Shuttle Launch August 9th

[maggiew]

A somewhat less experienced person, but here is my experience.

We happened to visit NASA at Cape Canaveral one day a few years ago and while on the bus tour around, we saw the shuttle on the platform and they told us there was going to be a launch the next day. So we decided to hang around and come back the next day for the launch. We didn't research this or anything, we just happened upon it. So we didn't really know the best thing to do. Anyway, the next day we showed up to see the launch. The main place was full and they directed us to a different area - near the Astronaut Hall of Fame or something like that. So we sat out in the blazin 110 degree weather all morning/afternoon to see the launch. From this location, you could almost make out the shuttle on the launch pad. When it took off, you could only see the trail in the sky. It was very disappointing after a long hot day. I was expecting to see something like in that photo montage!! It is much more dramatic on TV!! But we were glad we went because now we can say we saw a space launch!

On a side note, we happened to be in Disney on July 4 of last year and got to see a launch from Animal Kingdom! All you could really see was the trail again, but that was cool too!!

We are going to be in Fort Lauderdale Aug. 10 - 12 after our cruise. Maybe the launch will get delayed and we will get to see another one.

Maggie

 

[englishteacha]

We're disappointed that we're going to miss the launch. We arrive on August 11. I suppose if it's scrubbed and moved to sometime during our vacation, we'll attempt to see it from one of the free locations.

 

[BPCooper]

Causeway and visitors complex ticket go on sale 9am this Wednesday, June 27:

http://www.ksctickets.com/stspshdi.html

Please note again the launch is almost certainly going to be August 7 not 9. Launch time Aug 7 is 6:59pm EDT.

 

[Svenson]

Please note again the launch is almost certainly going to be August 7 not 9. Launch time Aug 7 is 6:59pm EDT.

I am sooo confused! (Not hard to do ) Every single link I have tried has stated August 9 at 6:15 PM EST. Where is it stated August 7 at 6:59? The date does make a difference for us.
Thanks!

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I am sooo confused! (Not hard to do ) Every single link I have tried has stated August 9 at 6:15 PM EST. Where is it stated August 7 at 6:59? The date does make a difference for us.
Thanks!

Ben is the most knowledgable and reliable Launch info contact that I know... he stated in a previous post

They are looking to move the launch up (yes up) to August 7 so keep an eye out.

it is not official yet so you will not see it posted anywhere, but if Ben says the possibility has been discussed I would be sure to keep that in mind when planning what type of tickets (if any) you plan to purchase... and what the refund policy is if you can not make it on an earlier date. Again it is not official (yet) and it could stay on Aug 9 as planned, but definetly keep it in mind and plan accordingly!

 

[BPCooper]

Shuttle program managers will meet this week and are likely to approve an earlier date of August 7. Until it is official they won't post it on the NASA site.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Causeway and visitors complex ticket go on sale 9am this Wednesday, June 27:

http://www.ksctickets.com/stspshdi.html

Just got the email that they changed the date... the tickets are going on sale now on Friday June 29 at 9am http://www.ksctickets.com/stspshdi.html

 

[Svenson]

Just got the email that they changed the date... the tickets are going on sale now on Friday June 29 at 9am http://www.ksctickets.com/stspshdi.html

Thanks for all the info. Is this link above where I would go to purchase tickets on Friday morning? I'd hate to spend 10 minutes clicking around and miss the tickets completely. Also, I would assume that internet purchasing would be faster than phone, but does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Thanks for all the info. Is this link above where I would go to purchase tickets on Friday morning? I'd hate to spend 10 minutes clicking around and miss the tickets completely. Also, I would assume that internet purchasing would be faster than phone, but does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

Yes, but right now it is not working (for me anyway). On the left it says Launch information, you should be able to click on that and it will bring you to the tickets. I always purchase my tickets online. I bring it up about 15 minutes before they are to go on sale and then just keep refreshing the screen. As soon as they go on sale make sure you jump on it. Especially if you want the causeway tickets. They sell out VERY fast... in less than 5 minutes the first time I bought them!

 

[Svenson]

Yeesh! This is like trying to get breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table. Planning a vacation can be so stressful!

Thanks for the help.

 

[Mickey Rules]

Ok, I think we decided to go to Space View Park in Titusville. We decided this because we contated NASA and they said that if we bought the tickets and the parking lot was fill they would turn us away. We decided that it would be better off to go to SVP because there are just too many "if's" about this launch. We are unable to go if they move it to the 7th and would hate to buy the tickets and not be able to go. So, that said, assuming we go to Titusville, what should we know about it before we go? What time should we get there? How is the parking? Will they turn us away? Stuff like that. Thanks for all the help!!

 

[BPCooper]

It is officially August 7th as of today.

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html

As for turning you away, you will be fine if you show up at the time they give you (they give you a parking pass with your tickets, and this pass has a show-up time on it). You shouldn't be turned away but they must say that in case you are very late.

As for Titusville, give yourself 4-5 hours before launch to arrive and find parking. You may have to pay a fee for parking (say 10-20$) by land owners, or you may be able to find free public parking too. No one is going to turn you away from Titusville

Spaceview Park does fill up, as a lot of people go there, so get there early. Getting there by 3-4pm is a good idea (latest) if the launch remains August 7 (launch time August 7th is right around 7pm).

(By the way, that's not NASA you spoke to. The KSC Visitors Complex is run by a company called Delaware North. They work with NASA and must follow their guide, as they run tours on property, but they themselves are not NASA).

 

[Svenson]

I can't believe it. I want to cry and scream like a baby.

After planning my whole morning around this ticket purchase, setting a timer, and refreshing my screen about 200 times, I THOUGHT I had snagged tickets to the causeway. I was planning to surprise my husband and 8-yr-old son who both LIVE for space travel. I went through the entire checkout process, putting in all of my address and credit card information, and then on the final screen it said inventory no longer available. Then I did the whole process again with the "lunch with an astronaut" package, figuring I'd splurge for the extra bucks for this "once-in-a-lifer." AGAIN, I filled my cart and all the information and again the inventory changed at the end. So I settled for viewing from KSC only, which I am totally unhappy with since reading on these DIS threads that it is the worst spot to view from. I suppose I should have just gone the free route and sent them to Titusville, but I really wanted to make this a special vacation surprise. Please encourage me and tell me something positive about this viewing spot so I don't spend the rest of the day (or week!) crying about my failure.

 

[DisneyPoly]

I can't believe it. I want to cry and scream like a baby.

After planning my whole morning around this ticket purchase, setting a timer, and refreshing my screen about 200 times, I THOUGHT I had snagged tickets to the causeway. I was planning to surprise my husband and 8-yr-old son who both LIVE for space travel. I went through the entire checkout process, putting in all of my address and credit card information, and then on the final screen it said inventory no longer available. Then I did the whole process again with the "lunch with an astronaut" package, figuring I'd splurge for the extra bucks for this "once-in-a-lifer." AGAIN, I filled my cart and all the information and again the inventory changed at the end. So I settled for viewing from KSC only, which I am totally unhappy with since reading on these DIS threads that it is the worst spot to view from. I suppose I should have just gone the free route and sent them to Titusville, but I really wanted to make this a special vacation surprise. Please encourage me and tell me something positive about this viewing spot so I don't spend the rest of the day (or week!) crying about my failure.

My family will be there with you Looking forward to just being part of the excitement. I'll be anxious to read what others have to say, especially if they have viewed a launch from this area.

 

[BPCooper]

Their system is not the greatest, but this time they put up that warning message so they could ward off complaints I guess.

It's not as bad as people think. It's about preference. No, you won't see the launch pad from there. What you will be is closer, so it will be louder at the visitors complex than it will in Titusville.

If you prefer Titusville you'll have no trouble giving your tickets away I'm sure.

 

[Janet Hill]

I was only able to get the tickets for the visitor's center. Are these really all that bad? The ticket agent told me that it was a good place, but we would not have an unobstructed view. Just wondering what to expect.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

The visitor complex is still a good place to view from. No you won't see the shuttle sitting on the launch pad (but you can't get that view from many places anyway) and it will have to clear the trees before it is in view, but, As Ben mentioned you are actually closer so it is louder. Just being a part of it is amazing. Honestly I saw my first launch from Jetty Park which I have come to find out is not a great place to view from. But since I had nothing to compare it to, it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. At the visitor complex, you have access to most of the attractions (somethings on the bus tour are closed due to access restrictions). They have a big screen (BIG) set up with bleacher seating where you can watch the live feed from NASA TV and they have loud speakers on so that you are getting all the updates. A good place to view from is either where they have the screen set up, or over by the Space Memorial. You will see where the veteran viewers are setting up, take their lead, they bring chairs and stake out spots early, you will know exactlly where the good places are. Enjoy the day at the Space Center, the IMAX shows will be running, the exhibts are open. It really makes for a great day. Don't be disappointed that you could not get to the causeway, you will still have an awesome time, it is a wonderful experience.

My suggestions are this... if you want to buy something from the souviner shop, get to it as soon as you arrive, wait until about an hour before launch (when all the causeway people are gone from the visitor complex) or wait until just after the launch (before the causeway people come back). The lines get LONG (if they are really long, check upstairs too, many people don't venture up there cause it is mostly books and the check out lines tend to be shorter.

Another thing, which I already mentioned but it stands to be mentioned again... Eat EARLY. It is not a normal day. Everyone is there for the same reason, everyone is on the same time schedule. The line for the counter service restaurant can be LONG right around lunch time. Also if the line is out the door and around the building go inside (through the other door) and check where the line is going. We found that the "line" was for the hot food/ grill and you could walk right up and get a sandwhich, salad and drinks, no wait at all. People didn't realize that and just waited in line.

The causeway viewing is a great experience, but I don't think you will be disappointed with the visitor complex. It is a great place as well and like I said you have no expectations having never been before so I am sure that you will be just fine!

 

[Svenson]

Wow! Thank you, CDSTapisRouge, for the wealth of information! I feel much better now. I will print out all your advice and give it to my husband the night before when I surprise him with the tickets. You even answered questions I was going to ask, like where is the best place to view from the complex, and what parts of the complex are closed. Great gift shop and restaurant advice!
I do have a few more questions. I'm wondering if my husband and son (I'm staying back at WDW with my daughter) really need to find a spot hours early and stay there until launch, or if they can enjoy the whole day and then squeeze into a tiny spot in the last few minutes (with hundreds of other squeezers, of course). Also, will they be able to see the shuttle on the pad earlier in the day on the bus tour, or will they never see the shuttle until it is airborne? Do you know how early they tell you to arrive (and is that a suggestion or a requirement)?
Here is the beginning of my day-pack list. What else should we add?
Camera
Video Camera
Tripod
Plenty of extra batteries/DVDs/etc.
Bottled water
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Snacks
Binoculars (?)
Chairs would be nice, but probably not worth packing on the plane

That's all I can think of right now. Again, thank you soooo much!

 

[Svenson]

Just stumbled upon another question. I went back to the KSC ticket site, just to torture myself, and I saw a new link to this page:
http://ksctickets.com/grydol.html It offers other launch transportation packages from Orlando. Anybody have any experience with this? Thanks!

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

My husbands suggestion is choose still photo or video (he suggests video), don't live in the camera lense, enjoy the experience. You can get great photos from NASA's page or maybe from Ben after the fact. He missed our whole first experience in the camera lense so just a thought.

Where are you staying on your vacation? I am assuming you will have a car since they are heading out to the coast. I have chairs that we used at the last launch that I would be happy to get to you if your husband would like to use them. No worries they were $10 for 4 chairs, if they get stolen or lost, or whatever I am not worried about it. You can use them. If you have the chairs you would just really need to set them out somewhere. We saw a lot of people that set their chairs up and left them there. No one bothered any of them. About 30 minutes to launch everyone kinda starts to get situated in their places. Being that they will be viewing from above the tree line there is plenty of space to "squeeze in" if necessary. It is kinda like the fireworks at the parks... they are in the sky, it is not really a big deal if someone is in front of you, you are looking up.

As far as the parking passes, they do them by the hour just to control the amount of traffic coming in. We had 8am passes for a 4pm launch. It just depends when they get to your packet I guess what time they are working on. We got there earlier than what was on the parking card and had no problems getting in. Being that they will be leaving pretty early there is no need to build in extra travel time from Orlando. I would suggest leaving about an hour and half (no later than 1 hour) from the parking time. To be there as scheduled. If you are a little late they "can" turn you away, but I have not seen them do this. Honestly they did not even look at our parking cards at the last launch they just waived us in. They were still letting people in to the parking lot when we got on the bus to go to the causeway 2 hours before launch time (but try and by there at the time on the parking card so you do not run the risk of being turned away).

If they take the bus tour they can see the shuttle on the pad way way out in the distance. The area around the shuttle is restricted on launch day, so you really don't get close enough to see it. You can see the orange of the boosters and the driver says that is the shuttle. They do take you by the Astronauts quarters and point out the doors that you always see them walking out of on TV and then they drop you off at the ISS Processing Facility (Ben correct me if that is the wrong name) which was really cool. Definetly tell them to do the bus tour even though they can't get to everything. It only runs in the morning so make sure they check the times, After the launch the ran a bus tour out to Saturn V which was restricted prior to launch, but by then we were too tired!

I am so jealous we can not make it to this one. I am counting down to the October Launch!