Space Shuttle launch June 8, 2007

[happybirdsfan]

I can not believe this has happened. A mission that was scheduled for I think march has been pushed to June 8th. I am going to be in Disney, and come hell or high water will be there to see the shuttle launch. As long as it launches when I am in FL. Does anyong know of a good place to watch the shuttle launch from?
Anyone else excited about this?

 

[PA Princess]

We were very fortunate to witness a shuttle launch when we were in WDW last September. That launch was re-scheduled SO many times (including twice while we were in FL), that there is no way we could have really planned to be there for the launch...just worked that way for us. I hope you are able to see the June launch, but be prepared that re-scheduling is super common and you still may not see a launch.

We did not change vacation plans to see the launch because of all of the back and forth, and we ended up being at POR (visiting the pool as guests of POFQ) and we were able to see the launch nicely. There were numerous Disney employees who watched the launch with us who said they had been in FL for years and never saw a launch. Not trying to rain on your parade, just do not want you to be too disappointed if shuttle plans change.

 

[alloyd1170]

Not sure where you will be, but the best spot is of course around Cape Canaveral. We actually got tickets through the Space Center where they take you in the grounds on buses and have viewing areas (this was for one of the last night launches they did which was awesome).

If at WDW, I have seen a launch from Contemporarys 4th floor concourse (near the little bar outside the Steakhouse. You could make out the trail of vapor and a few flames before the rockets fell off. A CM told us about getting tickets to a launch which gave us the motivation to go see one up close.

Believe it or not, I have also been able to see a night launch from my dads beachfront balcony all the way up in Hilton Head SC!

I want to take my kids to see one, but anymore theyre so unpredictable. I just read an article about viewing the launch from your boat in the waters near the launchpad which sounds really cool. Hopefully the timing will be right for you!

alison

 

[DKH01701]

We were at Disney in 7/05 when the shuttle launched for the first time in 2 1/2 years. We returned to our room at SSR about 1:30 AM from MK and I asked DD if she wanted to take a road trip. We drove out to Titusville, getting there about 2:30 AM. There were tons of campers, tents, etc lining the roads so I asked a guard at one of the public parking areas were was a good spot to watch from. He had me park in his lot and told me anywhere along the shore where I was, was a good place to watch. We caught a few hours shuteye in the car and when we woke up about 7, the place was buzzing. The launch took place as schuduled about 10:30 and what an amazing sight, it went right up over our heads, we were probably about 10 miles down-range.

It took us about 45 minutes to drive out there but it took us 3 hours to get back. Traffic was backed up for miles. DW and other DD said they saw it go overhead while they were at the pool. Same day we then drove over to Tampa to watch the Red Sox play. That was a long day, but just another typical one for us while visiting Disney.

 

[Stargazer]

No advice, but thanks for the heads-up! We'll be there on June 8th too (actually our last full day at the parks).

 

[rie'smom]

We saw a shuttle from Tomorrowland. Not the actual take off but once in was high enough in the sky. I thought of how Walt Disney would have loved that a space shuttle was visible from Tomorrowland.

 

[Jules123]

We'll be there at that time too! That would be so cool to drive to Cape Canaveral and watch it!

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

If you are heading out to the coast, check out SpaceView Park in Titusville. It is a really nice park and it is FREE. It fills up, but not as quickly as I had expected it to. You can get there 2 or 3 hours before the launch and still get a great spot. They have live feed to mission control so you can hear what is going on, there are restrooms, souviners, etc. It is really nice out there. You are directly across the Banana River from the launch site so you can see the launch very well. Here is the link to the directions http://www.spaceyideas.com/spaceview.html from Disney you can take I-4 east to 528 which is now the Beachline...NOT the Beeline as reffered to in the directions and then follow the directions from there (this is a toll road, so make sure you have some $$).

We saw a launch from the NASA Causeway, it was so cool, but it cost a lot of money that you are not refunded if they scrub. Spaceview park, while a little further away has a great view and is a very nice area to picnic or hang out while waiting for free.

As others have mentioned though it takes about 45 minutes to get out there but plan for up to 4 hours to get back. First time we went out it took 4 hours and 15 minutes to get back, second time it took 1 hour. It is not as bad if you are prepared.

PS (happybirdsfan) I sent you a Private message with some shots we took of Atlantis Enjoy!

 

[reginaastralis]

If you are heading out to the coast, check out SpaceView Park in Titusville. It is a really nice park and it is FREE. It fills up, but not as quickly as I had expected it to. You can get there 2 or 3 hours before the launch and still get a great spot. They have live feed to mission control so you can hear what is going on, there are restrooms, souviners, etc. It is really nice out there. You are directly across the Banana River from the launch site so you can see the launch very well. Here is the link to the directions http://www.spaceyideas.com/spaceview.html from Disney you can take I-4 east to 528 which is now the Beachline...NOT the Beeline as reffered to in the directions and then follow the directions from there (this is a toll road, so make sure you have some $$).

We saw a launch from the NASA Causeway, it was so cool, but it cost a lot of money that you are not refunded if they scrub. Spaceview park, while a little further away has a great view and is a very nice area to picnic or hang out while waiting for free.

As others have mentioned though it takes about 45 minutes to get out there but plan for up to 4 hours to get back. First time we went out it took 4 hours and 15 minutes to get back, second time it took 1 hour. It is not as bad if you are prepared.

PS (happybirdsfan) I sent you a Private message with some shots we took of Atlantis Enjoy!

Ah, Titusville ... so many memories. My grandma lives in Titusville and it's a pretty great spot to see the shuttle go up. I'm sure you can see the trails at Disney, seeing as you can see them here in Brandon and we're about 2 1/2 hours away from Titusville.

Would I drive all the way over and hope for a launch? Depends on the weather. If it's looking the least bit YUCKY, no way. Sorry, but with the way that Florida's weather is, I wouldn't chance it. That's just me, this is your vacation.

Now, if it was a night launch, yes. Go. I would take my kid's in a heartbeat to see a night launch. It's spectacular. One of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

If you do go, I do recommend Space Park. Titusville was a boom town during the space race, so there really isn't much left now ... but it's a great place to see the shuttle.

Oh, and some trivia. Wanna know why the space shuttle didn't go up in March ... it got hit and damaged by some hail during a pretty nasty storm while the shuttle was on the launchpad. Tell that one to your kids for a surprising "my mom knows everything look." If your kids are old enough, I do recommend a trip to the Cape for some very informative fun. The last time I went, most of it was free ... however it's all paid tickets now, I believe. You'll learn just how long it takes the shuttle to roll out to the launch pads, and all sorts of information that your kids might just eat up.

Good luck, I hope our weather holds up.

 

[Longsx3]

We will also be in Florida on June 8th but I haven't mentioned the Launch to DD because there is a good chance of further delay. My BIL works at the Cape and he will be surprised if it lifts off on the 8th.

 

[happybirdsfan]

Thanks for all the info. I know that it could be delayed but it is really cool that there is a chance that we could see the launch. I have always had an interest in the Shuttle program and day or night launch it is worth it to me to see it once in my life. As far as I know the shuttle will only have a few more missions.
I can not wait to go.

 

[deejohn]

We saw the night launch of the shuttle last Dec. It is the most amazing thing you will ever witness. I filmed it!! My DS7 still talks about it. We saw it while in EPCOT on the bridge between France and England.

You can see it for about 2 minutes if you look to the East. At night you can see it until it reaches Africa, and then it drops over the horizen.

Don't miss this!!! The local news media update it, so watch the news at night.

PS - we were in Downtown when it returned with John Glenn on board. We heard the sonic boom <--Second most spectactular thing I saw!!!

 

[monorailsilver]

The best place to see the shuttle IMO is 50 miles away, over Florida in an airplane.

I was very lucky one year on my way to my cousins in Stuart. The pilot announced we were going to be landing a little late because he wanted to slow down for the shuttle so we could all see it.

Let me tell you it was awesome (and that is not a word I use much). Stupid me didn't have a camera. It was a Monday in January in the mid-1990's.

In 2005 they were lifting off while we were in MCO. I couldn't see it because there was a swarm of baseball players from Puerto Rico hogging the windows.

One other time I was staying on I-Drive (we were doing the non-Disney parks prior to moving inside to do the Disney parks) & one went off at 4am. I thought about getting up but sleep was so much nicer.

And one other time I was at my cousins house & I read in the paper the day before in CT that a shuttle was being launched. I asked her dh & he had no clue.

Stupid me, I should of looked thru his paper/watched the news. The shuttle went off at midnight. He woke up to the sliders shaking. He said some friends of his went to the beach (Hutchinson Island) and saw it take off.

So my choices are a plane or Hutchinson Island.