Shuttle Launches

[Tinks1984]

With us not being far off our trip now I'd checked out the scheduled shuttle launches for May 2010 and it seems they have one scheduled in for May 14th.

How accurate is this information and is there anything to check once over there to see if it is actually happening on that day? We have seen one previously, which I thought would be a once in a lifetime experience, but we'll have my DBF with us this time too (who's never seen a launch) and I'd like to have the chance for him to see this also.

 

[Pegasus928]

I would just keep on checking the NASA site as you are sure to get the most up to date info on there.
As for accuracy of information this far out I would say it's too early to tell. When the consider the main reasons for cancelling or delaying, e.g. weather, technical faults etc, they won't know about any of these until nearer the day.

 

[Tinks1984]

Thanks I'll keep checking up to our leaving date and then will try and get on-line over there nearer the date and see if it's still got the go ahead

 

[~Piglet~]

Hi, I have been looking at this too, as we will also be there at that time.

Buying a ticket to view the launch from the Space Center looks a bit risky (as far as I can recall) as they are non-refundable (but mission specific), so if the shuttle doesn't launch on time and you can't make the alternative launch date, you will lose your money.

We are going to wait and see, as we only have a few days before our Cruise so hopefully if it launches before then we should be able to get to a free viewing area to watch from there

 

[Tinks1984]

Oh we wouldn't go to the Space Center either We've previously watched one when I was a little girl and we staked out a great spot across the water from KSC and watched from there. It was a recommendation from a staff member on the day we visited the Kennedy Space Centre.

Very fond memories too, as there were plenty people sat on the docks on their car bonnets all waiting for the launch and a very lovely American family allowed myself and my family to sit with them and listen in to the control tower on their CB radio, so we got to hear the build up and mission control before the shuttle even launched.

It was an amazing atmosphere once it took off also, everyone cheered and clapped as it lifted - just amazing I'll never forget it!

 

[chocolateMinnie]

We saw a launch in 2007 and did go with a trip. We were very lucky as we had booked the standard trip with Virgin 18 months in advance to Kennedy. A week before our holiday we were phoned by the Virgin rep in Florida to say that the date was now a shuttle launch trip and would we like to upgrade. Thought someone was having a laugh initially. Anyway we obvioulsy upgraded to a very early start.

Our rep on the trip said it was his fifth shuttle launch trip and only seen one launch as they are so often cancelled at the last minute. We were at Kennedy for about 5am as I recall and a firm decision to launch wasn't made until about 10 minutes before launch, this is the point at which he said the last three had been cancelled. We were on the launch causeway which was amazing but very very hot.

We were lucky and would highly recommend it but just to point out that you could easily get to your viewing area and still be disappointed. All the local news channels run the story on the lead up to launch day if you don't have access to a laptop. We were in WDW last year when a launch was due but it was cancelled and the news was constantly updating the estimated date of launch.