Space Shuttle Launch during March Break

[CDNmouse]

Good news and bad news.

First the good news, NASA has scheduled a Space Shuttle launch on March 11th, 2008 which is when many of us will be on March break and down in Orlando.

This is mission STS-123, Space Shuttle Endeaver.

Now the bad news is that this is a night time lift off and the launch is set for 2:28 AM (EST).

Still, even from Orlando you can see the smoke trail of the Space Shuttle as it heads to outer space. If you have never seen a launch it is something to consider doing (even at 2:30 AM).

I took my son to see the launch of Atlantis last year and it was amazing.
You can see a few photos of that launch right here:
http://www.killops.com/?p=210

Gary

 

[iluvwesties]

Good news and bad news.

First the good news, NASA has scheduled a Space Shuttle launch on March 11th, 2008 which is when many of us will be on March break and down in Orlando.

This is mission STS-123, Space Shuttle Endeaver.

Now the bad news is that this is a night time lift off and the launch is set for 2:28 AM (EST).

Still, even from Orlando you can see the smoke trail of the Space Shuttle as it heads to outer space. If you have never seen a launch it is something to consider doing (even at 2:30 AM).

I took my son to see the launch of Atlantis last year and it was amazing.
You can see a few photos of that launch right here:
http://www.killops.com/?p=210

Gary

Thanks for posting

I will be in Orlando on March 11th and may be able to see it

I saw a communication satellite launch at night and it was amazing, I was watching the countdown on the local TV station (around 6pm) and the next thing I saw the orange glow of the rocket & satellite going overhead

It is something I will not forget

iluvwesties (aka Carol)

 

[CDN Prince Charming]

We'll be there!!
Last week I was fortunate enough to snag 2 tickets for my DS & I to go see the launch from the Kennedy Space Center.
I bought two tickets to watch it from the closest public viewing area possible, where they bus you from the Main complex out to an area that is 6 miles from the launchpad, with a direct view of it. Only TV crews, VIP's and dignitaries can get closer (3 miles).
Tickets were a bit pricey @ $51/adult & $41/child, and sold out in minutes, but with only 12 launches left before they scrub the program, I figure its worth it!
It certainly will be a long day, but I see it as a once in a lifetime chance.

CPC

 

[encinc]

We'll be there!!
Last week I was fortunate enough to snag 2 tickets for my DS & I to go see the launch from the Kennedy Space Center.

WOW! That would be amazing! I hope Endeavor goes off as scheduled on March 11th. We were in Cape Canaveral on December 6, hoping to see Atlantis launch (we had a view of the launch pads from our condo balcony). My parents drove over from Fort Myers, only to find that the launch had been scrubbed.

Does anyone know if you can see the trail of smoke from Orlando at night? I'd guess that would be pretty hard to see in the dark.

 

[CDNmouse]

WOW! That would be amazing! I hope Endeavor goes off as scheduled on March 11th. We were in Cape Canaveral on December 6, hoping to see Atlantis launch (we had a view of the launch pads from our condo balcony). My parents drove over from Fort Myers, only to find that the launch had been scrubbed.

Does anyone know if you can see the trail of smoke from Orlando at night? I'd guess that would be pretty hard to see in the dark.

You probably won't see much of a smoke trail at night from Orlando but the glow from the solid rocket boosters should be bright.

Gary

 

[CDNmouse]

We'll be there!!
Last week I was fortunate enough to snag 2 tickets for my DS & I to go see the launch from the Kennedy Space Center.
I bought two tickets to watch it from the closest public viewing area possible, where they bus you from the Main complex out to an area that is 6 miles from the launchpad, with a direct view of it. Only TV crews, VIP's and dignitaries can get closer (3 miles).
Tickets were a bit pricey @ $51/adult & $41/child, and sold out in minutes, but with only 12 launches left before they scrub the program, I figure its worth it!
It certainly will be a long day, but I see it as a once in a lifetime chance.

CPC

That is great. Those tickets are already sold out too so you are very lucky.

The view from Titusville "Space View Park" is very good too. I think it is about 11 miles from launch pad. From there you have a clear view of the launch pad where the Space Shuttle lifts off.

Gary

 

[minnie56]

We saw the launch the week before last as we were descending into Orlando Int'l. Captain told us to look out of our left windows and there it was , above the clouds. Very cool...that being said, really looked like a Plane with a lot of Vapour trail.

 

[CanadianGuy]

There's lots of great info on this here:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1647123

You can see the rockets / vapor trails from certain vantage points at Disney very well.

 

[pbaran]

Just by pure fluke, I happened to book a hotel at Cocoa Beach on the night of March 10th. As I was doing some searching around, I found that there is a shuttle launch on the night we are there! Our hotel is right next to Cocoa Beach Pier, & my wife & I plan on watching the launch from the beach.

PB

 

[CDNmouse]

Just by pure fluke, I happened to book a hotel at Cocoa Beach on the night of March 10th. As I was doing some searching around, I found that there is a shuttle launch on the night we are there! Our hotel is right next to Cocoa Beach Pier, & my wife & I plan on watching the launch from the beach.

PB

Wow ... You will have an amazing view.

Gary

 

[Sheribo]

We'll be at Space View park for the launch! I know we'll have to get there early though but we're looking forward to it. Hope they don't cancel.

 

[BPCooper]

NASA Gives "Go" for Space Shuttle Launch on March 11

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA senior managers completed a review Friday of space shuttle Endeavour's readiness for flight and selected March 11 as the official launch date for the STS-123 mission. Commander Dominic Gorie and his six crewmates are scheduled to lift off to the International Space Station at 2:28 a.m. EDT.

 

[gmark2000]

I saw the Feb.7 launch of Atlantis from Orlando. We got off the Disney cruise at 10am and debated whether to wait five hours in Port Canaveral for the launch (weather was iffy). It was pretty cloudy, so if we stayed we would have seen the launch closer but the shuttle quickly disappeared into the clouds seconds into the launch.

 

[figment1986]

NASA Gives "Go" for Space Shuttle Launch on March 11

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA senior managers completed a review Friday of space shuttle Endeavour's readiness for flight and selected March 11 as the official launch date for the STS-123 mission. Commander Dominic Gorie and his six crewmates are scheduled to lift off to the International Space Station at 2:28 a.m. EDT.

wow! I do not really remember them lifting off that early/late before. The view from home will be great, now I'm tempted to leave the shutter open for a few different photos to see the shuttle leave a trail...

I usually watch it lift off from home in Tampa Florida, cannot wait!

 

[pkitty]

My family and I will be at DW on that day. So if we are awake at this time is there a good chance to see the booster rockets glow as it heads for space from Disney ?

I was thinking of going over to watch it up close but I did not know it was that early in the morning.

thanks for this post.

 

[BPCooper]

The official launch weather forecast was issued today and is calling for excellent conditions with greater than 90% chance of acceptable weather. The countdown begins Saturday morning and all is on scheduled for liftoff at 2:28:12am EDT Tuesday morning.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts123/080307status/