Given the looming end to the shuttle program, I am thinking about driving down for the launch this Monday. Having never done so before, I am looking for advice on the details. Where should we watch from? Any especially good vantage points? How early do we need to get there? Is traffic horrendous?
I would appreciate any insights!
From what I have seen on the news, traffic for the recent launches has been horrible. People are getting down there way early and camping out. Back in the day, you could just drive up, watch, and then go home.
We have watched the last few launches from here in Ormond. It's an hour away from the Cape, but it's still an amazing sight. For a compromise, I'd look for a something on the Intracoastal either north or south of the Cape. We once watched a launch from a park just north of Merrit Island. The view was good.
Nothing to add but a bit of jealosy. I couldn't get the time off from work and have wanted to see one in person ever since I saw the first one.
I drove down to Titusville for what was supposed to be the last night launch. They scrubbed it for 24 hours and I had to drive home. That sucked.
The traffic was substantial getting in and out, but not unbearable. Quite a festive atmosphere with the UFO crowd in full regalia.
If you know anybody who knows anybody in any sort of Aerospace program, try to score passes. I was able to see a launch from the "friends and family of the astronauts" area, which is almost frighteningly close.
Once you've made plans, traveled, fought through the traffic, loaded up on sunscreen, made sandwiches, filled the cooler, etc., plan on the launch not happening. 
David S. Wallens wrote: From what I have seen on the news, traffic for the recent launches has been horrible.
poopshovel wrote: Once you've made plans, traveled, fought through the traffic, loaded up on sunscreen, made sandwiches, filled the cooler, etc., plan on the launch not happening.
^^These are my two concerns. At least Monday's weather appears to be picture perfect, so that shouldn't be an issue.
Per David's suggestions, maybe we'll scout out a spot not quite as close, but close enough for the WOW factor.
Thanks folks!
This is something I've always wanted to do. I don't know why I haven't yet, I'm closer than the OP to the launch site.
Years ago, I watched from about 5 miles away. I could not believe how LOUD it was over that long a distance! Another interesting thing is that the exhaust seemed to be toxic. I was wearing contacts and had to take them out afterwards. Had to drive back to Tampa without, and my eyes are really bad- 20/200.
I was looking to come down for one of the earlier launches this year, but it didn't pan out. I did find this website that is pretty informative.
It would be really cool to sneak on board as a stowaway without being noticed.
jeffmx5 wrote: I was looking to come down for one of the earlier launches this year, but it didn't pan out. I did find this website that is pretty informative. www.launchphotography.com
Great resource! Thank you.
Several years ago I watched a night launch from just across the Intracoastal. I forget the name of the park, but I could maybe find it again. Anyway, I was close enough to see the Vehicle Assembly Building. When they lit the fuse, it was like watching the sun rise from point blank.
We usually go to a place called Paul's Smokehouse, it's a popular venue with lots of people, but the view of the site is about as good as you can get without one of the on-site tickets.
Ashley and I have been to 6 or 7 launches at this point, both day and night, each one had its own flavor. Night launches are really sweet. If I had one word of advice, it would be that a solid set of binoculars are a much more enjoyable way to watch the launch than through the lens of a camera. Every time I've taken a camera, even one with a good zoom lens, I've spent more time worried about getting a shot than I have enjoying the spectacle. Trust me, a professional photographer with a superior lens and unmatched access will get a good photo of the launch that you can see on the internet just hours after it happens. See it with your own eyes, not an LCD screen or a tiny viewfinder.
The last time we went was a night launch, and I had a pair of fairly strong binoculars, and I didn't take my eye off the shuttle for at least 3 minutes from takeoff to well past booster separation, long after everyone else had lost the tiny dot of the main engines. It was simply beautiful.
Oh, and if you're like me, you'll nerd out over the speeds/figures, just as with cars. Check out one of the earlier mission status reports to get an idea of what you're seeing as far as speed at a given time (report reads from bottom to top).
http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts114/status4.html
For example, it takes 8 seconds for the thing to hit 100 miles per hour. 90 seconds in, it weighs half of what it did at launch. At T+ 3:15, it's 48 miles up at 4500 miles per hour already knocking on the boundary between our atmosphere and space. You can still see the main engines burning once it's left the atmosphere and is heading for over 17,000 mph.
cwh wrote: Years ago, I watched from about 5 miles away. I could not believe how LOUD it was over that long a distance! Another interesting thing is that the exhaust seemed to be toxic. I was wearing contacts and had to take them out afterwards. Had to drive back to Tampa without, and my eyes are really bad- 20/200.
the SRB's essentially run on burning rubber, and the main engines on the orbiter itself make water.
The park across the intercoastal is great spot if you can get in. Plan to get there a day early and party all night with your new friends. I was there for the first shuttle launch and I'm not sure that anyone slept. It was a madhouse of various motorized quads trikes ,mopeds and drunks, but very entertaining. I was told it's 5 miles away, but it sure looked and felt closer.
Scott Lear wrote: For example, it takes 8 seconds for the thing to hit 100 miles per hour.
So slightly quicker than a Murcielago LP640, but not quite as quick as a Corvette Z06. :)
Don49 wrote: The park across the intercoastal is great spot if you can get in.
Do you mean Chain of Lakes Park? If so, that sounds like a good idea. +1 to ANYWHERE that lets you see it reflect on the water.
Many years ago I went to a night launch with my parents. We sat on a park bench along the water at a park on Merrit Island. I think it was either
Kars Park or Kelly Park (...it was probably Kelly, but I'm not sure.) All I remember for sure is that we were close enough to hear the roar from the engines - loudly enough to make the dolphins start jumping - and the whole sky lit up like sunrise.
I might be going too! Never seen one before..
DILYSI Dave wrote:Scott Lear wrote: For example, it takes 8 seconds for the thing to hit 100 miles per hour.So slightly quicker than a Murcielago LP640, but not quite as quick as a Corvette Z06. :)
My first thought as well
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