Kennedy Space Center - worth it?

[william41]

Has anyone seen a shuttle launch from KSC? Is it worth the trip? I've been to the KSC website and read up on the tours and all, and the admission charges seem really high .. however, I guess it *is* a tourist attraction!

I read that the bus leaves the premises 2 hrs. before launch time; what do you DO during that time? Does everyone sit out in the sun on bleachers waiting or what?

The official site is 6 miles from the shuttle - does that mean I'll need to take binoculars to see?
Just tell me everything you know!

Thanks,

William

 

[stwyatt]

we watched a shuttle launch at night in november. for 2 hrs you just sit on the grass. for us it was really cold--the wind coming off the water was really freezing. at 6 miles, you can only see a tiny light so binoculars are a must for a close-up view. and don't expect a binoc view to be as close and detailed as what you see on tv. the prices are high, the food not so good, but we thought the experience was wonderful. if you go, i would recommend taking the entire tour(apollo,etc.)it's really special to see that history. on a downside, after the shuttle launch, once we got back to the visitor's center, it took 1.5hrs to drive 6 miles!!i look at this as a once in a lifetime thing for our family so i don't regret waiting the 2 hrs. i guess if i had it to do over again, i would tour ksc, then go to titusville to watch the launch--because i bet with binocs you probably see about the same. FINALLY--i would definately eat at the "DIXIE CROSSROADS" restaurant while i was there. for us it was easily the best seafood that we ate on our entire wdw trip! hope this helps

 

[robinb]

I've seen 2 shuttle launches in the last year and hope to see another in July.

We did the KSC bus tour in May 2000 for the first lauch. $10 got us a ride to the viewing area where we sat on the grass. Food was available and at 6:00 am we were hungry! After the launch, our ticket included a tour of KSC, but not into the "VIP" areas or the movie. You can upgrade to that kind of ticket if you want to. I had to drive to KSC to pick up the tickets in person and was given a car pass which allowed me on the base during the launch. This was a dawn lauch and awesome! The vapor trail from the shuttle turned orange in the morning sun.

The second launch was in November 2000. I had a car pass which allowed me to park my car at the viewing sight which was farther away than the bus viewing site. This was a night launch and also great. I arrived about an hour before the launch and got back to CBR about 2 hours after the launch.

I don't consider seeing Americans going into Space a "once in a lifetime" event any more than I consider going to WDW a "once in a lifetime" vacation. I do it as often as I can !


-- Robin

 

[lowen]

A shuttle launch is a truly spectacular sight, even from 10 miles away in Titusville. Watching from KSC must be even better, but if you intend to do so, get your launch viewing tickets early as they sell out a long time before launch day.

One advantage of watching from outside is that if the launch is delayed or scrubbed (quite a common occurrence) you won't have wasted any money.

 

[myalron1]

im not sure if your interested, but we are renting a car from alamo, and getting 2 adult fares into the kennedy space center..they say its worth 50 bucks...i dont know exactly what it will let you into, but if your renting a car, it might be worth it.

Julie