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Author
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Topic: Where else to view launch ?
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nasamad
Member Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 04-02-2005 01:46 AM
   
I know the launch tickets are going on sale soon, but where else is there to view a launch from if I don't have tickets ? I will have a five year old with me so I don't wanna have to make her sit in traffic or on the causeway for ages, I was thinking of going to Cocoa Beach so she could at least be on the beach all day. Would it be a good view there ? I have been to KSC a few times but never to Cocoa Beach so any advice will be great. Cheers......Adam |
unitedplanets
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posted 04-02-2005 07:45 AM
hi adam,
i´ve seen several launches from highway A1A (between cocoa beach and KSC) with many other peoples. there are some nice fishing places with plenty space for car, chairs, table and toys.
steffen |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 04-02-2005 12:28 PM
The closest and best place to view other than the causeway is Titusville, at 11 miles away.Second to that would be 528 at Port Canaveral, at 14 miles. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 04-02-2005 12:34 PM
And no, Cocoa Beach itself is not a good place to view the shuttle. You won't be able to see the launch pad. You will only see the launch once it's up in the air after liftoff. Plus you will be about 20 miles away, so it won't be too loud.------------------
-Ben www.launchphotography.com |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 04-03-2005 12:23 AM
Adam,
I can understand you not wanting to let your little one stand idle too long, but if you two were to enjoy the KSC visitor complex together beforehand, you could then take one of the last busses out to the viewing causeway.
This would give you and your daughter time to really be occupied doing and seeing interesting things and then the absolute best view to see a launch.
Whether you do this or choose to go to another viewing area, both of you are still going to have wait at least a little.
Hope this helps!
Rob |
nasamad
Member Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 04-03-2005 05:44 AM
Thanks for all the advice guys. Looks like I'm gonna go for Titusville, I have found their website and they have a few parks that seem to be popular for watching launches. Hopefully we will be able to park the car ok and squeeze into one of them. Many thanks......Adam |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-03-2005 01:19 PM
What do you have to do (or who do you have to know) to see a Shuttle launch from inside KSC? I don't necessarily mean from the press-site: when I was there for the ASTP launch in 1975 (with a British Interplanetary Society group) we were at a place which I think was called the "Parkway South." It was about 3.3 miles from Pad 39B (which I was able to calculate from the time it took for the sound of the engine ignition to arrive). |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-03-2005 03:48 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think "Parkway South" was used for viewing shuttle launches because of it's proximity to the shuttle landing facility.
For Apollo launches it wasn't an issue.
The only KSC viewing sites for shuttle, besides the press site is the NASA Causeway (general public), the Saturn 5 Center at Banana Creek (VIP site), and Static Test Rd (I believe Employees and relatives only).
[This message has been edited by Tom (edited April 03, 2005).]
[This message has been edited by Tom (edited April 03, 2005).] [This message has been edited by Tom (edited April 03, 2005).] |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-04-2005 04:04 PM
Tom,
Thanks for the information. Of course, there WAS no shuttle landing strip when I was there for ASTP (and the VAB didn't have its stars-and-stripes or bicentennial symbol). Looks like I'll have to try for the NASA Causeway or Titusville when I come back. I'd better not wait too long...maybe only 5 more years. I did plan to see two shuttle launches in one week, but those launches were planned for May, 1986 and of course they didn't happen... |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 04-08-2005 10:24 AM
I was following up on Adam's post, and thought I'd share the link I presume he was talking about:
http://www.titusville.com/about/shuttle.htm ------------------
http://allthese worlds.hatbag.net/space.php
"America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow." - Commander Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 Mission, 11 December 1972 |
nasamad
Member Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 04-08-2005 11:56 AM
Thanks for that David, I thought I had posted that, lol. Adam |
Genedig65
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posted 04-08-2005 02:02 PM
I'm in the same situation. We'll be in Cocoa Beach in July for STS 121 hopefully. I don't think my young family would be interested in standing for 2 hours on the NASA causeway so I'm looking at Sand Point Park or SpaceView park. However, I was wondering about seeing the launch from the KSC visitor center or Astro Hall of Fame? Any comments?Gene DiGennaro
Baltimore,Md. |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 04-08-2005 11:43 PM
Hi Gene,
Welcome aboard! Since you and your family are traveling from so far up the coast, it'd be a shame not to view the Atlantis launch from the closest public point, which is the NASA causeway located between KSC and the Cape Canaveral base.
From Cocoa you won't be able to see the shuttle lift off the pad. Any other areas will be at least 10 miles away, if not more. From Titusville, it seems VERY far away.
KSC has many busses transporting thousands of people out to the viewing site and they continue up until about an hour or so before launch. I can't remember which launch it was, but I waited until the last bus departed and within half an hour getting situated on the causeway, I was watching the shuttle fly high in the sky.
Because you choose to take a later bus does not mean you won't be able to see! The NASA causeway is actually humped in the center, so you could stand near there behind the others at the river rope and still have a tremendous view!
Just to whet your appetite, NASA has loud speakers on the causeway. You can hear everything said between NASA and the shuttle crew all through the launch. At launch, when the Solid Rocket Boosters, SRBs, ignite it is so bright you have to avert your eyes for a couple of seconds, else you feel as if you're looking at a welder's torch! And unlike TV coverage, you see the cloud of white steam as the shuttle rises through it, but don't hear anything for about 30 seconds and then...Wow! You can actually hear the rumble coming towards you across the river! THAT is impressive! And it does get loud! Then the SRBs fall away and the shuttle continues up and up until out of sight.
I really hope this will sway you to view from the causeway, because, if not, when you get back to Baltimore, I wouldn't want you to think, "I was RIGHT there! I could have...!"
Again, welcome,
Rob
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spaceuk
Member Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 04-09-2005 08:39 AM
Holiday Inn on Atlantic Avenue Titusville would be good if you get a 1st floor room at the back. It overlooks the Indian River and you can see the VAB from there. with binos no problem and launches once airborne.The kids would be happy as you'd be in your room and they have a pool just in case they get fed up ! I think the problem will be trying to pick the right dates for launch. Still several 'recocommendation' hurdles to be addressed and resolved - and then there's the weather problem and last minute technical hitches :-( |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 04-09-2005 09:57 AM
If you can get the causeway ticket from someone or on ebay, you won't regret it.But if not, Titusville is the place to go. It's 11 miles but still a very nice and clear view as long as it isn't hazy. Keep in mind though that being off-base doesn't mean no waiting. It is going to be very crowded for this launch, and spots along the river and in the parks in T-ville will go fast. Allow a few hours wait time at the minimum. ------------------
-Ben www.launchphotography.com |
Genedig65
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posted 04-10-2005 07:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by spaceuk:I think the problem will be trying to pick the right dates for launch. Still several 'recocommendation' hurdles to be addressed and resolved - and then there's the weather problem and last minute technical hitches :-( [/b]
Of course May's flight will have be textbook. I'm guessing we have about 40-50% chance of seeing a launch while we are on our vacation. Anybody here ever stayed at the Sea Aire Motel in Cocoa Beach? It has that classic 1950's-60's look to it. We are booked there for a week from the 9th to the 16th.
If things go according to schedule we are thinking or getting tickets to see the launch at KSC. If not we will be in T-ville. I'm bringing my 5inch diameter Maksutov spotter scope for viewing at T-ville. Thanks for all the info folks. Gene [This message has been edited by Genedig65 (edited April 10, 2005).] |
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