Shuttle Launch

[Robbie Fan]

Has anybody been in Orlando when a shuttle launch has occured. According to the Kennedy Space centre website the next shuttle launch is not before 3rd October. We will be in Florida until 11th October and were hoping to see it. We have 2 children 6 and 2 and think it would be too much for the youngest to wait around for a long time, has anyone any tips on where the best place to view it from is? Apparently the official launch date is not announced until 2 weeks before, and even then it can be changed due to weather etc. It just seems crazy to be so close and not to try to see it. :usa: :usa: :usa:

[Catherine]

I have not myself been to see a shuttle launch, however a friend of mine was told not to try to get to Kennedy as the traffic can be horrid, so they sat in Blizzard Beach on a hot sunny day and watched it, they took a video of it and it looks very impressive. I must say though, if one was going while i was there i would be very tempted, we visited Kennedy Space Centre last year and we all loved it, we will go again next year.o

I am sure there will be someone on these boards who has been to a shuttle launch.

Just a little bit of info, you can become an armchair astronought (I have spelt that wrong) anyway you can pre order launch tickets, ect. You need to visit the Space Centre web site and create a password and bingo youre in,

[kiltedwarrior]

back in 92' I was lucky enough to see the launch of space shuttle Atlantis at kennedy space centre. We had bought tickets prior to launch day and had the NASA coaches ferry us over to the viewing area. We had waited quite a while back at the space centre for the coach, then had to wait around 2-3 hours before lift-off. It was extremely busy! I was only 10 at the time and remember being pretty bored, id recommend taking a picinc and some method of entertainment along with anyone planning to do this just to help pass the time. It really is a spectacular sight if you can see it and worth waiting for!:) We've got a good video of the lift off, i also seem to remember videoing a cheeky gator out in the lake who kept popping up from time to time!:D
It was quite surreal because when we returned to the space centre, they had live footage of the astronauts already in orbit getting on with their work!:)

[Lavenderlamb]

I have been in Florida when one of the shuttles went up last year.

We tried without success to get tickets, they were like gold dust. A lot of space-watcher as I call them, who seem to get their tickets well in advance.

You could always try to get onto one of the beaches close by, but be prepared for plenty of people!

Failing that, you could always do what we did, and watch it from Orlando. Yes, you WILL see it! Just look towards the top end of I-Drive, and you'll see it for miles around.

It's truly fantastic to watch, an experience that I wish I could have seen close up, but it wasn't to be...maybe next time.

[Cindernaenae]

We were in Tampa two years ago when they launched a shuttle. It was very early in the morining, the sun was just coming up and you could see the streak of light very well that was the shuttle.

It would be neat to see them launch it, but was very cool to see it from a distance.

I wouldn't brave the traffic, and remember that launches get delayed for weather reasons fairly often.

If it were me, I'd find a nice place from WDW to watch. :)

[dcfromva]

Robbie Fan,
For one reason or another, the Shuttle has its share of delays. The technology which supports the shuttle does not translate itself into meeting a schedule like an airline would....

Intellectually, everyone understands this, but emotionally, space travel has captured our imagination and it is an awesome site to watch-- Gosh, you more than watch it, you feel it--the vibration from the powerful booster rockets! Keeping this in mind, a lot of folks are willing to take a chance that everything will go according to plan....

My sister and her family got the chance to watch a Shuttle launch from KSC about 4 years ago --they thought was absolutely the crowning touch to their vacation... I, being dubious that the launch would go, stayed at EPCOT and watched the launch from there.... It was a night launch and it was awesome from my vantage point--but, still, I would like to see from KSC someday...

Here is a very good trip report from Keith about his experience this past summer:


link to Keith's trip report part I (http://www.wdisneyw.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5570)

link to keith's trip report part II (http://www.wdisneyw.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=36412#post36412)

link to KSC for info on viewing launches and off site viewing areas.... (http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/carpass/carpass.htm)

Good luck!
-DC :ears:

[UKduck]

In 99 we were waiting at the AS Sports bus stop for an early entry, when up went the Shuttle! Just managed to switch the camera on in time to tape it before it disappeared from view!:)

[Robbie Fan]

We are going to take a chance. I don't think my children will stand lots of waiting around. We are goiing to go to Coco Beach to view the launch. If it doesn't launch we haven't lost anything, we have got to see the coast!!!!bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: Can't wait now only 3 more days to go!!!!:usa: :usa: :usa: :usa:

[Fran]

We went to watch one in '97. Leave early for Coco the roads are really jammed. We had to give up trying to get near and watched it from a distance instead.

[highlander447]

must admit i will be there in 3 days and must see it even if from afar a little bit of history in the making:bounce: :thumbs: :ears:

[roy44]

If you are going with a tour operator see if they are organising any trips.
i have been lucky and seen 2 launches one a night flight was spectacular except we had to be at the viewing area at 2 am for a 4.30 launch.
The sceond lauch was 9 am so it was the launch then to the visitor centre for breakfast.
both times I let the tour operator take the strain and I just watched