shuttle launch ticket sales for march?

[bluenosemickey]

When do the ticket sales for causeway viewing through the KSC go on sale? The next launch is Feb6th, I'm assuming it will be after that one goes. But I've heard that they sell out really quickly and I would like to know when to expect to have the sales available. You can register on line with KSC to get email notification of launch dates, but I don't want to miss the day they go on sale.

Thanks

 

[Janet Hill]

When you register to get launch info, you will also receive the ticket sales info.

 

[bluenosemickey]

yes, it says the tickets go on sale 3-4 weeks prior to the launch date. But I could miss the day they go on sale if I'm not paying attention. I've read that they can sell out within minutes, so I really need to be on the ball if I'm going to get these tickets.

 

[Janet Hill]

When the date is set for the sales you will get an email announcing the date and the procedures and rules for purchase. I'm waiting for that email as well. In the past I've always got the email about a week before the actual sale. The causeway tickets go in about 10 to 15 minutes. Tickets go on sale at 9:00 and I got through at about 9:15 and the causeway tickets were gone. I was trying to get through on two computers and a phone. So a bit of luck is needed.

 

[bluenosemickey]

Thanks for the info, I read also that Monday mornings are a common day to start ticket sales.

 

[Janet Hill]

The Feb launch was a Wednesday sale date. We've been before and have done both the visitor's center and the causeway. Will never purchase visitor's center tickets again. We will attempt to get tickets for each launch that is left, so hopefully, we'll get to see one more before the end.

My son is a geek and loves going to the space center, especially for launches.

 

[Daisychick]

I went to the Shuttle Launch in November 2008 as Dbf is a big fan.

We signed up on the KSC website and an e mail came through telling us when they went on sale. As we are from the UK we had to make sure we factored in the time difference to get the correct time when they went on sale here.

As Dbf had heard they sell out within minutes he logged onto the internet a few minutes before they went on sale and kept clicking refresh until the icon came up to let you book. He had also typed all our details (eg card numbers etc) into Word in advance and just copied and pasted them into the relevant boxes. He said that way it didn't take as long and he didn't have to spend time checking the details were right.

Anyway, we got tickets and apparently only a few minutes later they were gone.

I don't know if what he did was OTT - but it made him feel like he had done everything possible and if we had missed out, he couldn't have done anymore.

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

They go on sale tomorrow... (2/11) at 9 am

http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/space-shuttle-launch-viewing-tickets.aspx

 

[bluenosemickey]

Good luck to all that are hoping for tickets. Just curious Janet, why would you not purchase the center only tickets again? I'm assuming that the causeway goes first and that leaves us with viewing from the center. I know you can't see the launch pad, but at least you get to experience the sound and feel? I think we would opt for the KSC if we couldn't get the causeway.

I know you can scout out a roadside spot for better viewing, but I'm just not up for that with three kiddies and a day away from disney. We will at least get to see the center itself and be there for the launch.

 

[dis-happy]

They changed the queue format this time. Anyone have any luck???

 

[Minnie & Me]

Couldn't get the launch tickets. Got into the virtual waiting room at 8:40am which then refreshed automatically every 15 seconds. At 9:11am got on to the ticket page for visitor complex tickets only. How do they pick people at random from the virtual window? Don't care for the lottery system!

 

[csss31399]

Can someone who has watched a launch from the KSC with the special launch day tickets (not the causeway) share a little bit of the experience?

Also, it says the tickets are mission specific and not date specific. Does this mean that I cannot tour the KSC if the date of the launch changes? We are just in for the week of spring break in March and I want to tour the KSC even if the launch is postponed. Can I use the KSC launch day tickets I have already purchased this morning? or Would I have to buy new tickets?

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[MoreMouse5]

We'll be at Disney the week of the March 18 scheduled launch also. Didn't try to buy launch tickets, but are looking forward to viewing from the parks. (I know we'll just see the jet trail, but that will be cool.) Anybody seen a launch from AK? That's where we'll be on the 18th if the launch goes on schedule. Also seriously considering visiting Kennedy earlier in the week; I'm assuming it'll be open for regular tours.

 

[GingerN]

Hi There.

My husband and I watched the launch of the shuttle on Feb 8th. I don't think I'd bother with the tickets from KSC. There are locations along route 1 that have good views.

On the 7th we found a spot to park at a Fish and Game building on a road that runs along the coast. I thought it was Route 1 but it wasn't. People with huge motorhomes were parked along the road. The road had a lot of construction happening on it too. It was 2 in the morning when we got there after driving down from the John Mayer concert in Jacksonville. It was kind of scary with no sleep and just lots of people and cars everywhere. After the launch was cancelled, we waited in the parking lot for over an hour before we started moving.

IMO Titusville is the best place to go. We found a free parking lot in Titusville that was a few blocks South of Space View Park and walked to the Park. It was crowded but we found another park about two blocks south of SVP that wasn't as crowded. We had a perfect view of the launch from there. I think the park is something like 12 miles away from the launchpad so that's closer than the NASA causeway and Astronaut Hall of Fame.

The second launch night wasn't as crowded as the first. Probably because it happened on Monday morning and people had to work or had other plans. We waited in traffic leaving Titusville probably for no more than 20 to 30 minutes. Here are a couple of other ideas.

http://nbbd.com/events/launchviews.html

One thing to keep in mind is that the tickets from KSC are good for one night. If the launch is scrubbed, you won't get a refund and you can't use them again. I think you can use your KSC admission anytime even if the launch is scrubbed. It's probably best to check with KSC to see if they will be open on launch day. The launch we saw was at 4:15 am so there was plenty of time for the launch to happen before the space center opened. However, they do cancel some of the additional tours that they sell if the shuttle is on the launch pad. We toured KSC on Sunday, bought tickets for the KSC then and now tour on Thursday that was cancelled due to an atlas rocket launch. We drove all the way from WDW for nothing but we did watch the rocket launch.

Ginger

 

[jharrowell]

Can someone who has watched a launch from the KSC with the special launch day tickets (not the causeway) share a little bit of the experience?

Also, it says the tickets are mission specific and not date specific. Does this mean that I cannot tour the KSC if the date of the launch changes? We are just in for the week of spring break in March and I want to tour the KSC even if the launch is postponed. Can I use the KSC launch day tickets I have already purchased this morning? or Would I have to buy new tickets?

Thanks in advance for any input!

I did the causeway so I'll leave the experience info and just say it was an amazing "once in a lifetime" experience ans would have been cheap at twice the price.

As to the wording on the tickets. What they mean is that if the launch is cancelled, you can come back on the day it is due to try again using the same ticket.

If you are already inside KSC when the launch is cancelled, yu can quite happily go around KSC and visit the exhibits, ride the ride, watch the iMax, etc. during a launch day on a day launch (can't vouch for a night launch). We stayed late after the launch and did the shuttle experience a couple of times. It was great fun.

If the date is changed before you get there. (I.E: a couple of days before) I think you have to buy day tickets. However the chances of that are slim IMO.

 

[csss31399]

Thanks for the responses. We have never visited the KSC so if we get to see the launch while we are there, that will just be a bonus.

 

[RabFlmom]

Because of the cold weather, they were not able to move the shuttle out the pad as early as planned so the launch date has been changed to April 5.

Date: April 5 +
Mission: STS-131
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Discovery
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A
Launch Time: 6:27 a.m. EDT
Description: Space shuttle Discovery will carry a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module filled with science racks that will be transferred to laboratories of the International Space Station.

 

[Minnie & Me]

Rabflmom, thanks for letting us know! Looks like we will be spending an extra day at Epcot.