Space Shuttle

[ctlovesdisney]

I believe there is a launch this weekend...Does anyone know if you can see it from anywhere at Disney?

 

[mickeystoontown]

I believe there is a launch this weekend...Does anyone know if you can see it from anywhere at Disney?

We saw the shuttle when we were in Disney last year. We were outside the entrance to Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom. We couldn't see the actual launch but we could see the clouds of smoke. You could see the shuttle as a bright light at first but when it turned, you could see the outline of the shuttle itself. I have a picture somewhere. Let me see if I can find it and I'll post it.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Here's the pic I found. I had more but don't know where they are. Sorry the resolution isn't so great. This was pre digital camera. I had the photograph and scanned it onto my computer.

 

[larryz]

Given the 7:43 pm launch time, you won't see the smoke until the shuttle climbs above the edge of the terminator, but you'll see the pin-point white-hot glow of the shuttle's three main rocket engines. You might also see the separate smoke trails from the solid rocket boosters after separation.

But it's a big "IF" on the clear skies. And you WON'T see the shuttle itself unless you have some big binoculars -- you're over 55 miles away from the launch site.

We've seen launch smoke trails from Tampa on clear days. And we've been on the Causeway for night launches (Spectacular!).

 

[chipndales]

We watched from the Boardwalk outside of Jelly Rolls by the benches and saw it take off just to the right of the Epcot ball. It was clear up until ten mins before launch, then the clouds moved in and then it started to rain but we could still see it in the distance light up the sky and it was pretty amazing! It was also a night launch which makes a difference I'm sure! Good luck.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

mickeystoontown...that picture's awesome!

I saw one from GF in Sept 06, but you couldn't see it that well. I wish I had a better view - like the above picture!

We were there last month when the shuttle was supposed to go up on the 22nd I think it was, and I was hoping to see it. But they postponed. I think it's finally scheduled to go up this Sunday?

 

[stanmills34]

It's launching at 7:43 P.M. on march 15. We'll be at the magic kingdom..

 

[SteveS]

We will be watching from the boat dock at CR.

 

[yulilin3]

We were at Epcot the day that the shuttle was taking a Buzz Lightyear doll and we saw it from the outside of Mission Space. It made for a great pic. You could see the cloud of smoke and the bright dot just above the ride building, we sat in the grassy area by the stroller parking there. Anyone who will be at epcot I would recommend trying to make it to see it.

 

[TLinden16]

I've seen the shuttle launches from the Boardwalk area twice. It will come up from behind the ESPN club, and shoot to the left. Both launches I saw were night launches. They were pretty cool.

I also hear that you can see it from the MK by looking in the direction of Tomorrowland.

 

[woodkins]

We were able to see it during a night time launch right outside the Adventure of Winnie the Pooh ride. We had just gotten off and everyone was standing around looking up at the sky. I asked what it was and after looking closer and some info from other guests it was the space shuttle launching. Now every time we get off the WTP ride my daughter looks up to see if she can see the space shuttle LOL!

 

[bradk]

just keep in mind that i'm not sure the launch time is official as of yet. they're stating that it's the earliest time the shuttle will launch pending resolving some problems they encountered that caused the launch to be scrubbed earlier this week

 

[OSUmouse]

We will be at DTD on Sunday night. Any idea where to look for the launch.

 

[Plumeria9]

We will be at DTD on Sunday night. Any idea where to look for the launch.

Cape Canaveral is due east from WDW, so bring a compass. There was supposed to be a launch a few nights ago when we were at EPCOT, and I was looking out for the shuttle after Illuminations, but it never happened. Hope everything works out for next time!

 

[bradk]

yes, that's the same mission as I indicated above. they discovered problems and have not yet released an official re-launch date/time, they have just indicated that Sunday would be the earliest it could happen.

they'll make an announcement whether the launch will go ahead as currently scheduled tomorrow afternoon.

Repairs are under way on the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) interface, where gaseous hydrogen leaked during Wednesday's launch attempt. The interface then will be retested and leak checked before Sunday's 7:43 p.m. launch attempt. The Mission Management Team will meet on Saturday at 1 p.m. to review the data and the progress of the teams, and make a final determination on the launch. A Prelaunch News Conference will be held no earlier than 3 p.m. following Saturday's MMT.

The weather forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time. Meteorologists are watching for low cloud ceilings, Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters said. The forecast deteriorates for potential Monday and Tuesday attempts.

The mission would last 13 days if Discovery launches Sunday. The astronauts would perform three spacewalks during the flight.

Discovery's astronauts awoke at 9 a.m. and underwent standard medical exams at 10 a.m. Commander Lee Archambault and Pilot Tony Antonelli will practice landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft at 7 p.m.

 

[Cruise04]

In November we saw it from the waiting area for our Rose and Crown reservation. So that area (or the bridge between United Kingdom and France) are both good places as well. If it's dark enough you'll see the ball of glow in the distance. In 1999 we saw it from the top of the Contemporary - that was cool!

 

[zstyles]

I think the IPHONE has a compass type application