Space Shuttle Explorer LbNA #6724 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Riversol  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Mar 25, 2003 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Norristown |
| County: | Montgomery |
| State: | Pennsylvania |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Anne of Green Gables |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jul 2, 2009 |
| Status: | FFFFFFaUF |
| Last edited: | Mar 25, 2003 |
My first placement!
(Special Thanks to Clueless for introducing me to letterboxing!)
04/13/2009 Clue refreshed and verified. Alas, the original store bought stamps #1 and #2 have disappeared (fittingly?). The original hand-carved stamp #3 is now the sole prize!
12/18/2003 Clue revised. As this was my first place, it was due to be upgraded with a nice hand carved stamp :)
Dedicated to the crews of Columbia and Challenger, and to the soon to be retired Space Shuttle program. I was lucky enough to see two launches of Discovery live! If you can make the trip to Florida yourself to see one of the last launches before the 2010 decommissioning, do so!
No Inkpad Provided. May be thorny in areas.
Allow about 1.5-2 hours for this mission.
Start at the Norristown Farm Park Visitor Center; the entrance is at the intersection of North Wales and West Germantown Pike.
From the shuttle control parking lot examine the Space Shuttle Explorer up close; its main rocket booster, towering high, is straddled by two secondary rockets. (The total number of large rocket boosters standing here = A. The number of rockets without a hemispherical nosecone = B) As the shuttle readies for launch, navigate through the yellow runway guideposts (The number of yellow guide posts = C), and scope out the launch complex.
Turn right as you approach the complex entrance, sticking to the wide tarmac. Continue by car (or on foot) on the tarmac making a ninety degree left on the vehicle access road; keep the Space Shuttle Explorer in sight to your right so you can be ready to watch the launch at a moment's notice. As you gain a gravity assist from the terrain, keep an eye out for the tourist parking lot on your left.
Exiting your vehicle observe two adjacent, covered VIP spectator structures that will permit you to have a pre-launch lunch, should you choose.
On foot, seek out a stream of dihydrogen oxide in the adjacent wood. Follow the adjacent path WITH the flow of the current and enjoy the beautiful diversity evolution has wrought. NASA has used this area as a junkyard for old equipment, so keep your eyes open. As the path diverges from the stream, scan the flora for a spent (phony?) rocket booster (The two digit serial number = D) lies at a fork in the trail.
Continue your trek back on the main trail. The shuttle launch will surely be happening anytime now. You may spot a diamond the size of a good-sized asteroid across the flowing stream ahead.
Stick to the trail and you may be confronted with tourist icons along the way, but your attention should be turned to finding a good view of the Space Shuttle Explorer.
Pay close attention on your left until you come to a fallen fence which will permit you an unobstructed view of the shuttle in the pasture. Oh no it looks like the launch has been delayed. Oh well, not like that hasn't happened before.
In the meantime, you spot the remains of a huge fallen central booster lying about ten meters up the trail on the right. Good thing this lengthy rocket is biodegradable! Skirt the base of the capsized rocket along the creek and you will find a small, square concrete launch pad. (The number of circular holes in the pad = E)
Hark, the launch countdown has begun! From the far end of the rocket, you take (D) large BOUNDING steps taking you further down the trail as you seek a place to watch the launch. A thrumming impossibly loud rumble shakes the ground as you reach the bottom of a downslope.
ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Liftoff has begun but has caught you off guard and in a spot with poor visibility. You close your eyes settling for an imaginative vision of the Shuttle Explorer's launch with the brave astronauts inside pushing the envelope of exploration!
Perhaps your imagination is stronger than you think.
From your low elevation position you proceed (EB) meters at (BAC) degrees, where a souvenir shuttle launch image awaits (SPOR).
As you relax, you notice the immense form of a Saturn rocket nearby. An ominious foreshadow of the Ares rocket program to replace the shuttle.
You retrace your steps thinking upon the amazing places we have yet to explore.
Observational Notes
The total number of large rocket boosters standing A = __.
The number of rockets w/o a hemispherical nosecone B = __.
The number of yellow guide posts C = __.
The two digit serial number D __ __.
The number of circular holes in the concrete pad E = __.
(Special Thanks to Clueless for introducing me to letterboxing!)
04/13/2009 Clue refreshed and verified. Alas, the original store bought stamps #1 and #2 have disappeared (fittingly?). The original hand-carved stamp #3 is now the sole prize!
12/18/2003 Clue revised. As this was my first place, it was due to be upgraded with a nice hand carved stamp :)
Dedicated to the crews of Columbia and Challenger, and to the soon to be retired Space Shuttle program. I was lucky enough to see two launches of Discovery live! If you can make the trip to Florida yourself to see one of the last launches before the 2010 decommissioning, do so!
No Inkpad Provided. May be thorny in areas.
Allow about 1.5-2 hours for this mission.
Start at the Norristown Farm Park Visitor Center; the entrance is at the intersection of North Wales and West Germantown Pike.
From the shuttle control parking lot examine the Space Shuttle Explorer up close; its main rocket booster, towering high, is straddled by two secondary rockets. (The total number of large rocket boosters standing here = A. The number of rockets without a hemispherical nosecone = B) As the shuttle readies for launch, navigate through the yellow runway guideposts (The number of yellow guide posts = C), and scope out the launch complex.
Turn right as you approach the complex entrance, sticking to the wide tarmac. Continue by car (or on foot) on the tarmac making a ninety degree left on the vehicle access road; keep the Space Shuttle Explorer in sight to your right so you can be ready to watch the launch at a moment's notice. As you gain a gravity assist from the terrain, keep an eye out for the tourist parking lot on your left.
Exiting your vehicle observe two adjacent, covered VIP spectator structures that will permit you to have a pre-launch lunch, should you choose.
On foot, seek out a stream of dihydrogen oxide in the adjacent wood. Follow the adjacent path WITH the flow of the current and enjoy the beautiful diversity evolution has wrought. NASA has used this area as a junkyard for old equipment, so keep your eyes open. As the path diverges from the stream, scan the flora for a spent (phony?) rocket booster (The two digit serial number = D) lies at a fork in the trail.
Continue your trek back on the main trail. The shuttle launch will surely be happening anytime now. You may spot a diamond the size of a good-sized asteroid across the flowing stream ahead.
Stick to the trail and you may be confronted with tourist icons along the way, but your attention should be turned to finding a good view of the Space Shuttle Explorer.
Pay close attention on your left until you come to a fallen fence which will permit you an unobstructed view of the shuttle in the pasture. Oh no it looks like the launch has been delayed. Oh well, not like that hasn't happened before.
In the meantime, you spot the remains of a huge fallen central booster lying about ten meters up the trail on the right. Good thing this lengthy rocket is biodegradable! Skirt the base of the capsized rocket along the creek and you will find a small, square concrete launch pad. (The number of circular holes in the pad = E)
Hark, the launch countdown has begun! From the far end of the rocket, you take (D) large BOUNDING steps taking you further down the trail as you seek a place to watch the launch. A thrumming impossibly loud rumble shakes the ground as you reach the bottom of a downslope.
ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Liftoff has begun but has caught you off guard and in a spot with poor visibility. You close your eyes settling for an imaginative vision of the Shuttle Explorer's launch with the brave astronauts inside pushing the envelope of exploration!
Perhaps your imagination is stronger than you think.
From your low elevation position you proceed (EB) meters at (BAC) degrees, where a souvenir shuttle launch image awaits (SPOR).
As you relax, you notice the immense form of a Saturn rocket nearby. An ominious foreshadow of the Ares rocket program to replace the shuttle.
You retrace your steps thinking upon the amazing places we have yet to explore.
Observational Notes
The total number of large rocket boosters standing A = __.
The number of rockets w/o a hemispherical nosecone B = __.
The number of yellow guide posts C = __.
The two digit serial number D __ __.
The number of circular holes in the concrete pad E = __.