As a kid, My parents took me down to see the early launches, I saw the 1st night launch from Jax beach, that far away, it still lit up the entire beach, and have seen it whaile driving.. Every time I see one, it still amazes me. Plan & do it....

Great story! :D

Yeah, last year when I was in FL we tried to catch it 3 times but NG.

Finally went off after we left the area.

Even a normal rocket launch is impressive. I got to catch a night launch of a Delta III from across the bay on Cocoa Beach, snapped some nice images through my telescope. The hardest part of catching a rocket launch is that there's no warning...the timer goes to zero, the thing lights up and 5 seconds later is gone! The Shuttle at least has all of the vapor plumes and lights and such.

Drove over from the Gulf side twice with my Dad in the 80"s to see launches. It's something to see and feel. The power is heavy duty.

My folks lived near Daytona Beach back in the '80s and were able to get passes to view a night launch from right on the Cape. We were only about 3 miles from the launch pad and it was a sight I'll never forget. When the countdown hits 0, you see the rockets light off and it's dead silent for a few seconds before the wave of sound washes over you. The intensity of that sound is awesome...you can "feel" it as much as hear it. Once the ship gains some altitude, it lights up the night so brightly that you could read newsprint by it. If you get a chance to witness a launch, by all means inquire about passes to get on the Cape...it's the closest view a civilian can get.

Go to Titusville and stop at Manzo Park, it's less crowded than Spaceview Park.

Plan on getting there a good 3-4 hours before launch. You can park at the shopping mall across Rt 1 from Manzo. Be sure to bring some binoculars or a spotter scope. Don't forget to pack a picnic lunch and bring a radio.

Understand that there will be a good chance that the launch will be scrubbed for the day. If so, walk back to the shopping center and order a pizza. Hang out there for about 2 hrs. By then the traffic will have subsided somewhat.

If it's a successful launch, still go back to the shopping center and have some pizza. You want to let some of the traffic get out of town.

One thing you'll notice is how bright the exhaust is! Enjoy!

We had seats in the grandstand for STS-116 (a night-time launch!), booked a flight, drove out, and launch was delayed due to weather. :( Couldn't stay for an extra 2 days until it launched.

I think I'll probably regret the unfortunate timing forever.

Titusville, FL. Find a spot off of US-1.

Watched the launch last month from Spaceview Park in Titusville.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1261532760.jpg

Although I've never had the opportunity, it has to be one of the greatest things to see. I would LOVE to have the opportunity. Retirement is 11 months away (early, if the plan works) and a launch is a very high priority.

Karl
88 Targa

I got to see a landing, but never got to see a launch. I have been thinking about taking the family down for an attempt to see one before the launches end.

I did get to see a Saturn 5 launch when I was a kid. It was awesome. The thing goes waaaaay slower than the shuttle. I think it took close to a minute from the time the engines started to the time it cleared the launch tower.

This website might be helpful:

Launch Viewing: Where & How to Watch, View and See Space Shuttle Launches

Shuttle launches are very cool. My wife and I used to live on the Space Coast. The windows in our house would rattle every time they launched. :)

That would be neat conversation if you had company over.

"Say Jim, what's that rattling?"

"Ah, nothing much. NASA is just launching another space ship."

Fixed it. :D

Had an in-law who was a back-up mission specialist for whichever mission was the first night launch. Once he found out he wasn't going, I booked down there with my trusty F3. and a 600mm mirror. Watched from the NASA VIP area. Lit up the sky, and you could feel the heat from several miles away. Very cool. Then we went to a launch party. There are astronaut groupies.
I think those pics are still at my ex's...

I used to live in Titusville. The launches would shake things off of countertops, knock over picture frames, rattle windows, etc.. The night launches were so cool. The sky would light up bright as daylight, as if someone had turned on a giant light switch outside. I always thought it was so cool to watch the sky light up before they would finish the countdown and say 'ignition' on the TV due to the delayed signal.

The rumbling and crackling of the main engines is amazing! If you can take the time to bonzai to a launch, it is well worth the trip if they don't scrub.

I would LOVE to do it, but don't see it happening before they cancel the program.

I'm just going to take a week off next summer/fall and drive down and do it. I'm sad to see the shuttle go in favor of the 'new' launch vehicle.... which isn't much different in concept than what we used in the 60s. The shuttle represented the coolest of the cool in science when I was a kid growing up.

I've met 3 astronauts before, and had lengthy conversations with two of them. One of them was one of my professors my first year in college, Colonel Tom Akers. Talk about a cool guy. One of the most amazing, yet genuine people I've ever met. The guy flew 4 shuttle missions and has 30 hours of EVA time outside when he worked on the Hubble. Talk about campfire stories... he had em.

It's still in the back of my mind as something I may want to do. I'm young enough and I'm in a field to where it is within reach. Maybe I'm just dreaming but after talking with guys like Colonel Akers.. it seems possible.