Shuttle Launch Question

[CastleCreations]

Totally OT, but have any of you gone to see the shuttle launch before. We've seen it a lot, but not up close. I'm actually thinking of braving the masses, to have the kids see it. I'm not sure how many more shuttle missions there will be and want them to have the experience. I'm just trying to find out if it's worth it to be "up close" with the view of the launch pad, or if just seeing it from further away is fine.

 

[mek17]

We saw Discovery launch on July 4 2006 -- awesome experience. We watched from the shoreline in Titusville. I don't know if the kids would have wanted to be closer, as it was still very loud.

 

[karliebug]

We have been in FL when several launches were scheduled and considered it but they always seem to schedule launches very early in the morning, which means getting up at dawn to drive from WDW to Cape Canaveral. Plus, it seems as if the missions always get scrubbed at the last minute because of weather, technical glitches,etc. and then you have driven all that way and wasted your time. I'm sure it is really awesome to see up close. We did see the shuttle from the MK one time. We were at Splash mountain and someone pointed it out to us.

 

[quigonator]

where can I get a schedule of lift offs?

 

[Allboys]

I think its NASA.org or NASA.gov for the schedule....

 

[CastleCreations]

Yes NASA has the schedule and tickets to get super close. We were close today, but not super close. It's so amazing the people are brave enough to travel into space. I always hold my breath as it goes up. I had the pleasure of being shown live Challenger footage, while in grade school, and we all watched it explode. It was terrifying. I remember my teacher and classmates all crying. It was so sad. But today...all was well. The girls always say a little prayer for the as-ter-nuts..LOL at night. This time they will be in space for 14 days...oh my!

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

There was a shuttle launch yesterday...at 5pm! I live almost 2 hours south of Kennedy Space Center, but ran outside with my boyfriend...and saw the space shuttle! It looked like some small glowing fire thing...but it was still awesome! I've lived in Florida my whole life (but never this close!) and have never seen a space shuttle launch...I'd say it is definitely worth taking your kids! Make it a day trip, so that if the space shuttle thing doesn't happen, you can call it a beach trip or something else as well!

 

[karliebug]

I really think it is amazing when you go to the space center and see the old capsules that they used to go in- it looks like a tin foil and duct taped contraption that my DH would build in the garage.

 

[Janet Hill]

Just saw the launch up close (causeway at KSC) yesterday. Yes it is totally worth braving the crowds. We had seen launches before from Titusville and from the visitors center, but this was so much better.

Once you board the bus and get out to the causeway it really isn't crowded, because they don't allow too many people out there.

We took out our chairs and a backpack full of propel waters and our kids took their Nintendo DSs and it was actually a relaxing wait for the launch (much less crowded than the visitors center). Traffic leaving was awful, but it was definately worth the effort.

Getting the tickets is the tricky part, unless of course you're friends with an astronaut. I was on the phone dialing constantly from 9:00 am the day the tickets went on sale. When I got through about 9:45 all of the causeway tickets were sold out except for those who have annual passes, we did so we got the tickets.

 

[bubba73]

I did a Shuttle launch in June of '07 and it was incredible. I was on the causeway, which cost a little extra but I felt it was worth the extra. There was nothing between me and the Shuttle but water so I had an awesome view of it going up. I was only 6 miles away and it took 45 seconds for the sound from the engines to overtake us. It was like a freight train coming down the tracks. Very wild but one thing I wil never forget.