A change of plan

Well, at first they (NASA) predicted the launch for mid July, however a couple of days ago (21 May) they set the targeted launch date for July 8. And what is July 8? The very day I am to come back!

So, my travel agent says I can change my plans, the only problem being that it might incur fees from airlines.

So, it's both an amazing turn of events, and also a potentially expensive one. But I'll continue to pray for something special to happen.

Now, one more matter of concern, the launch tickets bought from NASA for the viewing will be placed on a lottery system simply because of the huge volume of people interested in seeing the launch. (500k for the Endeavor) But I guess if I don't get a ticket, I'll just have to try to organize to get to the public viewing spots somehow, maybe I can meet a nice family who is willing to take me with them.
But once again, I'll pray for something good to happen.

So, the plan now - I have a few options:

1) Keep my plans as is, but push my return date back. This would mean an extra flight back from NYC to Orlando, and from Orlando to LAX.

2) As dad recommends, I should push my entire trip forward a week. The fee for rescheduling the departure date and the return date (for the international flight) is the same as just rescheduling one instance of it, so changing both is exactly the same.

So here is what I'm thinking. Push it back a week (I need to remember however that uni holidays are only 3 weeks long.) Leave later, say July 1, fly from LAX to NYC (As apposed to Orlando first). Arrive there at sometime July 2. Spend about 4 nights and 5 days in NYC as previously planned. Fly out of NYC to Orlando on the 6th. Spend a few days in Orlando, see the launch on the 8th, and stay in the hotel for the planned 8 nights. That has me leaving Orlando on July 14, flying to LAX, then back to Australia.


I'm just thinking though, perhaps I should not have my return flights set, just in case another change happens. That is possible according to my flight attendant but it just means I don't know how much I might be in for cost wise.

So yes, exciting stuff, but also stressful stuff :)