[rcooled]

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.