Where to see space shuttle launch?

windswept

we saw the launch that had John Glenn, STS-95 (I think), we went to Titusville and had a great view from the beach , the traffic afterwards, all trying to get out, is not so great! there is a mini mall there with a supermarket and loos etc. very handy when you are there for hours.

movieman

Yeah, I remember some long traffic jams... we normally went to Daytona Beach afterwards to avoid having to fight through the jams on the way back to Orlando.

angel

chipfire wrote:

then you'll never see a space shuttle launch!

That's right!

wendyjj

Thankyou for your replies. I have to think about this, as we're staying in Orlando & are driving over to stay in Sarasota that day, so the opposite direction!!!! And my son wants to go to Boggy Creek!! So perhaps we'll give the launch as miss. Not sure hubbie will agree.

jonesMUFCforever

Ask the locals about Veterans Park.
It has concrete 'hands' of all the Apollo astronauts in the garden apart from those that perished in Apollo 1 's fire.
I think it was with Gator tours that we went with last time in Florida.
It was about 8 miles from the pad but the sheer noise and thrust you feel when it blasts off is amazing.
I would suggest this as a must do if you can get to see it.
Even more spectacular becaus of a pre dawn liftoff!

chipfire

wendyjj wrote:

Thankyou for your replies. I have to think about this, as we're staying in Orlando & are driving over to stay in Sarasota that day, so the opposite direction!!!! And my son wants to go to Boggy Creek!! So perhaps we'll give the launch as miss. Not sure hubbie will agree.

IMHO your Hubby would be right to dig in and insist that you all consider making the effort or at least allow him to go!

Sarasota, Boggy Creek - WHATEVER!!! :rolleyes: They'll still be there but the shuttle isn't going on forever.

Do the swamp any other day!!

The boy needs to see a rocket launch. Its the law:D

Lorian

I've been to two launches and missed one due to an APU failure. I saw the Hubble launch.

I've been there and back from Orlando (easy except for last few miles) and Tampa. The trip Tampa was a LONG day.

The whole experience for me was great, but it's not kid friendly. You have to be there EARLY. I mean VERY EARLY. Not becuase you won't find somewhere to stand, but because you'll be stuck in the miles of tailbacks on the roads.

Lots of standing about. TAKE AN FM RADIO so you can listen to the countdown and commentry.

You might get lucky and get KSC tickets for the viewing (not the best transport ones) you'd need to ring (USA) 321-449-4400 to find out. These tickets are your only chance of getting on the causeway. Expect $50 each, but they (IIRC) include admission to the rest of the site, which is a great anyway).

it would be a tricky call with you supposed to be heading west that day. It is however (from my blokey perspective at least) something not to be missed.

Bear in mind, you'll probably never get chance to see it again. Bit like concorde, soon it will be retired.

movieman

I've been to two launches and missed one due to an APU failure. I saw the Hubble launch.

Same here, though I missed the APU failure . I think it was fuel leaks that made me miss two launch attempts.

SCOTTEX

Yeehaw, thanks to this thread I just found out that we will be in Orlando for a shuttle STS-120 launch on the 26th August. I've been winding up my 7 yo about how good Kennedy Space centre will be.

Chuffed isn't the word, I feel like chicken tonight :beer:

Lorian

SCOTTEX wrote:

Yeehaw, thanks to this thread I just found out that we will be in Orlando for a shuttle STS-120 launch on the 26th August. I've been winding up my 7 yo about how good Kennedy Space centre will be.

Chuffed isn't the word, I feel like chicken tonight :beer:

Don't be smug about it or it won't fly!

You can try and get KSC "transport" tickets for the August flight. This is the BEST view you can get, IIRC onsale after the current flight goes. Viewing from a bridge actualy in KSC.

http://www.thespaceshop.com/ (KSC's shop).

Just search for "tickets"