planning on attending space shuttle launch on friday...need some GRM help

GRMr's I know this last minute, but I REALLY want my kids to see the last space shuttle lauch. I looking at NASA causeway tickets on ebay and craigslist. Im sure some of the GRM staff/readers have some insite on a launch.

do i need tickets to enjoy it? wheres a cool place to hang out and view it? where to avoid? etc.

any input from those who have attended a launch would be great. anyone with tickets or an inside route...even better.

thanks,

haas

heres what im looking at. i may just take my son (2 tickets) or i can do any number up to 5 tickets

http://cgi.ebay.com/Space-Shuttle-Atlantis-Launch-STS-135-4-Tickets-/280705998816?pt=US_Tickets_all_in_one&hash=item415b619fe0

http://cgi.ebay.com/Space-Shuttle-Atlantis-Launch-Tickets-7-8-11-Orlando-/140573461710?pt=US_Tickets_all_in_one&hash=item20bad4ccce

which tickets do i want?

Check the weather forecast; currently, there is a 60% chance of rain with scattered t-showers. With those odds, a postponement is likely.

Is your schedule flexible enough where you and the kids can work around any launch delays?

I have never bought tickets to see a launch, but I know they're expecting some giant crowds. I have seen some great launches from some Intracoastal parks in Titusville, but I'm assuming you'll have to be there now to get a spot. We once saw a really good launch from north of the site--somewhere near Mims or Scottsmore. We just drove south on US-1 until we saw access to the Intracoastal. We found a little park and watched from a pier. I know, not very helpful. Fortunately you can see it from far away. We have watched launches from our home and even the magazine office--figure we're about an hour drive away.

You're also totally at the mercy of the weather. It could get scrubbed, or there might be too much cloud cover. I once went to the space center for a launch--this is before people really paid attention--and watched a shuttle go up from their Rocket Garden. Unfortunately it was so cloudy that I barely saw anything.

Where ever you go, don't leave as soon as you lose sight of it. A few minutes later, you'll hear it.

I saw a dawn launch last year....from Perry Georgia, just south of Macon. The sun was at just the right height to catch the contrail minutes before sunrise.

I've got a friend who's roadtripping from TX to see the launch. I SO wish I could go, but there's no way I can adjust if they scrub.

Good luck.

OK im still trying to work this out. looks like only my son and I. Im looking at some craigslist ads in orlando about veiwing the launch from a boat. seems like some pretty good deals. and no need to buy a ticket. or just showing up early and watching from spaceview park.

The boat cordon makes boat watching not very awesome. Just go and watch, you can see the thing from nearly anywhere. I suggest Port St. John right off of US1. There's a set of condos with a public waterfront behind them called Sunrise landings. Park somewhere else and walk to the water, pretend like you live there. My grandparents used to so you have like a 4th degree kernel of truth

Is it a day launch or a night launch? I've seen both- night launches are better.

I have not seen a launch in TX. But I would assume you get anywhere near, and you'll have a show.

OK. I'm 95% sure im in. I have procured a Saturn SKY for the trip. (not a redline, but it is a 5spd!) think im gonna drive all night thursday pop in around 4-5am and grab a parking spot somewhere off of US1 between titusville and port st. john.

still looking at spaceview park in titusville. should i arrive earlier? any good burger joints, bars etc to check out? or bars with a deck/dock for the launch?

Heck, we're just going to Flagler Beach for the launch. It's close enough to us and there's a restaurant out there with an open upstairs deck.

hitting the road in an hour... ETA in Titusville between 2-4am

hargle bargle! I want to go SOOOO BAD! I am one week short. Was down there last week. If it is postponed, i might just jump in the Jeep and go...

I watched it from the big bridge in Titusville. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Titusville,+FL&hl=en&ll=28.620768,-80.796547&spn=0.027161,0.038409&sll=38.835429,-104.82193&sspn=0.771264,1.229095&t=h&z=15

This is the view from there: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomfuller/sets/72157626014201303/

I'd get there pretty early, when I went I got up on the bridge about 4 hours before the launch and it was just about perfect. I'd imagine you'll have to get there even earlier for this one since this is the very last launch. Bring snacks/food, lots of water, sunscreen, chairs, and something to provide shade. Get back to the car as quickly as possible after the launch (be sure to stick around for the roar though, it takes a bit to reach you) every second counts, Titusville turns in to a massive clusterberkley afterwards when everyone leaves.

It's a pretty awesome thing to see and was totally worth the trip.

My son and I watched STS-135 go into space friday morning with a million people around us...it was AWESOME. I'll get some pics up soon.