Space Shuttle Launch

[Sue F UK]

I have just noticed on KSC website that there is a shuttle launch scheduled for 1st March.

My problem is that we are due to fly home that day and we would love to see the launch as we missed it last year by 1 day!

Does anyone know what sort of time the launches take place. Would we have time to see it and then get back to MCO for our flight - we need to be there for 2pm.

 

[SpottyDog]

Great question, Sue! We arrive Mar 1st so we were wonderin if it might be later in the day (sorry )

How about if you stake a place and we'll take over when you have to go? That way one of us should see it

Seriously though, we're assumin it'll be delayed/postponed as they always seem to be. So we're hopin it'll be later in the holider - we've missed all previous launches by over-runnin our dates.
It also occurs that if there is conflict by then they might cancel all launches etc.

 

[Sue F UK]

Oh no Spotty, that means your countdown is counting down to when I come home!!! I must remember not to look.

DH is also assuming that there will be a delay of some kind so we are keeping the launch as Plan 'B'. Still you never know - they must launch the bloomin' things on time sometimes!!!

 

[Hilary]

I know it's not going to be the same as viewing the launch from KSC, but maybe you could plan to view it from Orlando so that you'd still be able to carry on with your last day's plans, and it wouldn't matter so much if the launch was delayed.

It would be a real shame if you drove out to KSC, only to have to drive back again for your flight and maybe miss the launch by half an hour or so! The trouble with delayed launches is that no-one can tell you how long the delay might last. It could be two minutes or two hours, or not go at all.

I have seen two launches from WDW, one (early afternoon) from inside the Magic Kingdom and the other (early morning) from the grounds at Port Orleans Riverside Resort, and both were spectacular. I can only imagine how much more amazing they would have been from KSC, but they were still something I'll always remember.

 

[NIGEL1]

Hi Sue,

Try the following link.

http://www.qsl.net/w2vtm/shuttle.html

This gives information on previous shuttle launch times (near the bottom of the page).

The launch you want to see is to the International Space Station (ISS), but unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a common enough launch time to tie things down enough to enable you to make plans. After 9/11 NASA made it policy not to announce exact launch times until a day or two before launch day, opting instead to give a four hour period during which the launch will take place a week or two before the date. The following link gives more launch information, and I suggest that you call the number at the top of the page for more up to date information during your stay in Florida.

http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/schedule/schedule.htm

Good luck!!

Nigel.