STS-117 Atlantis is scheduled to launch on Friday evening at 7:18 PM. My plane lands at Orlando airport at 4:45 and I will pick up a rental car. No checked bags, so I should be on the road by 5:30PM and make it to the Cape by 6:30PM ??

Is this realistic? Or will I be 20 miles away looking through the windshield at a puff of smoke in the distance at 7:40PM?

If the weather is clear you can see it from almost anywhere in Central Florida. You did not say where you were going but don't expect to get to close. Their are always crowds and traffic at the better vantage points.

I agree with RedRock that anything close (Spaceview Park in Titusville, along US1 in T-ville, or Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral) will be at capacity before you'd get there.

You would be able to see the launch well from the beach in the Cape Canaveral/Cocoa Beach area, and as RedRock says, if the weather is good you can see it in most of Central Florida.

I don't know what the launch window is, but do be aware the the schedule can change, or the launch be scrubbed. Also, you face heavy, heavy traffic heading out of the area after the launch

If there is a delay and only for a short time I hope it turns into a night launch. Those on a clear night are something to see!

Ok, so I will cancel that plan because I do want to get close.

My other option would be to arrive MCO at 6AM after a redeye from LAX.

We are just outsid of Orlando, just north, and can always see the shuttles if it is clear. From the airport you can head east and just pull over when you get close to the time. It will be packed everywhere close. The only time we went there we stopped 7 miles away and it was unbelievable...the ground shook, the noise, great!!! BUT...if you feel this is your one and only chance come on the early flight. You must know though that it can be scrapped right up until the very last second!

Thurstonbb is right, they can scrub it up to the very last second. I am a photographer, leaving SWFL in the early Am to get into Kennedy Space center. I have to buy tickets for $50 to get near the viewing platform. If they scrub the launch, tickets are good for next attempt. The window for launch expires on June 24, 07. I just want a front row seat to see it as I have never. At Kennedy, they shut any access 2 hours prior to launch and have strict security in place. It will be impossible to make it to Kennedy based on your flight but I am sure you will see it from somewhere, it is quite visible. Up close and personal, this will be cool. I 'll post a few snapshots after it goes...

obrienenator--Lucky you! We were guests for a launch in Dec. and I have to say being so close was REALLY cool!!!

obrienenator - this has always been a dream of mine. it would be wonderful if you could post pics after the launch. hope you have a great experience.

I live nearby and will be viewing too..tickets for the next launch go on sale as soon as the last one goes...get them while they are hot, the shuttle program will retire soon and that is all until they finish Orion and fly again, which will be years from now....there are 4 scheduled shuttle launches on the books ending in February 2008...I think the program will retire by 2010.

Well that was a beautiful sight! I hope the mrwunrfl and obrienenator got to see it.

I was just thinking about this too and hoping they got to see it!

No, I'm still in Southern California. But this reminds me to take a look at getting tickets for the August launch.

I saw it from St. Augustine (Crescent Beach) tonight - about 100 miles north of the cape. What a beautiful, clear evening and fantastic sight to behold.

A good friend saw the launch yesterday from Jetty Park, I'm anxiously awaiting the hundreds of photos she took. Been wondering if mrwunrfl made it! We watched on TV and I'm always nervous for the launch (1986 is still too fresh in my mind). Hope to make a banzai run to Fla for one of the remaining launches.