Shuttle Launch 1st November

[zippy99]

I wish I had known this was happening sooner so I could have tried to get tickets.

Anyone seen a launch before and from where - interested in people's thoughts on this one.

 

[jharrowell]

If you can't get tickets then Coco beach is the way to go. I saw it from the Nasa Causeway and it was amazing! See my SIG for a link to the video.

Mkae sure you go early and don't expect to get back at any reasonable speed. Our trip back from KSC was about triple the normal time.

I'm trying to arrange to go out for the last launch as well...

 

[mandymouse]

Another vote for Cocoa Beach here. We watched a launch from the pier a few years ago

 

[irisheyes123]

I seen a night time one back in 2003 on Cocoa beach it was amazing how it lit the whole place up felt like day time for all of a minute lol We plan on going back to Cocoa beach for the November 1st one too

 

[zippy99]

The problem is we will not have a car - we are staying at OKW - will it be hard to get there?

 

[jharrowell]

There are dedicated runs to KSC for launches, but I don't know about the beach.

You could rent a car for just the day from Alamo. You can pick it up from the car care center next to MK and they'll send a mini bus to collect you from OKW.

PS: OKW FTW! I love that place, even though my home resort is SSR.

 

[danielephant]

my grandad lives in titusville and his condo is right across the water from the launch pad...you can see the pad that is how close it is, yet i have not had the pleasure of being there for a launch, they have always been canceled when i am down there very sad

 

[orangetiggs]

titusville in 2008 was fantastic

 

[wayneg]

Seen both a day launch & a night launch from here http://www.titusville.com/Page.asp?NavID=207
Also seen a night launch from front of Disney Magic as we sailed back to Port last August.
No idea without a car but highly recommend seeing it. Its not an experience you can describe but its up there in the top 5 things in my life.

 

[Disneymad]

Seen both a day launch & a night launch from here http://www.titusville.com/Page.asp?NavID=207
Also seen a night launch from front of Disney Magic as we sailed back to Port last August.
No idea without a car but highly recommend seeing it. Its not an experience you can describe but its up there in the top 5 things in my life.

Agreed with this on all fronts.

Watched one from Titusville and was a fantastic view straight across the river to the launch pad. Great atmosphere, and fantastic to see and hear the launch - it's really hard to explain why, it's just one of those things that feels special and was totally worth the effort (and traffic jam) to experience. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

It's going to be tricky without a car but as someone mentioned, there are busses that run at least to KSC. Alternatively if you wanted to turn it into something a bit more special you could always hire a towncar/limo to take you out there! Could even be worth asking around here and on the US planning forums if someone wanted to share the ride to save on costs?

 

[Sarah2010]

What time is the launch?

TIA

 

[zippy99]

I think it is at 4.40pm

 

[Tink2312]

That's a shame - we're doing MNSSHP that evening. We can really make both

 

[juliebro]

Have a look at this site. Never used them but know people who have.

http://www.gatortours.com/MAIN.asp

We were lucky to see a launch this year - from Titusville. Would highly recommend it as an experience!

 

[tigger137]

We've seen an early morning launch from the Astronaut Hall of Fame, which was amazing.

We've also seen a nighttime launch, from the boat pier at Wilderness Lodge, which was spectacular. It lit up the sky like daylight.

Seeing it closer to was a great experience. But if you can't get out to the coast, don't worry. If you are in Orlando and it launches, you will see it and you'll certainly hear it.

I looked at the NASA site recently and seem to remember 1st Nov is the earliest date; it may well be later. As someone else mentioned, they are often postponed.

I'm extremely jealous of Wayne as I'd love to see a launch from at sea, but with the programme ending so soon now, I'm unlikely to ever get the chance.

 

[suzybear6]

OMG guess what I had down in our planner to do on 1st Nov?? Yep...go to KSC!

I had also wanted to go to the beach later in the day, so if the launch is actually on 1st Nov looks like we could get to see the shuttle from the beach...two bird and one stone!

Luv Suzy

 

[wildwood]

I may be wrong but I am sure I have read some where that unless you have booked on a tour or managaged to be lucky enough to buy special launch day tickets KSC is not open for normal admission on a launch day , if you go on the KSC web site there is a list of areas that they suggest going to to see the launch .

 

[suzybear6]

I may be wrong but I am sure I have read some where that unless you have booked on a tour or managaged to be lucky enough to buy special launch day tickets KSC is not open for normal admission on a launch day , if you go on the KSC web site there is a list of areas that they suggest going to to see the launch .

Yes I am aware of that...actually I think lying on the beach all day while waiting to see the launch is more up my street than actually going to KSC! KSC is a place that I thought we ought to go rather than somewhere I really wanted to go to iykwim So if it's closed because of the launch we can't go but we get to see a launch as "compensation"

Luv Suzy

 

[juliebro]

If you do plan on going to watch it from a Space Coast beach, make sure you give yourselves plenty of time to get there. And back again.

We saw the last one - and it took us far far longer to get to Titusville than it would normally.

More people are going to see that last remaining launches than have been to see them in the past.

 

[igk]

I'm tempted to go along but have an 8:05 ADR at 'Ohana which I can't afford to miss!
If the weather's clear I think you might be able to sort of see the launch from Orlando anyway - I did once from St Pete's Beach several years ago - you could clearly see the bright rocket flame rising into the sky. it;s not the same of course but it was still impressive.