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Hi all,

Will be at Johnson Space Center this weekend for the Ballunar Liftoff Festival (hot air balloon festival) as the Weather Officer on the staff.

I know JSC is off-limits, but does anyone know if Space Center Houston is 30.06 posted or is it an actual federal facility? I know it is ran by a 501(c)(3) organization, but not sure who owns the building/property.

If anyone can make it out to the festival, there will be a Halloween balloon glow on Friday night and flights Saturday morning and evening and Sunday morning. The website is http://www.ballunarfestival.com/

Looks like the winds will be from the Northeast at about 10 mph and that will push the balloons down toward Friendswood and Pearland. Please keep your muzzles pointed down at the ground if you are at PSC this weekend!!

I am going to try to come by PSC on Saturday between the flights and maybe meet a few of the folks out there. Also going to stop by the new Shiloh range on Sunday as I make my way back north to Plano.

Hope to meet some of you over the weekend!!

The last time I was there, which was a few years ago, they had signs at the entrances to the parking lots saying that weapons were illegal there. I think the feds own the entire property.

- Jim

It IS Federal Property. Even if Space Center Houston was not, the tour takes you onsite to JSC and that is a BIG no no there.

razoraggie wrote:It IS Federal Property. Even if Space Center Houston was not, the tour takes you onsite to JSC and that is a BIG no no there.

Not gonna take the tour since I have been there done that, but the festival officials headquarters is in the visitor center I was wondering. Was hoping to leave it locked in the vehicle while in the visitor center parking lot, but if it IS federal property, then that is a no-no too.

I will be on NASA property some of the time with the festival, so probably will just forget about carrying even around the visitors center too.

Thanks,

Total side note here, is there something going on at PSC this weekend that you could go to meet some texas CHLers? Or is there just an abnormally large amount of them there every weekend? Maybe I should start going there

waltherone wrote:Total side note here, is there something going on at PSC this weekend that you could go to meet some texas CHLers? Or is there just an abnormally large amount of them there every weekend? Maybe I should start going there

There are numerous ones from the forum that are memners there and shoot frequently. It is going to be a pretty Saturday, so unless they are out deer hunting I figure there will be some out there. There is also a class going on that Charles is teaching, so was gonna stop out and at least say hi to him. I have never been to PSC, since I live in the Dallas area, so taking the opportunity to see their range also. All in all, it was either go out there and kill some time, or go shopping at the mall. Kinda a no brainer!!

Keith B wrote:All in all, it was either go out there and kill some time, or go shopping at the mall. Kinda a no brainer!!

By all means go to PSC. I'd recommend going to Kemah at least to say you've seen it. It's a tourist trap.

There's a huge motorcycle rally in Galveston this weekend. Traffic will probably be nasty.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:

Keith B wrote:All in all, it was either go out there and kill some time, or go shopping at the mall. Kinda a no brainer!!

By all means go to PSC. I'd recommend going to Kemah at least to say you've seen it. It's a tourist trap.

There's a huge motorcycle rally in Galveston this weekend. Traffic will probably be nasty.

- Jim

LOL, yeah, good suggestion Jim. I have been there. It IS a tourist trap but pretty neat.

I was hoping to get to Galveston to eat at Guido's, but probably won't make it. Anyway, there will be plenty of other stuff to do with the other balloonists, but want to hit the two ranges and meet whoever I can from the forum during my off time from the festival.

I look forward to possibly meeting some of you!

How long does it take to drive from Dallas?

Longtooths wrote:How long does it take to drive from Dallas?

It is about 290 miles from my house in Plano, so between 4.5 and 5 hours (or 1 hour at 290 MPH!)

Keith B wrote: It is about 290 miles from my house in Plano, so between 4.5 and 5 hours (or 1 hour at 290 MPH!)

That's a really fast Balloon

Liberty wrote:

Keith B wrote: It is about 290 miles from my house in Plano, so between 4.5 and 5 hours (or 1 hour at 290 MPH!)

That's a really fast Balloon

I am not sure of the exact speed record, but do have a friend who has averaged 218 MPH in a true hot air balloon. He flew from Chanute, KS to South Carolina in one winter day during daylight hours. He was mainly at about 18,000 feet in the jet stream!

Years ago, when we toured JSC and the mission control, there was a set of lockers that they expected you to stow ANY pouches, purses etc., before being scanned/searched by security. There were no signs then.

After 9-11 there were signs and unarmed(never quite saw the point) security checking bags, cell phones and cameras at a table outside of the building. Cell phones and cameras have to be turned on so that they can verify they're real (I guess).

Kyle

Dragonfighter wrote:Years ago, when we toured JSC and the mission control, there was a set of lockers that they expected you to stow ANY pouches, purses etc., before being scanned/searched by security. There were no signs then.

After 9-11 there were signs and unarmed(never quite saw the point) security checking bags, cell phones and cameras at a table outside of the building. Cell phones and cameras have to be turned on so that they can verify they're real (I guess).

Kyle

After being there over the weekend, I observed a few things. All of the property IS owned by NASA, including the Space Center Houston, so no carry at all per federal code.

I usually ended up using the back doors of the Space Center Houston facility as we had special access and parking. However, I did go through the main entrance once. They ask if you have any pocket knives or weapons, and the sign was up referring to federal code 18.930

As for JSC itself, as an official for the festival, I was allowed to take the tramway and drive over, bypassing the security gates. However, during the festival, they were not checking cars, but did have a lot of armed security around the festival area. If you printed they probably would have noticed! To be legal, I just left my carry weapon locked up at the hotel in a safe deposit box if I was going to be on NASA property. Was not that big a hassle.

On a side note, I did get an opportunity to visit PSC and have a nice visit and some pizza with Charles, his lovely wife and a couple of the folks in his PPOH class that are members here on the forum. Thanks for your hospitality Charles!!

The range is a really nice facility. I was envious of all the capabilities they have there. Sure wished I lived closer to Houston!