Space shuttle launch - Where to view it from

hughie · 13 Jan 10, 10:05 PM

Hi

during my visit i have hopefully a shuttle lauch that i would like to view, but where from?

I would actually like to do this from a beach or some where were children will not get to bored. Also would like to keep the cost down as well as i am sure you will get a good view from where every you are.

Thanks

Devs Inc · 13 Jan 10, 10:18 PM

If you are driving then there is a town called Titusville about 40mins drive from Orlando (towards Space centre) and it is a great spot to watch a launch.You view the launch across a lough/lake and will find a lot of media coverage from there also.

Hope this helps.Enjoy

timBS5 · 13 Jan 10, 10:36 PM

Cocoa beach, just south of Titusville is a great spot.
It's got a nice car park right on the front, and you can watch the launch from the beach, day or night.
You always get a good crowd there, a great mixture of interested families and passionate know-it-alls.
There is a great bar / restaurant there too (as long as the launch isn't at 4am like the one I'm hoping to see

)

Even from Orlando though, you can still see it go up, day or night. It's worth looking, even if you're not interested.

walden64 · 13 Jan 10, 10:37 PM

We viewed the August's launch from Titusville and had a great view

Michelle

loadsapixiedust · 14 Jan 10, 03:56 PM

Try Cocoa Beach or one of the parks along US1 on the waterfront in Titusville. Space View Park is great and has some facilities (parking, loos, launch merchandise and food stalls) so you have all you need if you are there for a while. You will find local TV and radio cover the launches from there so there is a countdown and live commentary broadcast from Mission Control. This is the view of the launch pad across the water.

Lisa-72 · 14 Jan 10, 04:13 PM

Bumping this post as we had considered going to KSC to view it but having worked out costs it's too expensive for us as we won't be able to drive and can only rely on public transport.

tracie · 26 Jan 10, 10:41 AM

Some great suggestions here - theres a shuttle launch in July whilst we are there - just wondered how long before the scheduled time you need to arrive in order to get in, park and get a spot?
The launch is scheduled for 7.55am atm.

Orlando 2004 · 28 Jan 10, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracie

Some great suggestions here - theres a shuttle launch in July whilst we are there - just wondered how long before the scheduled time you need to arrive in order to get in, park and get a spot?
The launch is scheduled for 7.55am atm.

Ive watched 2 launches and the first one was delayed by about 30mins and the second one we just made it there on time as the roads were so busy, we literally ran onto cocoa beach and it started to take off. Dont think you will have a problem at that time in the morning mind.

Raymond · 28 Jan 10, 09:38 PM

Two to three hours before depending wher eyou want to get a spot, be prepared for a SLOW drive back or find somewhere to watch where you will be happy to stay there for 4 hours afterwards until the traffic clears a bit.

I think it took us nearly three hours to get from Titusville to Cocoa beach after a launch.

jdybnsn · 28 Jan 10, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raymond

Two to three hours before depending wher eyou want to get a spot, be prepared for a SLOW drive back or find somewhere to watch where you will be happy to stay there for 4 hours afterwards until the traffic clears a bit.

I think it took us nearly three hours to get from Titusville to Cocoa beach after a launch.

Does anyone know if it will be that busy for a night launch ????

...and is there actually much to see on a night launch ...other than a golden glow going up into the sky ????

stepmead · 30 Jan 10, 08:24 AM

In November we went to Cocoa Beach and watched the launch. We were lucky as it was around 2pm local time so had a leisurely drive up there and then got the beach around 1pm. The kids played and we watched the launch. Really amazing sight and well worth going!