My pictures from the last Space Shuttle launch

[Guest-expert]

I actually have about a hundred more....we had actually gone to the space center 4 of the 6 attempts, and on the last attempt, we got seated up at infront of the press in the Turn Basin. I've seen every launch since 1981 (except 6 while i was in college) These were the closest you were allowed to be (legally). With 7 launches left until it's retired, i had to give my kids this experience. My folks (and my wifes folks) all grew up with the Apollo missions, and we grew up with the shuttle. And I hope that my kids get to see Orion.

 

[mjones73]

Nice pictures, they were supposed to launch it when I was down there last month but as you know it got scrubbed, hoping I can catch one of the remaining 7.

 

[Guest-expert]

Nice pictures, they were supposed to launch it when I was down there last month but as you know it got scrubbed, hoping I can catch one of the remaining 7.

they were saying only 2 other missions had been scrubbed more that 6 times...that's actually pretty good stats...

8 out of 10 have been ontime.

 

[Howellsy]

Great pictures! I've always wanted to see a launch but I never seem to catch them, you're so lucky

 

[Guest-expert]

I think the next launch is August 25th or 26th

 

[Guest-expert]

Great pictures! I've always wanted to see a launch but I never seem to catch them, you're so lucky

helps when you live 5 minutes from the visitor complex.

 

[Sawhiskey]

Thanks for sharing those awesome pictures.. You were really close.. Thanks again for sharing...

 

[valeriemouse]

Awesome pictures

My family has a condo in Cocoa Beach and I have been fortunate enough to make it down to the cape for a few launches. Researching NASA and the space program is one of my favorite pastimes. I, too, will be sad when they retire the shuttles, but I'm looking foward to Orion!

 

[ScarletFire]

Several months ago I was taking my trash out and noticed my 80-year old neighbor looking in the sky. She was waiting for the International Space Station and Space Shuttle to go overheard. I was amazed and often go outside at night for a sighting. The schedule and orbits are posted by NASA. Here's the link if you're interested.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/index.html

You have to enter your country, state, and city for accurate times; it's always on time. There is a menu at the top of the page with more great info.

Friday night the shuttle was not yet docked but orbiting beside the ISS; I saw it! OMG!

 

[loveDmouse]

helps when you live 5 minutes from the visitor complex.

Is that where you went to watch the launch? The Visitor complex? I want to try when we are there in November and have been trying to figure out the best spot to watch. From what I have read so far you can watch it from there and the tickets are mission specific but if you take the bus out to the causeway to watch the launch then you have to repay each time which could get really expensive.

Those are awesome pics!

Thanks.

 

[babydovesx2]

I remember one time as a kid we were heading home and my mom lucked up and said what a funny looking airplane. My dad looked up and said that was the space shuttle riding piggy back. My dad pulled over and we all got out of the car and stood on the side of the interstate looking up. My dad got some cool photos. We had been to the Space Center that week and they told us the shuttle was due back in that day.

Also when I was in college my friends and I went to WDW for spring break. AS we were walking across the parking lot at MK we saw off in the distance the shuttle going up. From MK parking lot it looks like a small airplane with fire shooting out of the back of it and a long trail of smoke. It was pretty cool.

 

[chipndales]

Those are amazing. You're very lucky to have seen so many. I've seen two. One was when we were leaving the Florida area to go to the airport and my brother and I watched it from the back window of our rental while we were driving, and this past November I took my DD to the Boardwalk to watch a night launch of the shuttle. I have always wanted to see it closer but the timing is always wrong.

 

[keywestbride]

Neat pics!

 

[Guest-expert]

Is that where you went to watch the launch? The Visitor complex? I want to try when we are there in November and have been trying to figure out the best spot to watch. From what I have read so far you can watch it from there and the tickets are mission specific but if you take the bus out to the causeway to watch the launch then you have to repay each time which could get really expensive.

Those are awesome pics!

Thanks.

No, we were actually in front of mission control at the VAB building. I have family with contacts out there still and we got a car pass. I'd never been that close before, and probably never again, but it was worth all 4 times we went out there.

 

[Guest-expert]

Those are amazing. You're very lucky to have seen so many. I've seen two. One was when we were leaving the Florida area to go to the airport and my brother and I watched it from the back window of our rental while we were driving, and this past November I took my DD to the Boardwalk to watch a night launch of the shuttle. I have always wanted to see it closer but the timing is always wrong.

We've been very lucky living here in Cocoa Beach. Night launches are the best! I did actually catch one, in the morning once, we were on our way to Disney, and it cast a shadow across the Hwy417. SO we stopped and stood in the shadow on the side of the road.

 

[Guest-expert]

my son's the little one in the green shirt. Launch control is on the left with all the windows.

These are the news towers, that were behind us.

Close up...

My last sky shot of that day....

 

[Sandy51]

Very cool pictures! Thanks for sharing.


Sandy

 

[GiGi30]

Amazing! We are hoping to see the launch in November by taking a break from WDW and driving to the Space Center for a day. Any advice on how to get tickets?

 

[ParrotBill]

Loved your pictures thanks for sharing.

I grew up on Gemini then Apollo, then Shuttle. I will be so sad to see spaceflight end for my lifetime, and hope my daughter will see Orion with the same wonder I did watching the moon landing... my family got their first 8" black and white TV for the landing.

 

[I_Heart_Disney_4_Lyf]

Thanks so much for the awesome photographs. My Mom and I will be in Orlando Nov. 7-14th and are hoping to catch the launch on Nov. 12th.

Is every launch pretty much postponed or do some actually launch as scheduled?
We are really feeling blessed to be there during a scheduled launch, just curious what our odds are of catching it.


Thank you again for the pics!!!