Who's going to the last space shuttle launch?
 

I've told myself I was going to a space shuttle launch. I watched the first shuttle land on TV when I was working at TGI Fridays in Atlanta back in 81. It was a great feeling to watch and everyone went crazy at touch down.

Well, I have one last chance to go on July 8th at 10:45 AM. I'm bringing my 15 y/o son, and maybe my 17 y/o daughter to watch.

NASA - NASA's Shuttle and Rocket Launch Schedule

Who's going, what are the logistics of getting there/back and where's the best place to see it from?

I'm so close it would be stoopid for me not to take the kids. Thanks for the kick in the azz ...

Doing a quick search says the path to the ISS is north and up, going "just right by" Daytona area. Thinking hotel in Ormond or Daytona. Launch now set for just before noon, so lots of sun screen, some portable shade, plenty of water and sit and wait for it. Or get a room wtih a view.

I should have made hotel reservations sooner, as all the nearby hotels seem to be booked in my quick search so far. I'd like to see it launch from the pad, but am I asking too much at such a late date?

Would staying as close as I can a room and getting there early help?

We saw two of the last 3 - I would love to be there for this one but I just can't get there.

Ah well - I'll watch it on TV I guess...

I watched the one that launched May 2010 from Manzo park in Titusville. It worked really well. We parked in the Italian Restaurant's parking lot across the street. Parking seemed to range from $5-$25 in the area. I think they charged $10, but if you kept the receipt and then ate at the restaurant, they applied the $10 to the bill for the food (free parking). The great thing about that was that you're eating while everyone else is sitting in traffic.

I got the suggestion from someone local when I created this thread.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/537458-viewing-space-shuttle-launch.html

Here's the series of photos that I took.
Shuttle Launch for STS-132

I think we have several good "Space Shuttle Launch" threads here if you do a search.

I'd love to go. I was the lead engineer on the design of one of the carriers on this flight (LMC). Kinda sad that this will be the last flight...

You can't get tickets to view from Cape Canaveral. Those were sold off last month. I tried to get them then. You will have to pick another place to view. There are some tour companies that sell seats on the causeway. You will have to stay in Orlando to catch one of those. I would love to see it.

im going.. ill be in orlando for work and and driving over to cocoa beach area..

I've Googled Manzo Park, Manzo Memorial Park, etc. but can't find anything. Any help in finding it?

My buddy has gone to the Space View Park in Titusville in the past.

EDIT: Found it under Wiiliam J Manzo Park. The Italian restaurant is called Portofina Italian Grill correct?

Looks like it's a go for the 8th. I live here. You better get to where ever you want to see it from hours early as they are talking about a million people in this area for the launch. A motorcycle would be ideal. Traffic will be horrendous. Leaving after the 1-4 minute show will for the most part take you hours just to leave the immediate and surrounding area. Be prepared. Food and water. It's going to be warm/hot. Depending on cloud cover, you can see it from almost everywhere. Getting as close as you can is best as you can "feel" the launch. We will watch it from down near Patrick AFB beaches, makes for an easy escape back to the house. Could just as well watch it from our front yard, but the beach allows for people watching too. But we have seen them from pretty close up already and will not drive into that mess again. Having a nice camera with a large zoom lense would be a good idea. Oh and the odds of it launching ontime or even on that day is in my view, unlikely. Good luck.

I am going to try and make it

I've got a buddy from Concord that might be going. Might be an opportunity to car pool?

Finances are too tight to take the family as it turns out. I was planning on getting a hotel on/near the beach somewhere between daytona and new smyrna.

Yep, that's it. The park has a tiny bit of it's own parking that is free, but you've got to get there REALLY early for that. We parked across the street in Portofino's parking lot.

Even with us eating afterward and trying to take our time. We still ran into a ton of traffic trying to get back to 95 to get back to Vero Beach. I bet it took 1-1.5 hours to get to 95 from 1 even with our 1.5hour food stop.

You could see the launchpad from the park which is nice. I hear that some of the other major viewing locations can't see the shuttle until it starts to lift off because of trees. I was very happy with the choice. It's still about 12 miles from the pad. I'd REALLY love to see it from the VIP seating, that I think is only a few miles (2, 3, 6, I can't remember, except that it's considerably closer).

I'm REALLY glad that I got to see the launch, and count myself as lucky that not only did it launch on the right day, but even at the right time which is pretty rare. I could kick myself for not going when I was in college over in Tampa.

Just in case anyone missed when this was posted before.

This is really nice footage of the last night launch (STS-131/Discovery). It's in HD and has lots of interesting facts (speed, altitude, time, distance traveled, etc...)
<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_NeCvBCZbC8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

THis is a video made by folks at NASA for a DVD that was only available to NASA employees. It's long (45 mins), but has more interesting views and facts including some really close up, really high speed footage of an ascent. If this sort of thing interests you, you should keep this video in mind for when you've got 45 mins to kill.
<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/W2VygftZSCs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The traffic sounds like trying to get away from Lowes or Daytona Speedway after a race. I've had to wait hours to get out of just the parking lot.

while it sounds like a great idea if I make it - the wife and son will be with me as I want my son to see this in person and we will be leaving thursday evening sometime so it will not be a "nice" drive down