Traffic on Rocket Launch day?

[jnsma]

I just noticed that a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral is scheduled for the day we are to sail from Port Canaveral. The launch is scheduled for 11pm, so I assume we probably won't notice anything assuming we travel in the morning. But I wanted to hear from anyone that has sailed out the day of a launch, was there a noticeable increase in traffic?

Also I wonder what, if anything we'd be able to see on the top deck if we were to go up and look? Would sailing for ~6 hours put us too far away to make it worth while to make an effort to look for it? It would be kind of a bucket list item for me to see a launch.

Coming off our last cruise there was an accident on one of the bridges on 528 which had traffic backed up for ~2hours, which made me think a bit more about the traffic. ....and yes I know the possiblity of a rocket launch being rescheduled is high. In fact this one was just rescheduled to our day.
Thanks!

 

[vetrik]

We disembarked last week on a rocket launch day (it had been rescheduled twice and ended up that day, which was quite a surprise to us when we got off the ship and found out), and we were already planning to go to Kennedy Space Center. The launch was at 10:05 am, and we walked off the ship right before 9:00 am. We didn't encounter traffic until we were nearly at Kennedy Space Center (when it got really backed up pulling in and getting into the parking lot), and our friends who went straight from the ship to the airport didn't see any unusual traffic.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I don't know much about modern rockets, but back in the Apollo days, I remember going outside in Miami to see the rocket overhead. Looked about the size (not shape) of a plane. Very cool.

Also, I remember a shuttle landing in PC back in 2010, or thereabouts. We were renting a house in Orlando. It shook the walls so much that I thought a Mac truck had hit the side of us.

So, you have a chance of seeing or hearing something if you're only a few hours off the coast. It would be worth asking at Guest Services. They might be able to find out more.

 

[SamFaniam]

I just noticed that a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral is scheduled for the day we are to sail from Port Canaveral. The launch is scheduled for 11pm, so I assume we probably won't notice anything assuming we travel in the morning. But I wanted to hear from anyone that has sailed out the day of a launch, was there a noticeable increase in traffic?

Also I wonder what, if anything we'd be able to see on the top deck if we were to go up and look? Would sailing for ~6 hours put us too far away to make it worth while to make an effort to look for it? It would be kind of a bucket list item for me to see a launch.

Coming off our last cruise there was an accident on one of the bridges on 528 which had traffic backed up for ~2hours, which made me think a bit more about the traffic. ....and yes I know the possiblity of a rocket launch being rescheduled is high. In fact this one was just rescheduled to our day.
Thanks!

There are unlikely to be traffic issues for any of the current launches unless you are going up towards KSC. People still come, but the last really big crowds were for the final Atlantis flight.

Whether you can see it or not depends on the rocket being launched. The launches of the big Falcon Heavy rockets can be seen as far as 400 miles away. The Falcon 9 and Atlas V rockets are smaller, but especially with a night launch, you probably will see it, assuming there's no low cloud cover.

Accidents are much more likely to be an issue.

 

[truck1]

As far as seeing it in theory its possible. It depends on the insertion angles. Ask a ships officer not crew member onboard and theyll be able to point you where it should be.

As far as traffic coming in not a problem. The majority will be on the roads going too KSC.About an hour after the launch most likely will affect traffic leaving the port area, especially where the 528 and the Challenger parkway merge ,but by then itll be midnight.

 

[onesam319]

We left PC late (began moving during first seating dinner) headed to Cozumel. The next morning we could still see land to the west. We were told they were the keys. That was over 12 hours sailing. I have a friend who has shared pics of night launches she takes from her back yard in Ft. Myers. I bet you'll be able to see it as long as you know which direction to look. Lucky duck!

 

[Capt_BJ]

launches have been so frequent lately that unless it is some special ... extra large or new ... they don't get the crowds like shuttle days

I watch 'em from my pool . . .

I suspect the first 'manned' launch will draw the next sizable interest.