Sapce Shuttle Launches.

[David Morton]

Are any of you guys going to watch any of the launches this year?
I've been thinking about a trip to the USA to see at least one before they
finally stop doing them.

 

[Jon Briggs]

David,
I went to see one back in 98 while I was doing some hours building in the States, and it was an absolutely awesome sight. Would very much recommend a trip. If your doing some flying out there the nearest airport you can get is Space Coast Regional I think.

Well worth a trip.

 

[Chris Simpson]

I would love to see a launch. The trouble is the Shuttles rarely seem to launch when they say they will due to last minute technical problems causing delays. You might therefore have to sit around in Florida (not a bad place to be, admittably) for several weeks waiting for it to happen unfortunately.

Chris

 

[Jack Houpe]

I took a family vacation with all my children when they were young, we just happened to be at coco beach when the shuttle was going to take off. We were in a motor home and the closest we could get was 8 miles away. It was something they will never forget, 8 miles away and your eyes vibrated from the noise, it looked like it was going slow because it is so huge then in a blink of an eye it was gone leaving only a white streamer. Well worth it and this time of year I wish I was there. The Space museum is wonderful at the Cape. If you happen to get stuck in Arkansas for any reason, consider my house your house, I would like to meet you someday David.

 

[Terry Oxandale]

I went down to watch one along with a visit to Disney, and the delays due to technical issues prevented my viewing. This seems to happen a lot.

 

[Jack]

David, please feel free to visit in my home anytime. I am only 20 miles from the launch pad and typically watch the launches from my front lawn. Twenty minutes by car and you are up close. AWSOME, every one!

 

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

I have seen two launches from Clearwater, Florida. one day and one night. The night launch was as we were walking out of Crabby Bill's in Indian Rocks Beach. Over two hundred miles away and you could hear/feel a low rumble and the "fire in the sky" was awesome!

 

[David Morton]

Thank you all very much for the great information and very very kind offers. I'll start having a look at the schedule launch dates and then come back here.
Dave

 

[Chris Kouba]

Through a family friend who worked at one of the hardware suppliers, my dad got a vehicle pass in to about as close as non-VIP schleps could go. It's been roughly 25 years and without a doubt, it was one of the loudest and impressive sights I've gotten to witness. TV coverage does not do it justice as the rumble hits you like a freight train, shakes out your lungs and rattles your brain. I'd be willing to bet you can see it coming.

Best of luck getting to it!

 

[David Morton]

Thanks Chris.
If I get to see one,, it will probably rank amongst one of the greatest things I will ever have seen.

 

[Paul Brameld]

I went down to watch one along with a visit to Disney, and the delays due to technical issues prevented my viewing. This seems to happen a lot.

Hi Guys, any idea what the typical delay for a shuttle launch is?
Planning a visit from the UK to watch one of the final launches is not as easy as it seems, due to these delays. STS 130 was just 24 hours but I guess that is not typical. Getting a flight etc. only for the launch to be delayed must be very frustrating. Currently looking at STS 132 or 134.
Would really like to see one of these birds fly having lost a chance to fly on Concord for just £500 some years back. Always regretted that, having worked on the plane's fuel system!

 

[Jack]

Paul, it's really hard to say. For weather 24 hours is average, technical issues take a few days. In any event, the launch "window" for a particular orbit would have to be met.

David, only 4 left before the program is scrapped. These will all be daytime events.
The last evening (darkness) launch was this morning and a glorious sight it was!

 

[David Sturch]

Jack,
I thought there was a launch for today. I saw on the news it sitting on the pad or was that yesterday.

 

[Jack]

She flew around 4:30 this morning, successful and beautiful darkness launch..

 

[David Morton]

Thank you Jack. A night time take off must be an incredible sight and you are lucky living so close. The remaining flights on the program are as follows:


14th May Atlantis
29th July Endeavour
16th September Discovery - is this the Final Launch?

Hopefully my plans are to watch either 29th July or 16th September.

Dave

 

[Tod]

It doesn't matter how old you get, it's still thrilling to see a shuttle go up.

I am fortunate enought to live and work in the Orlando area. At work we go out the front door of our building and look east. When the sky is clear enough, it doesn't matter day or night, you can follow the launch until literally watching the Solid Rocket Boosters fall away and seeing three tiny dots from the Shuttle's main engines until they disappear from sight.

 

[Ron Earp]

Thank you all very much for the great information and very very kind offers. I'll start having a look at the schedule launch dates and then come back here.
Dave

Let us know what you decide. I would like to see one of the launches too and with only what, three to go, there few opportunities.

 

[David Morton]

For the moment Ron, I think the final launch in September may be the one. It's close to the Silverstone 1000km race which I may attend but it should all work out OK. I hope to fly into MIA and after the launch, I would like to keep going west-about leaving the U.S.A. via LAX and chasing the sun (and sundowners) back to London.

 

[Jack]

Dave, MLB is much closer than MIA. MCO is also an hour away. Come on down!

 

[David Morton]

Orlando is achievable via LGW Gatwick on BA. I'll work on the itinerary after Orlando and report back on what I can achieve.