Shuttle Launch

[mickeyp]

I would just like to ask you helpful dibbers if there are any locations other than the official launch site that give possible views of the Shuttle launch. Tried to catch it!!! (sorry see it) last time it flew over the UK but missed it every time.
:mad2:

[loadsapixiedust]

Anywhere along the coastal highway will give a decent view. We thought Titusville was good and there are restaurants etc there to help you through the waiting. You can easily see it from Orlando if you don't want to make the trip to the coast.

[slifex]

i believe there is a place in titusville thats good for viewing but i am not sure where hopefuly someone will be able to tell you

[julie 41]

Hi, we will be going to Titusville for the launch,I've spent ages finding out where to watch and this seems a good place. Apparently people stop and park on the coast road,I'm sure it will become clear as you get there. Told there are toilets,cafes etc so sounds good. We are going to stay for a few hours afterwards and have lunch because apparently the traffic is horrendous getting back to Orlando can take up to four hours!! We going to set off to Titusville really early too so we get there in time. Good luck !!

[Manc_Chris]

http://spaceyideas.com/spaceview.html

[Ros & Jim]

We watched a launch a couple of months back. Drove to Titusville about lunch time and got parked facing out over the water to the launch pad. Be warned, don't park in soft sand - several cars had to be towed out! We took a couple of foldup chairs with us which we were really glad of. It gets really busy the nearer it gets to launch time and be prepared for your car to be hemmed in by other cars. However, it was like a giant party atmosphere and everyone was chatting away and inviting you into their RVs if you wanted to cool down and have a drink. Across the road from where we parked there was a garage with toilets and it was doing a roaring trade in crisps, nibbles and cold drinks. McDonalds wasn't far up the street and there were public toilets just beside it.

Was it worth the 7 hours we spent in Titusville? Yes, it was awesome, as the Americans would say. Be warned, it will take ages for the traffic to clear and get home, but well worth it.

[monty59]

I would just like to ask you helpful dibbers if there are any locations other than the official launch site that give possible views of the Shuttle launch. Tried to catch it!!! (sorry see it) last time it flew over the UK but missed it every time.
:mad2:

We tried to see it from our hotel last time (dec last year) but couldn't see it as we were on the balcony outside our room and couldn't venture further as the kids were asleep. But a few years ago we saw one at the official launch viewing site, well worth the wait! It had speakers so you could hear the exchange between control and the shuttle, you heard the actual countdown and there was even a refreshment van (be prepared to wait over an hour to get served though!!). It does take a long time to get out of the area afterwards (talking hours!) but absolutely amazing. I can't begin to describe the feeling and the view you get being so close (especialy for a night time launch), only reason we didn't go last time was because it would have been too tiring for our kids (2 and 5 then), and as someone else said, there is a real party atmosphere -we video'd it and you can hear some crazy american shout 'Rock and Roll Woo Hoo' as it launched, so funny!
Other thing we had with the official viewing was access to KSC (limited though) which included a 'briefing' from a NASA spokesman. That again made it so memorable.

[Kryten59]

hmm...when we watched Endeavour launch in 1999 we'd originally booked to stay a night somewhere in Indian River - which is in Titusville...in the end though we ended up just booking the excursion via Gator Tours and getting a coach there and back to the official launch site. I'm glad we did, we were able to hear the communication between the astronauts and ground control and that really built up the atmosphere...only drawback was it took hours just to leave the KSC once the shuttle had launched....

[Happy Feet]

Went to Cocoa Beach this year - great advice from fellow Dibbers. The atmosphere was electric, bought a lump to the throat. The cheering and clapping during the take off and when the shuttle left the atmosphere was something we'll never forget.