Possible to see Rocket Launch from Cruise Terminal

[ytsyts]

Hi,

I was checking out the KSC website to plan for a visit and saw that a rocket launch is scheduled on the day of our departure for the cruise. It is scheduled for 22 Feb 2014 1207 pm.

Is it possible to see it from the cruise terminal? And if so, which area?

Or can we make it to watch it in KSC, then return our rental car and still make it to the cruise terminal before 3.30pm?

Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi,

I was checking out the KSC website to plan for a visit and saw that a rocket launch is scheduled on the day of our departure for the cruise. It is scheduled for 22 Feb 2014 1207 pm.

Is it possible to see it from the cruise terminal? And if so, which area?

Or can we make it to watch it in KSC, then return our rental car and still make it to the cruise terminal before 3.30pm?

Thanks!

My thoughts: 1) yes, you could see it from the cruise terminal area. Not necessarily totally from the ground, however, since it's a distance away, but you'd see it once it got high enough in the air.

2) I don't know that I'd risk trying to watch the launch at KSC and then hightail it to the port, as launches are quite likely to be delayed or even cancelled. And they don't tell you about it until you figure out the rocket didn't launch (in our experience).

3) Even if it did go off on time, the time it would take you to get from the viewing area at KSC to where your car would be parked, and make it to the rental car place then to the terminal is pretty tight.

 

[tjb1055]

Agree with last post. If you can get early port arrival time, you MAY even be on the ship by then. Top deck of the ship would be an ideal spot to watch the launch!

 

[JessieB923]

Let me start off by saying that I live in the area, and the launches can be seen from a wide viewing area, as it goes straight up. That being said I would not go to KSC to try and view it.Its a distance from port and there is no garentee,usually we don't know its been scrubbed until after its set to launch, You may or may not see it if it does launch. during the day depending on the cloud coverage you may not see a thing only hear it and sometimes you won't hear it at all. The rockets being launched are not "big" by any means, but still cool to watch non the less. Guessing that there are no weather/wind delays and it launches on time you will have a perfect view from the port. it tends to go up and almost over the port. So anywhere outside is perfect.

 

[jahber]

Plus, the traffic after a launch is a MESS. You do not want to be sitting in traffic, wishing you were on the ship. Watch it from the ship. It will still be amazing. We are in east Orlando, about 45 minutes from the Cape and my daughter still finds launches fascinating

 

[scrappinginontario]

Is there a possibility that DCL transfers from the resorts will be affected by the traffic? If so, will they take that into consideration and leave earlier than normal? We're on the Feb 22nd cruise and will be traveling from Pop Century to Port Canaveral.

Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[carpenta]

We saw the last Shuttle launch from the Dream a couple years ago in port. It is a direct site line from the stern of the ship. You can see the out buildings and launch pad apparatus. Take binoculars. The view was great and they had it playing on the large movie screen by the pool. It was quite and experience and louder than I expected. Yes the traffic was horrible and our Disney bus from WDW did get caught in traffic. Because it was the last blast off of the Shuttle the traffic was heavier than normal (so I was told) but I would suspect heavier traffic than normal. Have a great cruise.
P.s. They stop all marine traffic in port until after the launch for safety reasons. That meant we left later than schedule.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is there a possibility that DCL transfers from the resorts will be affected by the traffic? If so, will they take that into consideration and leave earlier than normal? We're on the Feb 22nd cruise and will be traveling from Pop Century to Port Canaveral.

Does anyone have experience with this?

Busses will depart at the same time, regardless. The earliest they can pick up at the resorts is 11:30ish due to the fact that they are the same busses that bring people from the port to the resorts, and the CMs driving the busses need lunch before continuing on with their day.

It's possible that there may be more traffic, but I don't think it will affect the port arrivals by much (there's a bit of distance between the two - about 25 miles).

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks for your responses. I feel better, especially knowing there is some distance between the port and the launch site. Would be neat to see. I can still vividly remember watching a night shuttle and that was all the way from Orlando and yet it was still very moving!

 

[safetymom]

The rocket launches are not anywhere near as crowded as the shuttle launches. Traffic shouldn't be delayed if you are trying to get to the ship. You should have a clear shot to see the rocket launch from the ship. The launch would be from Cape Canaveral not KSC.

 

[LILRERE]

Where did you find the time for the launch? We actually have tickets for the KSC on the 22nd (free-thanks to DIS boards) and I have been looking everywhere for a time for that launch I even emailed the space center this week and they said the time would be determined closer to launch date to keep checking their site! If it is at 12 that would be great we were afraid it would be super early and we would miss it!

 

[Capt_BJ]

that's a SpaceX launch from 'space launch complex' 40

the access road to the PC terminals is prime watching area ... the pad is about 10 miles away, just slightly east of north with little in the way ... mostly the view line is over water and marsh



as mentioned today's launches don't get NEARLY the crowds as did the shuttles but there will be a few, especially on the beaches. The deck of a ship in the port gives a GREAT view since you pick up a little height ... but on a clear day anywhere around the port is a good view shortly after the rocket clears the tower.

 

[mkmommy]

Here is a you tube video a shuttle launch from the Disney Dream.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yeOA9er7mQ

 

[spacecanada]

On our last cruise from PC we could clearly see the buildings at the Kennedy Space Center (most notably the VAB) and the shuttle launch pads. You would definitely be able to see a rocket launch from the ship, and have a pretty good view at that! Captains in the past have notified guests of space shuttle launches, and may do so for rocket launches as well.

FYI - KSC launch schedule can be found here (sort by rocket launches): http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/events.aspx

The next launch will be an Atlas V/TDRS-L at 09:05 on 23 January.

 

[meldobbs]

Here is a you tube video a shuttle launch from the Disney Dream.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yeOA9er7mQ

WOW! This gave me chills!

 

[Jennifer in MI]

We saw a satellite being launched last week on the Magic! It was amazing!

 

[LILRERE]

I still can not find the time for the rocket launch. It just says TBA. What time is the "normal" launch time and when do they announce the time? Also for anyone who has gone to KSC how long does it take to tour?

 

[Sailorgirl32489]

I still can not find the time for the rocket launch. It just says TBA. What time is the "normal" launch time and when do they announce the time? Also for anyone who has gone to KSC how long does it take to tour?

There is no "normal" time for a rocket launch. It really depends on what is being launched and where they are trying to get it to in orbit as they have to wait for everything to line up and create a launch "window". Since we are continually moving through space the window gives them a range of time that if they launch during they know the trajectories will line up and get them where they need to go.

For launches I recommend using followspaceflight.com. They have a launch schedule link at the top of their page that gets updated as soon as anything is announced. They will also have stories specific to the launch as the date draws closer usually with cool pictures of the payloads being processed and readied for launch.

If you're wondering when they might announce the Feb 22 launch, it's really anybody's guess. It's a SpaceX launch which means it's a private company and it's at their whim to disclose the launch time. They will need to notify the Eastern Range of a launch time at some point, so it won't be too last minute. That being said, it's also not unheard of for them to push out a launch date to a later day due to various issues.

KSC can take a full day depending on the interests of those in the party. To be safe, I'd estimate 6-8 hours to go see everything. The transportation alone to get out the the Saturn V center and back is going to take you about 45 minutes since they load you on a bus and drive you around the complex a little bit before dropping you off to tour the Saturn V. Just make sure you at least go see the new Atlantis exhibit which is located within the main Visitor Complex. They did such an amazing job with the presentation and history of the Shuttle program!

Hope this helps!

 

[lbgraves]

I will NEVER forget witnessing the night launch from deck 10 on the Magic in 12/2006. The captain had circled the area during early seating and when DH took the kids up to look around before the show while I finished unpacking, he found that we were still just off the coast of PC. He called down to the room and told me to get up there ASAP. It was magnificent and it was like we had a front row view.

 

[ytsyts]

I still can not find the time for the rocket launch. It just says TBA. What time is the "normal" launch time and when do they announce the time? Also for anyone who has gone to KSC how long does it take to tour?

Hi,

This is the link on the launch date and time.

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/events/index.html#.UtsoZ_ZDkYQ

BTW, thanks everyone for sharing insights and giving suggestions!