Shuttle launch!

[Crash Cash]

I've never been to a launch and with only 3 Shuttle launches left I need to get off my ass and do it. So I'm asking for advice like area lodging and best place to watch from. Looking at the schedule this next one would be best for me May 14th.

Well, the hotels are all pretty much hotels, and you can see a good view from just about anywhere, even 90 miles away in Orlando like me. You can get launch site tickets at the KSC Visitors' Center for the full up-close monty, however they're expensive and they go quick.

The biggest issue by far is the unpredictability of the launch, and the fact that anything from the weather, to equipment problems, to some dumbass in his boat in the Atlantic can delay it. The biggest problem is the weather because it can change in minutes, and because in the summer it likes to rain and thunder, which is not something you can launch a shuttle through. For example, this launch very nearly was scrubbed because both strings of the antiquated '50s-era USAF tracking radars died. They barely got one string back up in time.

Lately they've been ripping them out like clockwork and the weather has cooperated, but you know the moment you PLAN on it ("what could POSSIBLY go wrong?") then Murphy will jump up and smack you in the head.

Make sure you have AT LEAST an extra week to spend past the original launch date. I can't stress this enough. I've had plenty of disappointed friends have to leave the day it actually launched.

EDIT: and I wish I could afford more than a crappy little 2br house so I could have a place for people to crash.

 

[MojaveFJR]

Yeah, it is awesome to see that thing go up that is for sure.

NOW, waiting for them to land is spectacular too. Double sonic boom, bright dot screaming across the sky and you think, "there ain't no way that thing is going to bleed enough speed to land here". Sure, enough 5 minutes later, she is on the deck.

If it lands out there this time, think I am going to go watch it. Only three launches left and it would be ashame to miss such an opportunity.

OBTW, this is at EAFB. Want to get some shots of them loading the shuttle on the 747 too. Now, that is a feat that is second to none.

 

[BikerGeek99]

One of these days I want to be there for a launch.

Better hurry up. The clock's ticking on that whole program.

3 launches left and it's got to be done by the end of the year or they run into budgetary issues.

Yeah, I know. Don't think it's gonna happen.

Hopefully I'll be able to make it down to witness the launch of whatever winds up as the successor to the shuttle program.

When the missus and I were down there last year, we did get to see the shuttle on the launch pad a few days before launch, which was cool...

 

[NightShine]

My wife and I were living in Palm Bay, FL in the early 1980's, and this thread brings back some great memories...

... the first shuttle launch.
 
... approaching the Kennedy Space Center by boat on the Banana River in the pre-dawn hours before a launch, with the shuttle lit up like Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
 
... satellite night launches.
Yes, a shuttle launch is quite a site to see. We were awed by the first shuttle launch. Even 20 miles away the windows on our house shook from the force of the launch. After watching it clear the launch tower on TV, we rushed out to the backyard and watched the shuttle climb on its pillar of flame and smoke. As it turned out, that first launch caused quite a bit of damage to the launch complex itself due to the force of the rockets, leading NASA to install a dampening system which would flood hundreds of thousands of gallons of water into the pad to absorb some of the energy. The subsequent shuttle launches never again rattled our windows.

 

[Crash Cash]

Yeah, it is awesome to see that thing go up that is for sure.
NOW, waiting for them to land is spectacular too. Double sonic boom, bright dot screaming across the sky and you think, "there ain't no way that thing is going to bleed enough speed to land here". Sure, enough 5 minutes later, she is on the deck.

Yeah, one time I used the shuttle to be evil to the dog, who didn't really like loud bangs.

It was landing about 1am, so I watched NASA-TV until the proper time and I took him out for the walk around the lake. The timing was perfect... he was leg up, peeing on a lamppost, when BOOMBOOM and he went straight up in the air (all 160lbs) and landed on his side and flopped around like a fish for about 30 seconds, then got up and headed for home so fast the leash went twang.

But yeah, the shuttle passes over Orlando at over 110,000ft, then 90 miles later, it's landed. I've flown the simulators at the astronaut hall of fame, and you head just about straight down to the runway, compared to a regular aircraft approach. It's so steep, the term "glide" doesn't really seem to apply. Plus you crank around the HAC at like a 40deg angle of bank, and you don't do the normal 3-leg approach, which feels strange too.

 

[rickcorwn]

I've never been to a launch and with only 3 Shuttle launches left I need to get off my ass and do it. So I'm asking for advice like area lodging and best place to watch from. Looking at the schedule this next one would be best for me May 14th.

Well, the hotels are all pretty much hotels, and you can see a good view from just about anywhere, even 90 miles away in Orlando like me. You can get launch site tickets at the KSC Visitors' Center for the full up-close monty, however they're expensive and they go quick.

The biggest issue by far is the unpredictability of the launch, and the fact that anything from the weather, to equipment problems, to some dumbass in his boat in the Atlantic can delay it. The biggest problem is the weather because it can change in minutes, and because in the summer it likes to rain and thunder, which is not something you can launch a shuttle through. For example, this launch very nearly was scrubbed because both strings of the antiquated '50s-era USAF tracking radars died. They barely got one string back up in time.

Lately they've been ripping them out like clockwork and the weather has cooperated, but you know the moment you PLAN on it ("what could POSSIBLY go wrong?") then Murphy will jump up and smack you in the head.

Make sure you have AT LEAST an extra week to spend past the original launch date. I can't stress this enough. I've had plenty of disappointed friends have to leave the day it actually launched.

EDIT: and I wish I could afford more than a crappy little 2br house so I could have a place for people to crash.

I'm heavily leaning to the full up close Monty, if I'm going all the way down there 90 miles away isn't going to cut it, I wanna feel the heat :beach: The price isn't cheap at $56 but I'm not paying for a family of 4 just me. Is there a really good spot to watch from other than a ticket at the space center? I've done a quick check of hotels within about 25 miles and they're filling up and they also raise the prices for that weekend. Is the traffic really bad on launch day? I'm thinking about staying near Orlando on the east side. Getting up early and spending the day at the Space Center. The launch is in the afternoon, I guess I should say the launch is planned for the afternoon. Then find the bar that all to old astronauts hang out at for a cold one while the traffic thins out. I understand that the schedule can and often changes and I've got a good deal of flexibility the limiting factor would be the cost of lodging waiting for the launch if it's postponed.

Any major flaws in my reasoning?

 

[Crash Cash]

I'm heavily leaning to the full up close Monty, if I'm going all the way down there 90 miles away isn't going to cut it, I wanna feel the heat :beach: The price isn't cheap at $56 but I'm not paying for a family of 4 just me. Is there a really good spot to watch from other than a ticket at the space center?
I've done a quick check of hotels within about 25 miles and they're filling up and they also raise the prices for that weekend. Is the traffic really bad on launch day? I'm thinking about staying near Orlando on the east side. Getting up early and spending the day at the Space Center. The launch is in the afternoon, I guess I should say the launch is planned for the afternoon. Then find the bar that all to old astronauts hang out at for a cold one while the traffic thins out. I understand that the schedule can and often changes and I've got a good deal of flexibility the limiting factor would be the cost of lodging waiting for the launch if it's postponed.

There's places you can stop along A1A and the like, that aren't too bad, but it's been a long time since I've done so myself, and never when I've been driving. Yes, the hotels are smart enough to know when to raise prices, just like Bike Week & NASCAR, sigh.

And yes, traffic is horrendous. You've got thousands of people trying to get out of a place that usually handles dozens or hundreds at the most, plus most of 'em are tourists that don't really know where they're going anyways, plus you've got all the people stopped along the various roads to complicate things. I've been stuck in the visitors' center parking lot for 3 hours after a launch. There's only one main access road because of the terrain, so they're stuck with the bottleneck. I bring a cooler on the back of the FJR and "one-man tailgate party" it while I wait for the worst of the homicidal manics to filter out. I was stuck for 5 hours after STS-26R (the return-to-flight after Challenger) but obviously that's an outlier.

As you can tell by the rest of the postings in just this thread, people are going "ohmygosh! I don't wanna miss all the shuttle launches" as they're realizing the program is ending. Another issue is that it's become a prime stop for all the Japanese tourists since JAXA has really stepped up their participation. I imagine tickets for STS-133 (or 135 if they fly it) will be like gold.

(EDIT: to really answer your question, traffic getting *in* is usually ok, especially early in the morning for an afternoon launch.)

 

[rickcorwn]

As you can tell by the rest of the postings in just this thread, people are going "ohmygosh! I don't wanna miss all the shuttle launches" as they're realizing the program is ending. Another issue is that it's become a prime stop for all the Japanese tourists since JAXA has really stepped up their participation. I imagine tickets for STS-133 (or 135 if they fly it) will be like gold.

I talked to the KSC ticket folks and they said for this last shuttle mission the KSC viewing tickets sold out in 3 hours. On the up side, I've found an air, hotel and rental car package from MSP for $888 for two people. I've got buddy who's going with me he just doesn't know it yet.

I hope I can make the May launch, May in Florida sounds better than July in Florida. If I miss out in May it gives me 2 more chances to score tickets.

 

[Crash Cash]

On the up side, I've found an air, hotel and rental car package from MSP for $888 for two people.

I guess I just never knew how spoiled I am... I just have to spend half a FJR-tank of gas, and the same for Disney. Makes up for all those gorgeous ride reports from AZ/TN/NC and other places with actual scenery and topography that make me so jealous.

Anyway, it turns out this was the last night launch, so I *AM* really glad I stayed up all night to see it, even though I certainly suffered for it at work the next day.

 

[rickcorwn]

Ah yes, the internet is such a great time waster, I mean research tool. Here are some links I found this afternoon with some very good info on the launch, viewing areas and photographing the launch.

First my Google search

Launch viewing Info

One place to get causeway viewing ticket if they're sold out

Photo tips Google search

Some stunning photography by Stan Jirman

A text only web site very hard to wade through but with tons of good info

 

[Crash Cash]

A text only web site very hard to wade through but with tons of good info

Wow. Holy crapola. That's over 20 years old, predates the Web, and is from the sci.space.shuttle newsgroup. Man, that's like seeing an old friend from college. I read an earlier version in 1988 when I helped arrange the trip to see STS-26R.

I think I was riding my 750 Sabre, and my roommate had either his RC-30 or his GSXR-750LE limited edition with the dry clutch. That roommate got a Piled Higher & Deeper from Stanford and now works for Microsoft. At the last reunion, he was pissed to find out I'm a product dev/Linux guru at Oracle. He thinks Open Source is "teh evil"

Jim Dumoulin mentioned at the end was head of Payload Interfacing, and another roommate ended up working for him, making payload computers talk nice to Shuttle computers. That roommate ended up working for Boeing and designed the maintenance recording & telemetry system for the 777, i.e. the part that tells the A&P guy "where it hurts". He thinks Open Source is awesome, and Richard Stallman once spent the week in our apartment.

Damn. I feel old.

 

[sergeantnic]

I've never been to a launch and with only 3 Shuttle launches left I need to get off my ass and do it. So I'm asking for advice like area lodging and best place to watch from. Looking at the schedule this next one would be best for me May 14th.

Well, the hotels are all pretty much hotels, and you can see a good view from just about anywhere, even 90 miles away in Orlando like me. You can get launch site tickets at the KSC Visitors' Center for the full up-close monty, however they're expensive and they go quick.

The biggest issue by far is the unpredictability of the launch, and the fact that anything from the weather, to equipment problems, to some dumbass in his boat in the Atlantic can delay it. The biggest problem is the weather because it can change in minutes, and because in the summer it likes to rain and thunder, which is not something you can launch a shuttle through. For example, this launch very nearly was scrubbed because both strings of the antiquated '50s-era USAF tracking radars died. They barely got one string back up in time.

Lately they've been ripping them out like clockwork and the weather has cooperated, but you know the moment you PLAN on it ("what could POSSIBLY go wrong?") then Murphy will jump up and smack you in the head.

Make sure you have AT LEAST an extra week to spend past the original launch date. I can't stress this enough. I've had plenty of disappointed friends have to leave the day it actually launched.

EDIT: and I wish I could afford more than a crappy little 2br house so I could have a place for people to crash.

I'm heavily leaning to the full up close Monty, if I'm going all the way down there 90 miles away isn't going to cut it, I wanna feel the heat :beach: The price isn't cheap at $56 but I'm not paying for a family of 4 just me. Is there a really good spot to watch from other than a ticket at the space center? I've done a quick check of hotels within about 25 miles and they're filling up and they also raise the prices for that weekend. Is the traffic really bad on launch day? I'm thinking about staying near Orlando on the east side. Getting up early and spending the day at the Space Center. The launch is in the afternoon, I guess I should say the launch is planned for the afternoon. Then find the bar that all to old astronauts hang out at for a cold one while the traffic thins out. I understand that the schedule can and often changes and I've got a good deal of flexibility the limiting factor would be the cost of lodging waiting for the launch if it's postponed.

Any major flaws in my reasoning?

The closest you can really get without having a ticket is the A1A in Titusville. Alot of folks that live there charge $10 for parking in their driveway, etc.

Now if you can find somebody with a boat they can get you a little closer but there is still a very large standoff zone in the water as well.

If you pull up google maps and look at Titusville, FL find the intersection of Hwy 405 and Hwy 1. The launch pads are directly east of that intersection about 10 - 12 miles. So anywhere around there will be your absolute best viewing point.

Just beware that traffic is a nightmare as stated earlier and be prepared to hang out for a few hours after the launch.

 

[wheatonFJR]

One of these days I want to be there for a launch.

Better hurry up. The clock's ticking on that whole program.

3 launches left and it's got to be done by the end of the year or they run into budgetary issues.

Sounds like a good idea for an FJR meet! HINT HINT!

Maybe my son and I could board at a local's house or motel or lawn or sumpin'

 

[wheatonFJR]

Ah yes, the internet is such a great time waster, I mean research tool. Here are some links I found this afternoon with some very good info on the launch, viewing areas and photographing the launch.

First my Google search

Launch viewing Info

One place to get causeway viewing ticket if they're sold out

Photo tips Google search

Some stunning photography by Stan Jirman

A text only web site very hard to wade through but with tons of good info

GREAT POST. Thanks Rick! :clapping:

 

[fljab]

I'm a local and have worked at KSC for 22 yrs, so what do I know, but my thoughts are if you want to pay the big bucks and can get the ticket(s), do the visitor center thing as that gets you right up front.

But, if you want to avoid the crowds, still see it pretty darn well, go to Scottsmoor, take Huntington Avenue east to the river to the little park on the river and watch it from there. Just locals (might be a redneck or two) but easy in/out. Even Titusville gets pretty crowded on the launches and the routes in/out are packed. For Scottsmoor, you can take the 5A exit (I-95 exit 231) just north and get there easy.

Just a thought...

 

[rickcorwn]

I'm a local and have worked at KSC for 22 yrs, so what do I know, but my thoughts are if you want to pay the big bucks and can get the ticket(s), do the visitor center thing as that gets you right up front.
But, if you want to avoid the crowds, still see it pretty darn well, go to Scottsmoor, take Huntington Avenue east to the river to the little park on the river and watch it from there. Just locals (might be a redneck or two) but easy in/out. Even Titusville gets pretty crowded on the launches and the routes in/out are packed. For Scottsmoor, you can take the 5A exit (I-95 exit 231) just north and get there easy.

Just a thought...

As usual local knowledge trumps the internet :good:

I'm still going to try and get the good seats at the KSC, I want to got there any way and that's $38 so the causeway tickets are just $18 more. But, if I can't get those I'm all over Huntington Ave.

 

[Bugnatr]

Jeez Rick I'd love to join you but I'll be WORKING! Hope you make it!

I did see the shuttle land at Edwards AFB on the fourth of July in the early 80's, what a party. Plus a fly over with another shuttle piggy back on a 747, good stuff.

 

[fljab]

I'm a local and have worked at KSC for 22 yrs, so what do I know, but my thoughts are if you want to pay the big bucks and can get the ticket(s), do the visitor center thing as that gets you right up front.
But, if you want to avoid the crowds, still see it pretty darn well, go to Scottsmoor, take Huntington Avenue east to the river to the little park on the river and watch it from there. Just locals (might be a redneck or two) but easy in/out. Even Titusville gets pretty crowded on the launches and the routes in/out are packed. For Scottsmoor, you can take the 5A exit (I-95 exit 231) just north and get there easy.

Just a thought...

As usual local knowledge trumps the internet :good:

I'm still going to try and get the good seats at the KSC, I want to got there any way and that's $38 so the causeway tickets are just $18 more. But, if I can't get those I'm all over Huntington Ave.

The causeway and also Jetty park are good spots, and probably Titusville next. Popular spots at TV are at/over the Garden St. bridge - which is a mess right now as they are building a new one, but, anywhere along the TV shoreline is good viewing. It is a mess getting out of there; after this last 0620 launch, it was still heavy traffic (not common in Titusville) 3 hours later.

Another popular local knowledge spot is the "New York, New York" restaurant on the river at the south end of town (Riveredge Dr). I haven't been there for some years; it used to be a local landmark called "Harold's" and was famous during Apollo and early shuttle days, but it has changed hands several times since then. Most likely still a good place to go plus you can get a meal/beverage.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Revi...le_Florida.html

I like Scottsmoor, but I'm warning you, it ain't fancy...

 

[Woketman]

These guys are right!!! I have been to four launches and each one was spectacular and different in it's own right. I was fortunate enough to support the launch of Atlantis on STS-125 last year. The final time that human hands will EVER touch the Hubble. By 20 minutes or so before liftoff, my job in the LCC was done. I viewed Atlantis' ascent from the steps on the side of the LCC. WOW!!!! The vibro-acoustics really leave a lasting memory from there!!!!

Officially, as stated above, there are only three Shuttle missions remaining. However, there is a push to fly one additional flight using ET-122, the tank that was in our VAB during Katrina. 122 was damaged in the storm (partial roof collapse), but is being re-furbed up to current flight specs and is currently slated to be the LON (Launch On Need) rescue tank for the final mission. If we fly this extra mission, it will of course provide one additional opportunity to see the most complicated flying machine ever devised by mankind (and guess what, the USA built it!!!) liftoff with almost 7 million pounds of Earth shaking thrust. Hopefully, someone will make that decision in the next few months..... (way above my pay grade)

 

[Woketman]

My wife and I were living in Palm Bay, FL in the early 1980's, and this thread brings back some great memories...

... the first shuttle launch.
 
... approaching the Kennedy Space Center by boat on the Banana River in the pre-dawn hours before a launch, with the shuttle lit up like Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
 
... satellite night launches.
Yes, a shuttle launch is quite a site to see. We were awed by the first shuttle launch. Even 20 miles away the windows on our house shook from the force of the launch. After watching it clear the launch tower on TV, we rushed out to the backyard and watched the shuttle climb on its pillar of flame and smoke. As it turned out, that first launch caused quite a bit of damage to the launch complex itself due to the force of the rockets, leading NASA to install a dampening system which would flood hundreds of thousands of gallons of water into the pad to absorb some of the energy. The subsequent shuttle launches never again rattled our windows.

Not only did the pad take damage from STS-1, but so did Columbia. The shock of the acoustic energy of SRB ignition reflected off of the flame trench actually yielded (bent) one of Columbia's Orbital Manuevering System (OMS) pods. They got a bit lucky! The pad's Water Deluge System cools the pad but also absorbs a bunch of that acoustic energy.