Couldn't see the shuttle launch today - What's the farthest away you've seen it?

[aphex]

Other than actually going to the launch once when my brother worked for U.S.A., I always love going outside to see if I can catch it from where I am.

I've yet to see it here in Sarasota (its been cloudy every time so far), but I have caught it from a suburb of Ft. Lauderdale a few times... about 180-200 miles away from the launch... Just looks like a small roman candle going up slowly in the distance.

What's the farthest you have seen one?

 

[Linflas]

The closest I have ever gotten to see any launch was the last Saturn V they shot up and I was around the New Smyrna Beach exit on 95 when it went up. It was when I was in the Navy and some officer decided to screw with me at the last second so I left Jacksonville late trying to get down there for the launch.

 

[SlowSpyder]

A shuttle/rocket launch is one of the things I feel I must see before I die.

 

[aphex]

Interesting, just found this from Space.com;

In the Southeast, depending on the distance from Cape Canaveral, the Shuttle will become visible anywhere from 0 to 5 minutes after liftoff. The brilliant light emitted by the two solid rocket boosters will be visible for the first 2.1 minutes of the launch up to a radius of 450 miles from the Kennedy Space Center. Movement: south-southeast to east.

# In the Middle Atlantic region, the Shuttle should be visible from 5 to 7 minutes after liftoff. Movement: south-southeast to east.
# From the Greater New York Area up into Southern New England, the Shuttle should be visible from T + 7 minutes on up to main engine cutoff (8.5 minutes after liftoff). Movement: south to southeast, then on toward the east-northeast.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
A shuttle/rocket launch is one of the things I feel I must see before I die.

Its worth the trip. I saw it 10+ years ago and I still remember it like it was yesterday.

 

[zerocool84]

I remember while being in school in Los Angeles, we could hear the Sonic Boom sometimes when the shuttles landed at Edwards AFB. I really wish I could see a shuttle launch though. Would be an awesome sight.

 

[olds]

I have never seen it lift off. I have seen it on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft at Altus AFB in Oklahoma.

 

[Epic Fail]

I once saw a shuttle's plume at Disney World.

 

[SonicIce]

You can catch a glimpse of the Space Station if the skies are clear. Just look up your city (or one near you)
http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/r...?country=United+States

Also, real-time satellite tracking. Im not sure how accurate this is, though. (site appears to be down right now)
http://www.n2yo.com/

And at night usually they have LIVE video feeds from the space station on this streaming video:
http://www.nasa.gov/55644main_NASATV_Windows.asx

 

[bapace]

I watch the launches from my balcony, amazing sight every time.

 

[Mr Pickles]

Originally posted by: bapace
I watch the launches from my balcony, amazing sight every time.

The point of this thread is for you to tell us where you are located so we can determine how far away it can be seen. Sorry, but when I google mapped "bapace's balcony" it failboated. Could you be more specific? Thanks.

I've watched them launch since I was a kid. I'm located in St. Pete, FL which is west of Tampa, so all the way across the state isn't bad. I'm about 2.5 hours away from the launch pad.

 

[lokiju]

Miami, with binoculars.

I used to see it on a regular basis when I was living in Boca Raton.

 

[FoBoT]

i saw it a few times when i lived in Orlando

 

[BAMAVOO]

I live near Nashville TN and I have seen it sitting on the launch pad, the launch was rained out. We were near Kennedy at the time, not in Nashville.