Shuttle Launch August 9th

[CDSTapisRouge]

PS don't forget that it is a toll road to get out to the Cape from Orlando. Make sure they have about $10 in cash. I am not sure the exact amount needed to get there and back, but $10 should suffiace!

 

[Svenson]

Wow, you thought of everything (even tolls!). You should write a Passporter's Guide to Space Shuttle Launch Viewing. I have copied all of your info into a file to print before we leave. Thanks so much for the offer of chairs. I'll just keep my eye out for bargain chairs, as we will be at WDW all week -- though I am predicting my son will be viewing the launch from Dad's shoulders.

I'm sure I'll think of more questions in the next six weeks! Thanks!

 

[BPCooper]

You won't be disappointed, you will have an incredible time.

I was very surprised to hear they even ran any tours on June 8th. Regardless, they only go to the Saturn V Center and maybe the SSPF (Space Station Processing Facility; where the ISS modules are awaiting their future launch) on launch day. You will not see the orbiter itself from any location whatsoever on launch day other than from the causeway. You can however see the pad from the Saturn V Center easily if they take you over there, and the top of the External Tank (same view as from Titusville).

As for a particular spot, you don't need to unless there is a specific photo you have in mind.

And yea, don't view the launch through the viewfinder. If there is a photo idea you have, set it up on a tripod and use your cable release or just press the button without having to actually look at it.

Some people seem to hold their camera and take 200 photos in two minutes (no exaggeration) of the same little smoke trail in the distance. I guarantee they don't remember the launch as well ;-)

Hope that helps. If it's video you want, though, there's little choice but to look through it or at the screen I guess.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I was very surprised to hear they even ran any tours on June 8th. Regardless, they only go to the Saturn V Center and maybe the SSPF (Space Station Processing Facility; where the ISS modules are awaiting their future launch) on launch day.

Yeah, we were suprised as well. They had told us there would be no bus tour running, but when we got there they were running a modified bus tour. In the morning for about 3 hours the ran to the processing facility and then about an hour after the launch they did tours over to the Saturn V. You could not go to Saturn V prior to the launch because of access restrictions. So they split the tour up to pre and post launch destinations.

Just a note about the Processing Facility, it is at your own pace. The bus drops you off there and then when you are ready to go back there is a loading zone and you wait there for another bus to pick you up. It is not a guided tour, but it is really cool. There is a movie (although we did not get to see it cause they were having trouble with the film itself) and then there are lots of exhibts to walk through (literally through the peices of equipment as if you were the astronaut) and then you go over a skybridge and there are people actually working on projects and equipment, in this room they have a person telling you what you are watching and such. It is really cool, make sure that they go it was one of my favorite things there.

 

[raven69david]

I hope the launch goes on as planned. The last 2 launches we tried to attend were delayed and the consensus from the locals in Florida is that they are relatively surprised when the launch goes on as scheduled. Apparently they must delay quite a bit due to glitches that pop-up close to launch or bad weather conditions.

 

[DisneyPoly]

Great information!! Thanks for all the effort. I do have one question. If we arrive on the 7th and tour the Center and the launch is scrubbed and rescheduled for the 8th, 9th or 10th, can we return with our tickets even though we have toured the complex?

Thanks!

 

[BPCooper]

You should probably check with them but I believe the admission to the visitors complex is good at least for a second day.

The Saturn V Center is used as the VIP site for shuttle missions. I had heard from someone June 8 that they were on the tour that day and it went to both that and the SSPF; they were surprised too. I guess they had enough time to clear it out before launch guests arrived.

The modules you get to walk through are mockups of the real laboratories. What you view from the catwalk are the actual ISS modules and components being processed for their future shuttle flights.

One of the ones you saw June 8 will be launched on STS-118; in fact it has already been placed into the payload canister and is about to be taken out to the launch pad for insertion into Endeavour's cargo bay.

 

[BPCooper]

The shuttle goes on time about 40% of the time, truthfully. IT isn't the "never" that people seem to think. I read accounts here from a couple of people that they assumed it would never go June 8 so they didn't both to try. Sorry to hear that.

If the weather is good, your chances are not bad. Technical problems do come up but overall it's not as common as you might think. Yes, 117 June 8th was the first on-time launch since the Columbia tragedy. All four post-Columbia flights had at least one scrub and went the second day, and in one case the third day. But finally we had another on time launch. Maybe it's the start of another string...

There are years when they had several in a row all go on time. If you take, for example the period from September 2000 to July 2001, there were seven shuttle missions and six of them went right on time on the first try. And the eighth mission in August 2001 had to wait 24 hours and the thunderstorms stayed at bay on the second attempt.

The main threat in August at 7pm is Thunderstorms. Truth be told, the same was the case June 8 and we had a beautiful day (rain in the early afternoon cleared out and it was crystal clear by launch time).

Storms in Florida usually form daily in the summer, and depending on mid and upper level winds they may form in the middle of the state and move to the coast; form in the middle and move west; form at the coast and move inland. By 7pm they have usually 'rained' themselves out or moved away from the area, but sometimes you may have leftover anvil clouds that don't dissipate until the sun goes down.

The truth is, it's 50-50 and there is no reason to assume it's not going. Don't believe those that say that. There are 15 shuttle missions left at the most and it is well worth making the effort to see one!

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Great information!! Thanks for all the effort. I do have one question. If we arrive on the 7th and tour the Center and the launch is scrubbed and rescheduled for the 8th, 9th or 10th, can we return with our tickets even though we have toured the complex?

Thanks!

Yes.. The ticket that you bought for the visitor complex are for the Launch of STS 118 if you go on the 7th and it is scrubbed you can return with the same ticket on the next launch attempt. It is a valid ticket for the visitor complex any date within the current launch window that they attempt to launch that mission.

You also have the opportunity to use that same ticket one additional day within a seven day window (before or after) of the launch so that you can see the things that are closed due to restrictions on launch day.

This is all explained in the ticket packet that they will send you! Here is a link to the FAQ's from KSC's Page http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/max.pdf
Also wanted to point out that the FAQ's page states no lawn chairs or folding chairs... They DO allow you to bring the collapsing chairs that fit into the bags with the arms slings. Not sure what they are called, but there were many people (including ourselves) that had these with them at KSC.

What happens to my tickets if the launch date moves or is delayed?

Please remember that all LAUNCH TICKETS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE.
Admission Access Tickets

If the launch date moves or delays prior to your arrival at Kennedy Space Center:• As unused tickets are mission specific (STS-118), not date specific, the unused tickets you have are good for the next launch attempt. Your car placard is also still good for subsequent launch attempts of STS-118.

If the launch date moves or is delayed after you have arrived at Kennedy Space Center:• Your used Maximum Access badge will be valid for limited admission for subsequent launch attempts of STS-118 within the launch window (August 7-23). If the launch moves out of that window, you must purchase another Maximum Access Launch Viewing ticket.

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

ARGH! This is typical! I never knew there was a launch in August and typically this is on our IOA day!

Can you see the launch from Orlando? Well, not the launch maybe, but the shuttle going up from the distance?

 

[goofy4tink]

Bummer! I was so hoping they would move the launch up to the 10th. We leave WDW on the morning of the 10th and head to Cocoa Beach for a few days at the Best Western before our cruise. Hoped they would launch on Friday the 10th and we could visit the space center on Sat the 11th.
I was able to catch the launch last Dec while in WDW...it was truly wonderful. But, if this one is at 6:00, it will be less visible (I would imagine anyway) and I'll be getting ready to be seated for dinner at Chefs de France...perhaps they won't mind seating me a bit later so I can watch the launch!!
Here's hoping they move it up a few days.

 

[Minnie & Me]

I have just finished changing my ADR's around so we can make this our beach day. We will try Getty Beach. How is the sand and water quality? Is there sheltered areas where we can wait if we get too baked in the sun? Thinking about late breakfast at Chef Mickey 10am and then packing a picnic cooler for the beach. What is the parking like? Does the lot get full and when do they start turning cars away? What is a good time to get going on the highway without being too back logged?

Ben:Is the picture you have on your site with 5 or 6 people standing on the beach with the long pier in front of them from Getty Beach?

We are so excited about our first launch

Any advise would be great!

 

[BPCooper]

I guess you meant push the launch back to the 10th Well, that could still happen, you never know. You can see it from Orlando always as long as it's clear in the eastern sky. It can't be missed, look for the enormous ascending smoke trail. However, I stress always, it is well worth it to make the 45 minute drive over there.

I think you are thinking of Jetty Park, which is a park and pier located at the northernmost end of Cocoa Beach. This is not the best place to see the shuttle:

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

...but that doesn't mean it can't be a great day at the beach.

I'm not sure which photo you were looking at. The Spirit Mars launch June 2003 is from Jetty Park, about 500 feet behind the pier. Several photos there are also taken from the pier. BUT that was not the space shuttle; those were Delta 2 and Atlas 2 launches. The shuttle will not appear like that from there.

Yes, Jetty Park itself only holds a certain amount of cars and gets filled up fast on launch day (even though it's not the best place people still go all over). Get there early. There is a $5 parking fee.

 

[Minnie & Me]

Thanks Ben for the info. I do mean Jetty Park and I am confusing the rocket launches in your pictures with the shuttle launch.

Now I am thinking beach first in the morning and then driving over to Spaceview Park for a closer look in the afternoon. What can you do around Spaceview park while waiting? Trying to occupy a 3 year old for 3-4 hours might be tough with no sand or water.

 

[BPCooper]

What can you do around Spaceview park while waiting? Trying to occupy a 3 year old for 3-4 hours might be tough with no sand or water.

Yea, not much honestly. The KSC Visitors Complex is one thing I say is good if you have kids to entertain and who get bored easily. But then the beach might be a good idea for you. I guess you have to weigh the experience of the launch for yourself vs the kids

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

While Jetty Park is not "the best place" to see a launch from, it isn't bad. If your concern is keeping the kids entertained and you were thinking about a beach day, it would not be a bad idea. The first launch I saw was from Jetty Park and I was completely enthralled by the whole experience. I thought it was amazing, raved about it for days. I lived in FL for 24 years and had seen many launches from my house in Clearwater and then in Orlando, but I had never gone out for a launch. Since I had nothing to compare it to, I thought Jetty Park was great (we even got to see Air Force One fly over... well it was carrying Laura not the president, so technically it wasn't "airforce one" it was the 747 anyway).

The parking lot does fill up pretty quickly and as mentioned there is a $5.00 fee to park. But just wanted to say that again while it is not the best place to go for launch it is not terrible either. With nothing to compare it to it is still amazing!