Space Shuttle launch - any tips?
 

We will be coming over from Disneyworld for the October launch. Any tips on where to watch. What to do or not do. We do not have an official car pass issued by NASA. Any info will be helpful! <BR>

I went to one once. All I can say is that it is farther from Orlando than it looks on a map; if it is a morning launch keep in mind local work traffic; and leave early so that you can get as close as possible!!!! <BR>I don't know if this would work, but maybe there is a hotel on the coast that is good for watching shuttle launches. Maybe in Cocoa Beach (just south of Kennedy Space Center)? <BR>

for info on shuttle launches, call (407) 867-4636 or <BR>800-KSC-INFO. To get vehicle passes, you gotta write three months in advance. If you do that, get (the little known) pass to drive to and see the abandoned mercury launch pads. The visitor center sells tickets around one week before the launch, and has a bus to the site, six miles away 407-452-2121x6. You can also view it along Hwy 1 in Titusville,407-267-3036. Also on hwy A1A in Cocoa Beach, south of state road 402 before Merritt island Wildlife Refuge. I'm told you can camp in a nearby refuge and see it across the water, this fellow told me it was his favorite way to view a launch. Don't forget to visit Fatboy's BBQ on A1A, they have lots of astronaut pictures. <BR>

We watched the Colombia a few years back from Jetty Park. We found out about Jetty Park from the Kennedy Space Center/Space Shuttle missions website. Jetty Park is at the north end of Cocoa Beach. That's pretty much the closest you can get without being in the Space Center--and from what I gather, where you watch in the Space Center is not much closer (for safety reasons). We were really glad we made the effort to see the launch. Get to the park several hours early---it gets packed quick.

<BR>This is a shot in the dark, but I did it so maybe you can to. Last year we went to disney word, too. We are originally from Wapakoneta, home of Neal Armstrong, first man on the moon. Well, I just got on the net and started looking for Neil Armstrong. I got an address, somewhere in Clevelan (I forget) but wrote a letter to Neil. Got a response from a lady at some office that called back and said she would mail me a car pass and I recieved it in 2 days. This was just 2 WEEKS before we left!! So, don't give up. My suggestion would be to type in the internet under search some astonaut, then go that route. They sounded as though it was no problem what so ever!! We thought the launch was the best part of vacation!!! over DISNEY WORD!! A must see for you! The ground trembled and set off car alarms! It was the most fantastic thing I have ever seen. And while you are at the up close viewing area, you have space center telling you about delays, count downs, etc. Thus, it is about the best you can get! <BR>Good luck. <BR>Mary

I watched it from Jetty park also. I went for a night launch. The bugs were not that bad but bring some bug spray. The sky turns orange, you start to hear the roar just about the same time the ground starts to vibrate. Then you see this big ball of flame rising up. Don't miss it!

The summer of '96, I took my kids to see a shuttle <BR>launch. I have to say it was well worth the trip. <BR>We stayed in Cocoa Beach. This was my first trip to this area. I prefer the gulf, but if you go to the <BR>east coast, Cocoa Beach is the place to stay(About 1 hr. from Orlando). We stayed at the "Beach Island Resort"(www.duncangroup.com, (407)784-5720). It was really nice, family owned and affordable. Get up in the morning and walk right out onto the beach. In fact, thats how we viewed the shuttle launch. We watched all the preparation up to liftoff on the local NASA channel and then walked out on the beach and watched it soar. I had obtained a pass to view the launch, but the manager warned us about the traffic and said the view was just as good right there from the beach. The vibration and then the kind of rumbling roar that came down the beach was not like anything else I've ever experienced. The shuttle was long out of sight before you even heard the roar. <BR>Have Fun!

Just in case someone sees this old post, I just wanted to let him/her know that you CANNOT camp at a nearby wildlife refuge, assuming the poster meant Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Due to their proximity to KSC, they close the day before and the day of each launch. I was told that they usually open a few hours after a successful launch, so if you want to visit the refuge (to look for spoonbills, herons, etc.) you usually CAN get in the evening of a launch or almost certainly the next day - assuming the launch has already gone off!

I think he meant Jetty Park, which had a campground when we went as kids (not that long before this was posted), and is right across the water from the launch site.

I saw on the site of vistit Florida that there will be a launch at July 30th. But on the site of cape caneveral the say its August 6. We wil be close by end July begin August but which date is correct??

Elma, the date will likely change so any date is speculation at this point

You can check here for info on launches (shuttles and rockets); as you see, the tentative schedule is for Endeavour to launch June 13 and Atlantis on August 6.

As tchoiniere points out, launch dates change frequently.

Let's try that again!

http://www.floridatoday.com/content/...ch/index.shtml

We're planning to make the 2 hr trip over to see the Shuttle on the 13th for the 1st time. Is it realistic to think we will be able to get into Jetty Park and a decent view spot for a morning launch if we are there about 1 hr before launch time?

No, there will be plenty of space on the beach, but the parking lot will be full well before that. If you can't get there before that, try Cherie Downs Park which is south of Jetty Park and not as well known. To get to Cherie Downs, go south on Atlantic Ave (A1A), then turn left on Washington.

Bless your heart, mkmab, a launch is definitely something to see but you can just about figure you'll have a 50/50 chance of the mission being scrubbed for that day. When you're that close how can you not try though?

You definately need to see the launch, it is a bucket list experince. The next launch is now set for August 25th at 1.26am EST! Tickets hve sold out on Kennedy Space Center.com however take a look at websites such as www.spaceshuttlelaunchtours.com they sell pacakges on behlaf of Kennedy to view the launch from the NASA causeway, the nearest a member of the general public can get within NASA property just 6 miles from launchpad. My picture was taken there it is totally worth going to view from there.
Good luck, hope you make it!

You will NEVER forget a launch, Jetty Park is a great location.