firechick139
Mouseketeer
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- Oct 15, 2007
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Also, what are your absolute best tips for nighttime viewing?
Space Shuttle Launches Viewing Tips? Etc?
- Thread starter toystoryduo
- Start date
My best tip for nighttime viewing, aside from being close which goes for any launch, is to be in a location on the water. If you don't try to buy tickets for the causeway, then go to Titusville and do not do the visitors center. The tremendous amount of light will reflect off the water and make it twice as spectacular (with night launches already being many times more so than day launches).
scraphappy92
Mouseketeer<br><font color=deeppink>Give me Kenny
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2005
- Messages
- 209
I just saw there is a launch scheduled for our trip in November. I would love for my son to see it. We will be at HS that day and night for Fantasmic, can anyone recommend where to go afterwards to see the launch?
Without buying tickets, Titusville is the place, especially at night. Plan to arrive a couple of hours beforehand or maybe a little more.
Andrew*A
Mouseketeer
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- Jun 22, 2008
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- 228
Planning on driving out to Titusville to watch the Nov 10th launch. The launch is scheduled for 9:28 PM.
Has anyone watched a nighttime launch from this location and is it a safe place to be at that time of night?
Desperate to see a launch, but do not want to put my family in any danger.
Has anyone watched a nighttime launch from this location and is it a safe place to be at that time of night?
Desperate to see a launch, but do not want to put my family in any danger.
Yes, there will be thousands of people there. Specific points like Space view park, as well as the two or three piers elsewhere in Titusville, attract hundreds.
This launch may move up a few days, as early as Nov. 4 but maybe between the 4th and 10th. The launch time will be a little later if it does. They will decide on moving up the date in the coming weeks.
/
mhconley
Califloridian
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I've been lucky enough to see two Space Shuttle launches. For the first I was in Orlando on business with a colleague. We extended our stay for an extra day and drove to Titusville to watch a predawn launch from the water's edge. For the second my wife and I were in WDW in August 2002 at the GF. We purchased tickets ahead of time and drove to the Kennedy Space Center to watch a daytime launch.
The predawn launch was utterly amazing. I will never forget it. We were standing on the water's edge and could see the space shuttle standing on the launch pad lit by floodlights. When the engines fired up a silent fireball lit the early morning sky. We watched in awe as the shuttle lifted skyward in silence. We then saw an almost unnoticeable ripple moving quickly across the still water toward where we were standing. Then we felt it – a hot wind hit our faces – moments later the sound rumbled from the ground like low popping, snarling earthquake. The emotional and visceral impact of that launch was absolutely amazing.
The daytime launch my wife and I saw from inside the space center was a disappointment after the spectacle of the predawn launch I witnessed. First, the viewing area was a lot further from the launch pad then we were in Titusville. You could not even see the shuttle on the launch pad. Second, they pack you onto buses like sardines and drive you out to the side of a road with no services whatsoever. And last, the daytime launch just did not have the visual impact of the predawn launch.
I recommend anywhere along the waterfront in Titusville facing east. I guarantee you the nighttime launch will blow your socks off.
Martin
The predawn launch was utterly amazing. I will never forget it. We were standing on the water's edge and could see the space shuttle standing on the launch pad lit by floodlights. When the engines fired up a silent fireball lit the early morning sky. We watched in awe as the shuttle lifted skyward in silence. We then saw an almost unnoticeable ripple moving quickly across the still water toward where we were standing. Then we felt it – a hot wind hit our faces – moments later the sound rumbled from the ground like low popping, snarling earthquake. The emotional and visceral impact of that launch was absolutely amazing.
The daytime launch my wife and I saw from inside the space center was a disappointment after the spectacle of the predawn launch I witnessed. First, the viewing area was a lot further from the launch pad then we were in Titusville. You could not even see the shuttle on the launch pad. Second, they pack you onto buses like sardines and drive you out to the side of a road with no services whatsoever. And last, the daytime launch just did not have the visual impact of the predawn launch.
I recommend anywhere along the waterfront in Titusville facing east. I guarantee you the nighttime launch will blow your socks off.
Martin
If you were on base, you had to have been closer than Titusville erven if you could not see the pad.
However, if it was August of 2002 then it was not the space shuttle as there was not a shuttle launch in August 2002. If this date is correct, it was an unmanned rocket launch and, from comparative distances, they are not as loud or impressive. To get the same effect for an unmanned launch you would need to be much closer.
When was the pre-dawn launch? Was it a night launch, or immediately pre-dawn into a twilight sky? Night launches (and predawn launches) are, certainly, much more spectacular than day launches.
However, if it was August of 2002 then it was not the space shuttle as there was not a shuttle launch in August 2002. If this date is correct, it was an unmanned rocket launch and, from comparative distances, they are not as loud or impressive. To get the same effect for an unmanned launch you would need to be much closer.
When was the pre-dawn launch? Was it a night launch, or immediately pre-dawn into a twilight sky? Night launches (and predawn launches) are, certainly, much more spectacular than day launches.
mhconley
Califloridian
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Your statement had me re-examining the date. I know it was a shuttle launch and now realize we were not in WDW in August 2002 but in early October. We ate our anniversary dinner at Victoria & Albert's on September 30th. I vaguely remembered eating there for our anniversary but never reconciled that with the August 2002 date. My wife and I saw STS-112 launch at 3:46 PM on October 7, 2002. Here is a picture of that launch taken with my digital camera.
The predawn launch my colleague and I saw was STS-101 at 6:11 AM on May 19 2000. Looking back at the photos I can see we were closer to the daytime launch but the predawn launch seemed much more immediate. Here is a shot of that launch from a disposable camera I bought.
mhconley
Califloridian
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Aha, very nice. STS-101 was one of the most beautiful launches they ever had. Understandable (plus, the first one is always the best)
From the shot of STS-101 on your link it looks you were right next to me! Great shot.
Martin
I've seen two launches and loved it, despite the heat and crowds and traffic.
The first was about 20 years ago while on vaca to the World. Someone mentioned the launch the next day and we decided to get up early and drive over to the coast. We pulled over on some causeway where we saw lots of cars and watched. No problems getting there or back traffic wise, but then it was 20 years ago!!!!!
The second time was a hoot. A friend of mine was invited by one of the astronauts. We spent the day before/night at Cocoa Beach as the spouses of the astronauts threw a party. To be a honest a fairly hoaky party with Subway sandwiches in a parking lot, but with autographed photos.
My friend 'forgot' to send in for the special tickets to get up close and personal....and then the launch itself was delayed and our whole group except for intrepid me, went back to Colorado. I was meeting a friend for a free dining Disney week, so I stayed...I think it was reset and cancelled at least twice and finally went up @ Sept 11 (originally set for Aug 26 I think).
I booked with a company who picked you up in the bus at WDW...I was staying at the Pop). The pickup was @ 6 am and I was waiting outside while the news was reporting (inside) that the launch had been scrapped yet again.
I talked my friend into going over the next scheduled day, and we drove over, bought tickets but had to 'talk' our way onto the buses to the causeway, waited in incredible heat only to have it scrapped about twenty minutes before the launch. OUCH.
Then there was one last possible time for it to go...my friend declined to do the whole trip again, but I went over and met up with a woman whom we'd met the first time out to the causeway. I bought a camera specially for this.
The launch was a go, the ground trembled and a 15 ft aligator came up right by where we were sitting to see it for himself. My camera screwed up (or I did) but even after ALL THAT....I'd do it again. As I recall, the tickets to get you inside the buildings and into the IMAX let you watch inside the building compound on big screen tv monitors. It was another $15 to take one of the kazillion buses out to the causeway...and those tickets weren't available on launch day, but had to be purchased in advance. It really is a hit or miss type of thing, but if you miss you can easily spend a full day in the Space Center. I left to go back to WDW after teh launch day at about 5:30 and there was no traffic to speak of.
The first was about 20 years ago while on vaca to the World. Someone mentioned the launch the next day and we decided to get up early and drive over to the coast. We pulled over on some causeway where we saw lots of cars and watched. No problems getting there or back traffic wise, but then it was 20 years ago!!!!!
The second time was a hoot. A friend of mine was invited by one of the astronauts. We spent the day before/night at Cocoa Beach as the spouses of the astronauts threw a party. To be a honest a fairly hoaky party with Subway sandwiches in a parking lot, but with autographed photos.
My friend 'forgot' to send in for the special tickets to get up close and personal....and then the launch itself was delayed and our whole group except for intrepid me, went back to Colorado. I was meeting a friend for a free dining Disney week, so I stayed...I think it was reset and cancelled at least twice and finally went up @ Sept 11 (originally set for Aug 26 I think).I booked with a company who picked you up in the bus at WDW...I was staying at the Pop). The pickup was @ 6 am and I was waiting outside while the news was reporting (inside) that the launch had been scrapped yet again.
I talked my friend into going over the next scheduled day, and we drove over, bought tickets but had to 'talk' our way onto the buses to the causeway, waited in incredible heat only to have it scrapped about twenty minutes before the launch. OUCH.
Then there was one last possible time for it to go...my friend declined to do the whole trip again, but I went over and met up with a woman whom we'd met the first time out to the causeway. I bought a camera specially for this.
The launch was a go, the ground trembled and a 15 ft aligator came up right by where we were sitting to see it for himself. My camera screwed up (or I did) but even after ALL THAT....I'd do it again. As I recall, the tickets to get you inside the buildings and into the IMAX let you watch inside the building compound on big screen tv monitors. It was another $15 to take one of the kazillion buses out to the causeway...and those tickets weren't available on launch day, but had to be purchased in advance. It really is a hit or miss type of thing, but if you miss you can easily spend a full day in the Space Center. I left to go back to WDW after teh launch day at about 5:30 and there was no traffic to speak of.
Houston is where mission control is.
The shuttle's prime landing site is the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center, with a prime backup at Edwards Air Force Base, California and a secondary site in New Mexico (where it only landed once in 1982).
The landing dates can be found along with the mission info on the NASA site. STS-125, should it launch Oct. 8, would land Oct. 18. STS-126, should it launch Nov. 10, will land Nov. 25.
Tickets for the causeway for STS-125 will go on sale Monday, August 25 at 9:00am.
http://www.ksctickets.com/ltt.html
http://www.ksctickets.com/ltt.html
zackiedawg
WEDway Peoplemover Rider
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- Messages
- 3,760
I can see the launches from my backyard down in South Florida - during the day, it's a small white streak, and during the night, a hot, bright star. We're quite a distance away, so it's amazing it can be seen that well.
However, I got my closer Disney view in Dec 06. I was coming back from a long park day, staying at Saratoga Springs, and decided to walk over to Marketplace around 9pm to shoot some night shots. I grabbed my ultrazoom and tripod, and took the footpath into Marketplace. On my way, the sun decided to rise rather suddenly directly in front of me. This was somewhat strange, being after 9pm. It was bright enough to read a book by.
It took me a few seconds to register what this was - I seemed to recall the shuttle was supposed to go off sometime that weekend, but had completely forgotten about it...and without having previously experiencing quite how bright and obvious it was from WDW, I didn't really have reason to mark this event in my brain.
I was only able to quickly turn my camera on, stick it on the tripod, spin it to manual mode, and try in .5 seconds to figure out the best shutter and aperture combo for something I've never shot before. I just stuck it on 20 seconds, quick focused, and pressed the shutter (no time for self-timers, so camera shake was inevitable). And the tripod was set up unevenly with two feet in the grass. And I hadn't white balanced. And I didn't close down the aperture enough. And I had no time to zoom in. And there were obnoxious street lights right in my shot. It was far from the best shot I've ever taken, but I still have fond memories of witnessing such an awesome sight:
The brightness, the clear visibility of the shuttle, the ascension through the atmosphere, booster ejection, and final blue glow as it faded from view, followed by the delayed echo of the cheering masses which floated across the lake from Downtown Disney and Marketplace, sent a shiver down my spine and a tear to my eye - a great and powerful thing to witness so close. I can only imagine how much more stunning it must be from the Space Coast area...it's now on my list of things I must do.
However, I got my closer Disney view in Dec 06. I was coming back from a long park day, staying at Saratoga Springs, and decided to walk over to Marketplace around 9pm to shoot some night shots. I grabbed my ultrazoom and tripod, and took the footpath into Marketplace. On my way, the sun decided to rise rather suddenly directly in front of me. This was somewhat strange, being after 9pm. It was bright enough to read a book by.
It took me a few seconds to register what this was - I seemed to recall the shuttle was supposed to go off sometime that weekend, but had completely forgotten about it...and without having previously experiencing quite how bright and obvious it was from WDW, I didn't really have reason to mark this event in my brain.
I was only able to quickly turn my camera on, stick it on the tripod, spin it to manual mode, and try in .5 seconds to figure out the best shutter and aperture combo for something I've never shot before. I just stuck it on 20 seconds, quick focused, and pressed the shutter (no time for self-timers, so camera shake was inevitable). And the tripod was set up unevenly with two feet in the grass. And I hadn't white balanced. And I didn't close down the aperture enough. And I had no time to zoom in. And there were obnoxious street lights right in my shot. It was far from the best shot I've ever taken, but I still have fond memories of witnessing such an awesome sight:
The brightness, the clear visibility of the shuttle, the ascension through the atmosphere, booster ejection, and final blue glow as it faded from view, followed by the delayed echo of the cheering masses which floated across the lake from Downtown Disney and Marketplace, sent a shiver down my spine and a tear to my eye - a great and powerful thing to witness so close. I can only imagine how much more stunning it must be from the Space Coast area...it's now on my list of things I must do.
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