[Rob Channell]

I've seen a shuttle land, but have never been there for a shuttle launch. I really need to do it some year before they stop.

I did get to see some Saturn V launches when I was young. My dad worked for NASA and we got moved to the Cape from 1972-1973 timeframe. Those were impressive. The night launch lit up the sky like it was day.

The shuttles are supposed to take off a lot faster. The Saturn V rockets took12 seconds or so just to clear the launch pad tower. They had to be real careful with winds, etc for launch conditions.

Disclaimer: I am not a NASA employee or representative, but I stayed in a Holiday Inn once and was a Space Camp counselor one summer.