13]

That is the day we plan on arriving in Orlando. We hope to see the launch. Has anyone seen it before? I am wondering about the noise and my autistic son. I don't want to start our vacation with a meltdown.

[Poohrabbit]

Hi,

I teach students with autism, and I'm sure as a parent of a child with autism, you know that preparation is the key. Maybe one preparation might be to let him watch some of the people's launch videos on You tube. It gives a real good idea of how loud the noise might be and would give you an indication of how your child might react. It would also help prepare your child by knowing what to expect.

Are you familiar with social stories by Carol Gray? You could make a book of photographs of the shuttle and related views and write a story about what it is like to experience a space shuttle launch. This is so effective with children with autism.

Feel free to respond to my post if you would like some more helpful suggestions about how to do a social story.

I know the noise issue is a very important one for many children with autism. I teach middle school and we sometimes have pep rallies. One student will sometimes have more hand-flapping and the other will put his fingers in his ears. We do a lot of preparation for what to expect and this helps tremendously.

Kim

[jullip13]

Originally Posted by Poohrabbit

Hi,

I teach students with autism, and I'm sure as a parent of a child with autism, you know that preparation is the key. Maybe one preparation might be to let him watch some of the people's launch videos on You tube. It gives a real good idea of how loud the noise might be and would give you an indication of how your child might react. It would also help prepare your child by knowing what to expect.

Are you familiar with social stories by Carol Gray? You could make a book of photographs of the shuttle and related views and write a story about what it is like to experience a space shuttle launch. This is so effective with children with autism.

Feel free to respond to my post if you would like some more helpful suggestions about how to do a social story.

I know the noise issue is a very important one for many children with autism. I teach middle school and we sometimes have pep rallies. One student will sometimes have more hand-flapping and the other will put his fingers in his ears. We do a lot of preparation for what to expect and this helps tremendously.

Kim

Thank you for your suggestions! I have showed him some videos and talked to him about how it will be. We are not going to pay to see it so we will be farther away. He seems to be excited about it. He likes space so I think he will enjoy it.

[Mark Penell]

I'm going and I bought a ticket on Ebay for a lunch with an astranaut and a bus ride within 6 miles of the launch! Anyone else going?

[Poohrabbit]

I am so glad that some suggestions helped. I hope you have an awesome time!!

Kim