Space Shuttle launch

[jobie61]

Does anyone know if you can see the space shuttle launch from the park. I've heard that if it is clear you can see the shuttle going up from the parks. Is this true ?

 

[wendypooh]

Well, you can't see the actual "launch" but, YES, you can see the shuttle from WDW. I've seen it on 2 different occassions. I actually got video of Columbia, back in 03.

 

[Em_in_FL]

Depends on the clouds...

We were out in Titusville for the last launch and saw it go off the pad... pretty AWESOME... but apparently it was so cloudy you couldn't see it from Orlando...

If it's a clear day, you can see the launch... the water vapor trail and all (even some red flames!)...

So, just keep your fingers crossed!

 

[bubba73]

While I haven't been fortunate enough to be there for a Shuttle launch (and if I was, I would be at Kennedy that day anyway), I have read that you can see the launch from EPCOT, for sure. At the last launch, there was several threads going around talking about how some people would be in front of Mission Space and actually noticed everyone looking up to watch the launch. I can only imagine being that far away, all you will really see is a speck and the trail from the engines.

 

[Jason71]

I live and work near WDW, and of the last 4 launches (space shuttle and other rockets), I managed to see 3. It does go quickly, almost a blink and you'll miss it kind of thing, so keep a radio handy to know exactly when it goes off. 580 AM usually carries the countdown.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Here is the link to the thread about good viewing spots from the launch of Discovery in July.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1144755

We watched Discovery go up from Magic Kingdom. If it is not cloudy you can see it really good. Just look towards the Contemporary. We watched it from Main Street facing towards the smoking area between the Chapeau (hat shop) and Tony's Town Square Restaurant.

We went out the the Cape for Discovery but it was scrubbed and we could not get back so MK was great for us... We are trying again at the Cape for Atlantis, hopefully it will go as scheduled, although I have lived here for 24 years and know it very rarely goes up on the first try...

 

[jobie61]

Here is the link to the thread about good viewing spots from the launch of Discovery in July.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1144755

although I have lived here for 24 years and know it very rarely goes up on the first try...

I would love to go over, but you never know if it will be delayed and not go. I would hate to go ver there and have it canceled.

 

[brentalex]

When we were there in April, there was some smaller rocket launched.We were watching the news in our room and they were showing the countdown live. A few seconds after liftoff I went to the window to see, just in case. All of a sudden I could see a vapor trail heading straight up. It was pretty cool to realize that we were seeing the rocket. The room was in the north garden wing at the contemporary looking out over Bay lake.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I would love to go over, but you never know if it will be delayed and not go. I would hate to go ver there and have it canceled.

I totally understand that. I never went out to the Cape (in 22 years) because I didn't want to go all the way out there, have it scrubbed and be stuck in traffic. Hubby made me go (ok so I wasn't kicking and screaming) for Discovery a few years ago, not this last one, but the one prior, and it went up. My first experience, it actually went up and we got out of Jetty Park quickly so it only took us an hour to get home (normal is about 45 minutes). So this last launch we decided to go to KSC and have the whole experience, well of course it was scrubbed and our 45 minute drive home lasted 4 HOURS. I said never again, but alas, we got the tickets to go to KSC again for Atlantis. This time though we are going out there on Saturday night and staying overnight so that we don't have to get up at the crack of dawn, and then we are staying overnight Sunday so we don't have to fight the traffic back. Hopefully it will go up, but if not, we took vacation time so that we can go back this time.

Anyway, the view from the parks is really good as long as it is not cloudy. With this last launch, people that didn't even know it was going up were pleasantly suprised because those that did and the CM's were eager to point it out to everyone. There are lots of vantage points to see it from at WDW, just make sure that you watch the news Sunday morning and know exactlly what time they are planning for (I believe it is 4:30 ish) so that you are not in a que or on a ride Just remember that it is about a minute or two after the launch that you will see it as it has to get high enough. If it is clear you will see the vapor trail as well as the glow of the flames. It gives me chills everytime.

 

[dlaushey]

We saw the July launch while waiting for the LMA show to start. The view was awesome from there! The crowd started to applaud as soon as they saw it so everyone there new and was able to view before it was gone.

 

[MelanieC]

Last summer on 7/26/05 we went over to Titusville to watch the launch. I had to make the decision to miss a day at the parks. That wasn't such a big deal since we were at WDW for two weeks. It was the best thing we ever decided to do. I did have to get up super early and we were sitting on the waterfront in Titusville watching the sunrise at 6:00am. It was absolutely the neatest thing we have ever done. In fact, we had to book a hot air balloon this year just so we could semi try to come close to something as fun as the launch.

If it were me, I would take the info on how to view it in Titusville, and the directions.

 

[alloyd1170]

I think it was back in 2000 while at the Disneyana convention. A CM told us the best spot to see a launch at WDW was from the CR 4th floor area. Thats where we were and we saw it (trail, flames). Now you couldnt see the actual launch on the ground, but we followed it up in the sky for several minutes. We were so inspired that we got tiks for a night launch a month later at Cape Canaveral. That was something else, but I dont think theyre doing night launches any more.

alison

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I would take the info on how to view it in Titusville, and the directions.

Just in case anyone was interested in that. Here are 2 great viewinf areas:

Space View Park (this is were Safetymom goes): http://www.nbbd.com/godo/spaceviewpark/index.html and this one has directions to the park http://spaceyideas.com/spaceview.html

and there is

Jetty Park (this is were we usually go): http://www.portcanaveral.org/funport/parks.htm
400 E Jetty Rd Cape Canaveral, FL Phone: 321-783-2725


Also here are some suggestions from KSC as to were to view it from in the area:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/view/view_shuttle.html

Kennedy SPace Centers Visitor Complex is open as well, but it is a special ticket event, here is a link to their page for ticket information... With this you have full access to the Visitor Complex, they have live feed to the launch pad and meet and greets with astronauts. This is what we did last time, it was a nice day. http://www.ksctickets.com/spshlastat.html


Also they have just approved night launches to resume. Although they don't have any scheduled as of right now, they can in the future Those are the best!

 

[twinklesstars]

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but when is the next launch? I'd love to be on the look out if we are there. Thanks!

 

[jcamacam]

My DH and I were on our honeymoon in October 1998 when we stood on the pier at the Contemporary and watched the shuttle with John Glenn aboard! VEERRYYY cool!

Of course we didn't see HIM (ha, ha) but we knew he was on it. The shuttle was pretty visible considering how far away you are. We have video of it but, unfortunately, not any pictures or I would post them.

 

[NJBILL]

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but when is the next launch? I'd love to be on the look out if we are there. Thanks!

Atlantis is scheduled to launch at 4:29 this Sunday August 27. The launch window goes through Sept 12 though if they have to scrub...

 

[twinklesstars]

Thanks! We'll be there the tail end of that range.

 

[Makua]

Thanks CDSTapisRouge for those great links. Do you know if they allow dogs at Spaceview Park? We went to Jetty Park last time not realizing they were not allowed. The launch was scrubbed so it didn't matter. We'll be making a day of it and I don't want to leave her at home for so long. One of these days we're going to get tickets to KSC.

 

[aztecgoods]

I am guessing too that booking a night on Cocoa Beach to watch the launch would be a great view. Last time I was there they shot a regular rocket, I missed it for I was in bed, it was real early, but the sound woke me up, it was the loudest thing I have ever heard and I have gone to a lot of rock concerts, I caught a glimpse of the vapor trail. But Cocoa Beach is so nice, that is what I plan to do if I am ever lucky enough to have a trip scheduled at the time of a launch. I think CCB is just a few miles down the beach from where they actually launch.