Kennedy Space centre launch Nov 14th

[bokchoy]

Hi all

I was planning on going to the space centre to view the launch. I have general admission tickets already and I have some questions:

(1) Where would you recommend we go to (in our outside the complex) to view the launch, if I don't have the $15 tickets to view it?

(2) I heard some of the buildings/parts of the centre will be closed during the launch, but I couldn't find any information on their website. Does anybody know if this is the case and if so, is it closed the entire day or just a few hours beforehand?

Thanks!

 

[Janet Hill]

I don't quite understand which tickets you have. Do you have the tickets that are good on the day of the launch, but you don't have the ticket to go to the causeway for the better view? Unless you have a ticket that is good for the day of the launch the entire complex is closed to you. If you can get into the center that day, everything at the visitor's center is open. They will generally just show one of the IMAX movies (there are usually two different ones), in both theaters. All of the areas that are accessable by bus are closed. It will be obvious once you get there where to view the launch. They have an astronaut there talking about it and answering questions and a jumbotron showing what's going on for the final preparations.

It's quite crowded and refreshments are very expensive. You can bring in your own drinks and snacks. It tends to be a very long day, so be sure to bring a chair as well.

 

[bokchoy]

The ticket I have is from undercover tourist: 1 Day 1 Park Ticket (Kennedy Space Center Maximum Access +2nd Day Free)

So I'm assuming if I don't buy a ticket to view the launch, it's kind of a waste of time because almost everything else would be inaccessible to me?

 

[Janet Hill]

Without a ticket that is good for the day of the launch you will be turned around a couple of miles before you get to the KSC.

 

[kty]

If they are going to reschedule a launch, how far out (time - days/hours) do they do it? We were planning on going to kennedy on the 15th, but are concerned the shuttle takeoff on the 14th could be delayed.

 

[Sheribo]

We watched from Titusville. Bring binoculars and a Ham radio or scanner.
Awesome! Traffic to get back to Orlando was HUGE. Took us over 3 hours.

 

[encinc]

If they are going to reschedule a launch, how far out (time - days/hours) do they do it? We were planning on going to kennedy on the 15th, but are concerned the shuttle takeoff on the 14th could be delayed.

You never know. Sometimes launches are delayed days before. We were hoping to see a launch last December, and it was scrubbed about 5 hours before the scheduled time. It was initially rescheduled for the next day, and it ended up going up in February. I'd say keep your plans to go on the 15th, but have a backup plan in place.

 

[kty]

the op might be interested in the answer to this question as well, since he was planning on going to kennedy space center on 11/14 - how likely is the shuttle to actually go off that day? what are the odds?

thanks

 

[bokchoy]

Thanks for the tip, I guess I won't bother getting the launch tickets since it's so close to the date and I'd probably lose money trying to sell the ones I already have.

 

[kty]

bokchoy,

can you go another day?

 

[bokchoy]

Yep that was the plan all along until I noticed there was a launch date during the week I was there

 

[BPCooper]

This should help:

http://www.launchphotography.com/Shuttle_Launch_Viewing.html

I see that you have not purchased on site tickets good on launch day, so Titusville is the place to go to. You won't regret it, even if it scrubs and have to come back. Everyone should see a launch once, especially at night. IT will blow your mind away.

As for your particular tickets, you need to use them on a day other than launch day. If you can go before launch you will not risk the chance of a delay and not being able to do it at all. It is true that on launch day, the tour is limited, so you are better off doing the tour and visiting on another day. You will want to see it all.

Feel free to ask more questions.

 

[jpeppers]

We just stopped on the highway outside of Cocoa Beach (free). They had a pulloff where everyone was stopping and around launch time the police shut down all the trafic and the countdown was blaring over a speaker. There was a lot of traffic heading back to Orlando but wasn't terrible. It would have been nice to have been closer but it was still a great experience from there, it was my 3rd time in Orlando during a launch but the 1st one I actually saw......well worth it

 

[Amora]

Is it Buying the tickets online cheaper than at the gate?

 

[wendyinoc]

They said the best places were Titusville and the cruise ship terminal area if you don't have tickets. Also, if you have been to the vistor complex for your first visit before the event you can get in your second day on Friday with a regular ticket. So if you went this week your good or go tomorrow.Must be there by 10 am if you plan to do this on Friday. You really need two days to visit the complex. We did not get to finish it so I am sad about that.
The Kennedy is a must see!! I wish I was staying for the Launch but I will be on the Disney Cruise. Oh also they told us 60% go for launch at this point.