STS111 shuttle launch

[RegWaters]

Hi all,
I'm in Florida for a much needed vacation. Staying in Ponce Inlet south of Daytona. We are going to head south to Titusville tommorrow and try and see the shuttle launch. In cruising the net the best bet for viewing seems to be SpaceView Park. I have pretty good directions but was wondering how early to arrive. The season still seems relative quite with the beaches almost empty. I still fear a convergence of all tourist in the extended vicinity including Orlando/Disney/Universal. Any ideas or tips from a local would be appreaciated. The exact launch time has yet to be announced. for security reasons. Launch window is 4 - 8 pm EDT. Exact time will be released 24hrs before launch.

 

[RegWaters]

Well, we made it to SpaceView Park about 1hr before launch, the count went all the way down to T-9min and was scrub due to high anvil clouds within a 20 mi raduis. They seem to be concern about a lightning strike on the shuttle during an aborted emergency landing. NASA has rescheduled for tomorrow , friday at 7:22 pm EDT. We will head that way and try it again. SpaceView is a really nice vantage point straight across the indian river from the launch pad about 10 mi away. You can see the launch structure for pads 39A and 39B and the VAB. Local Hams have also set up a link to NASA select and NASA TV with loud speakers.

I'll keep ya'll posted

 

[AndyR]

I was down for STS-3 (first launch with the "unpainted" main fuel tank). I was a guest of the rocket booster company so managed to get a good seat. One thing I'll say for the shuttle is that they really move. By the time I was putting the camera back in the bag the shuttle was over Africa. Don't know if they still run the A and B bus tours but there is some neat old stuff down on the cape. I remember looking at Gemini control and thinking how a laptop would have blown away most everythin there.

Good luck on your viewing - sounds like they are waiting till Monday.

 

[RegWaters]

Well we missed it, they scrubed friday and we went home on sunday, they finally launched on wednesday. We will difinately be back for another. They use to give car passes to the first request by postcard but thats been cancelled. Seems the closest you can get is about 7mi and you have to buy a ticket on a charter bus $40 ea with no refund for a scrub. It does include a visitor center pass. I was standing on Cocoa Beach in July 1969 and saw Apollo11 lift off. I was 10 . It was a great experience and I want to share one with my son. He was 10 May14.

So as I said "We'll be back !"
Might try in the fall.

See the attached Pic

Reg in SC