Shuttle launch, need help ! ! ! ! ! !

[slinky101]

N.A.S.A have set a new launch window for the shuttle launch and it coincides exactly with our trip to Orlando.
Now i know that it all depends on so many factors BUT does anyone know what time of day they try to launch shuttles from Kennedy?

Do they always go for daytime? have they completely abandoned night-time launches? If it's daytime, is it likely to be early morning, around noon or early evening?

Tickets to the kennedy vlewlng area are already few and far between but i don't want to buy then have to miss it due to other plans

Appreciate any help, Thanks.

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
As no actual day of launch as been decided yet the time of launch is not known as it varies day to day. Also if I remember right as a matter of security the time is not released until 48 hours before the intended launch time. The current launch window is May 22nd to June 3rd 2005.

Mick.

 

[pauldents]

All shuttle launches will be during daytime hours since the last disaster. Apparently they want to be able to see if anything breaks off the thing during launch.

We have seen 2 launches. The first one (from inside KSC was just after 6.00am/sunrise) and we viewed the second from the parking lot at Downtown Disney at approximately 2.00pm

 

[slinky101]

hi paul, what was the view like from DTD, how did it compare to the KSC? was it worth the traffic etc to KSC?

 

[pauldents]

hi paul, what was the view like from DTD, how did it compare to the KSC? was it worth the traffic etc to KSC?

At DTD - Similiar to a jet plane (through the break in the clouds) from 50 miles away, going vertical. Hardly any view at all.

At KSC - The traffic wasn't too bad because we had a pass to drive straight onto KSC, then down to the causeway to park and view the shuttle from a few miles. Apparently Since 9/11 they dont allow you to do this anymore. The next best place outside of KSC is anywhere in Titusville.

On the morning of the launch we had a perfect view of the shuttle. When we arrived it was still dark, but the pad was lit up. We also had the commentry from KSC and mission control in Houston, so we knew exactly what was going on. Then the countdown for T-minus 15 seconds came and it was real hairs standing on the back of your neck stuff. I was expecting lots of noise. All we could see was smoke, then through that you could see the shuttle climbing vertically, then the prolonged rumble of extremely loud thunder and the ground shook.

As the shuttle climbed further, the PA announcer told us what altitude the shuttle was at and how far downrange it was from KSC. Being a perfectly clear day, I was still able to track it at 90 miles altitude and 150 miles downrange from KSC. At this point if the mission is goes wrong they abort and land in Morocco.

This was a once in a lifetime and a great experience for us, so if you get the oppurtunity I would definitley reccomend viewing from KSC.

 

[slinky101]

Thanks for the reply paul, we have booked for KSC on launch day, only from the visitor center as the rest had sold out, booked for my dad and hubby, they will love it, they love all that space stuff ( its a boy thing!) my dh wants to know did you have access to saturn v on launch day? they have maximum access passes for launch day, everything seems to be included.

thanks again paul......infinity and beyond.................

 

[pauldents]

Thanks for the reply paul, we have booked for KSC on launch day, only from the visitor center as the rest had sold out, booked for my dad and hubby, they will love it, they love all that space stuff ( its a boy thing!) my dh wants to know did you have access to saturn v on launch day? they have maximum access passes for launch day, everything seems to be included.

thanks again paul......infinity and beyond.................

From what I can remember everything was open on launch day. I think this was because the launch was early and they were able to open everything later.

On the day we went to the visitor centre first to grab a coffee. I can remember going out to the space shuttle plaza and walking up the steps of the full size replica space shuttle. We had a great view of the shuttle on the pad from them steps. After that we went to the causeway. So, if you get there early enough you may get a good view otherwise you will only see the shuttle after it has took off.

 

[slinky101]

thanks a lot paul

 

[bgilbank]

Hi, watch out for the traffic on the way to Kennedy. Leave plenty of time in advance of launch & I mean plenty of time! We had tickets in the viewing area for the shuttle launch at 5.30am and we set off at 2.30am from Kissimee! There was traffic I have never seen the likes of before & if we had known it was going to be that bad we would have set off the evening before! We finally got to veiw the launch in a field a few miles from KSC!

Barbara

 

[slinky101]

thanks barbra,what a nightmare journey, my dad and my DH are so excited they would be willing to camp outside the night before if they could!