Space Shuttle Launch

[el_rooto]

Hey everyone,

I'm going to be in the states from the 6th to the 16th of july, and the final shuttle launch is scheduled for the 14th. Does anyone think it its worth going to see? Has anyone been to one before?

 

[awilcockson]

Seeing a real live shuttle launch has been at the top of the "do before I die" list since I was a kid an watched the very first launch.

Unfortunately I missed the last one by a couple of weeks (will be in the US next week) and there's no chance I'll be back in July. If you get the chance, I say do it. At the least you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you've made me extremely jealous

 

[coolumbla]

hell yes!
watched the mars rocket take off with eldest delinquent on a school trip and that was a great thing
Just seeing all the places i watched on tv as a kiddie was worth it on the tour

took Mrs C back along with jteh delinquenst and junioe delinquent was heard to mutter under teh saturn rocket "thats one big cough rocket!) aka high praise

DO it

 

[Mal]

I would love to go, but always had one huge issue...

The fact that so many of them have huge rolling delays.

Narrowly missed Endeavour (?) being launched a few years ago. Did the "Up Close" tour which got you reasonably close to the launchpad (By close, I don't mean a couple of metres! ... more like 500, perhaps even 750)

But it was an impressive sight sitting there on the launchpad.

So yes, would be awesome to go, but watch out for delays.

 

[coolumbla]

I would love to go, but always had one huge issue...

The fact that so many of them have huge rolling delays.

We deliberately went to the unmanned rocket launch in case there were delays and they were more likely to launch the unmanned one in dodgy weather than the shuttle

Both times we did the close up tour and both times had a shuttle on the pad

Mrs C was even impressed and thats hard to do .She couldn't understand why i was dragging everyone to the Kennedy space centre saying you'll love it
I think it was seeing the door and van that the apollo astronauts used to come out of on the way to the pad !

SO even if you don't get to see the launch the tour is worthwhile if you are of an age where you watched it all

C

 

[tuppaware]

Hey everyone,

I'm going to be in the states from the 6th to the 16th of july, and the final shuttle launch is scheduled for the 14th. Does anyone think it its worth going to see? Has anyone been to one before?

Ohh I'll be there.. but in SFO... and I'm in Miami 4 days before :-(

But I guess I could fly back.... hmmmm sits on credit card!

 

[UP4014]

If you really want to see it be prepared to wait several days, the launch I went to see (Columbia) was delayed about 5 days. Worth the wait. (also the landing, sitting runway side listening to the radio chatter before they reenter the atmosphere and then hey presto, a few sonic booms later and crew are giving you a wave)

But if you can't make it there try this little one in South Australia.
We have lift off | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[UP4014]

Ohh I'll be there.. but in SFO... and I'm in Miami 4 days before :-(

But I guess I could fly back.... hmmmm sits on credit card!

If you haven't done it, do it!

 

[TimB]

I saw the launch of STS-132 (Atlantis) in May last year. I was lucky - it launched on schedule - but I'd allowed for a delay of one day, which is only really enough to cope with a single weather delay.

If you have time, I'd plan as follows:

• Fly into Orlando if you don't like driving. But if you want a chance to see Kennedy Space Center from the air, consider a flight such as ORD-FLL, and get a window seat on the right to grab a photo like I did (attached).
  
• Plan to visit KSC the day before the launch, and take one of the tours out to the observation tower. You'll see the shuttle on the pad.
  
• Allow as many days as you can in case the launch is delayed. Your KSC entrance ticket is good for two days, so use the second day to see all the other exhibits there.
  
• Try and get a launch ticket for the causeway, but if you miss out, grab a spot on one of the beaches. I watched from Titusville, which was fine. Plan to get there at least 4 hours early, as there'll be a crowd. Depending on the time of launch, maybe aim for 8 hours.

There are plenty of other tips about shuttle launch viewing that you'll be able to find with a google search. But if you get the chance, take it!

 

[el_rooto]

Does anyone have any advice if I can't rent a car?

 

[TimB]

Does anyone have any advice if I can't rent a car?

Check out bus tours. I know of these ones, and I think there's another company as well: STS-135 Atlantis Americas Last Shuttle Launch

The best thing is that they can sell you a tour with a NASA Causeway viewing ticket included.

 

[Mal]

I've been thinking about this over the last few days, and am seriously considering heading over ... But like I posted earlier - a delay of several weeks is possible... and at most I could allow for up to a week's delay, but not really more (I do have to work!)

So the concept is being thought about, I'm nutting out the sanity and the options... Stay tuned!

 

[el_rooto]

I've been thinking about this over the last few days, and am seriously considering heading over ... But like I posted earlier - a delay of several weeks is possible... and at most I could allow for up to a week's delay, but not really more (I do have to work!)

So the concept is being thought about, I'm nutting out the sanity and the options... Stay tuned!

Awesome. Keep me posted. I'm still trying to work out how to get there from an airport.

 

[TimB]

Awesome. Keep me posted. I'm still trying to work out how to get there from an airport.

One option:

Fly into Orlando (MCO), and stay at a hotel there (making sure to book a hotel with an airport shuttle). The bus tour (link above) picks up from various areas in Orlando. There are other companies that offer tours to KSC from Orlando, e.g. Kennedy Space Center - Tickets and Tours to Kennedy Space Center, so you can see the center before and/or after the launch.

You may be able to fly into a closer airport (Space Coast Regional Airport), but I don't know if there are scheduled services there.

Or if you want to pay for my trip, I'll drive you.

 

[Mal]

One option:

Fly into Orlando (MCO), and stay at a hotel there (making sure to book a hotel with an airport shuttle). The bus tour (link above) picks up from various areas in Orlando. There are other companies that offer tours to KSC from Orlando, e.g. Kennedy Space Center - Tickets and Tours to Kennedy Space Center, so you can see the center before and/or after the launch.

Yeah, that is my suggestion too. I think it's about 40mins - 60 mins to KSC driving from Orlando - I've driven it and it was a nice trip.

 

[el_rooto]

Yeah, that is my suggestion too. I think it's about 40mins - 60 mins to KSC driving from Orlando - I've driven it and it was a nice trip.

Hmm, you can also do DFW - MIA - MCO at $635 for 150sc's.

(The base fare is $210, so its $425 for an extra 125 sc's)

 

[straitman]

Yeah, that is my suggestion too. I think it's about 40mins - 60 mins to KSC driving from Orlando - I've driven it and it was a nice trip.

Though on a launch day this could be a few hours :!:

 

[UP4014]

You might want to check the tours aren't booked out, I would think for this launch they may well be already. (A 'normal' launch can be quite crowded)

 

[Mal]

You might want to check the tours aren't booked out, I would think for this launch they may well be already. (A 'normal' launch can be quite crowded)

Yeah, that is a concern of mine. But from what I see, they aren't on sale yet etc... so there is still hope.

Can't decide if I'm going or not. Would be great to see, but potential delays concern me. I'm planning 10 days away (so 8 business days off work), but that still doesn't leave a huge margin for delays. Plus, Orlando doesn't excite me that much, so after a few days there I would be stir crazy if it was a rolling delay...

 

[awilcockson]

I've been thinking about this over the last few days, and am seriously considering heading over ...

Let me know what you come up with It's my final chance, I'm going to regret it for the rest of my life if I don't figure out a way to be there.