STS-133 Launch - Where to go?

[manlymatt83]

I really want to see Discovery launch. First, I've always wanted to see a shuttle launch, and up until now have been too busy/too young (well, I'm 27 now, but 10 years ago I was too young to go on my own). Also, Discovery has always been my favorite as I built a model of it when I was younger.

In any event, I applied for the launch tickets and didn't get them. Many of the prices on eBay for a single ticket are affordable, especially at sites like the KSC.

Has anyone ever seen a launch? Can anyone recommend a good place? I've done some research, and it seems the Causeway is the best, but it's the most expensive for eBay tickets. KSC is definitely affordable, and they say the only negative is that the view isn't perfect and you can't see the shuttle until after it's in the air a few seconds... though supposedly you still feel the boom and can still see the shuttle heading up.

I would really just like to be able to see the launch in general - even some of the further away viewing areas might be nice. Any suggestions?

 

[bobdole369]

Hm are you going to be in/near Titusville?

KSC (the visitor complex) has a giant parking lot that is free to enter, and pretty much ***anywhere*** around will afford a view after its been up above about 100ft. This includes the massive Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. I wonder how the view would be from the Canaveral National seashore. Its basically an undeveloped beach. I don't know how close it is though.

Hmm, here is some really, really good reading on it.

http://www.launchphotography.com/Shuttle_Launch_Viewing.html

 

[ussfletcher]

My family and I just drove semi-close.. we were probably about 20 miles away on the side of a highway and we got a pretty decent view

 

[bobdole369]

Oh and FYI: I live in fort lauderdale/broward - about 4 hours south, and unless its raining, I can just walk outside and see the exhaust plume. Its espeically awesome at night.

 

[Tweak155]

I didn't realized they had so many launches in a year.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Watched Atlantis go up from the other side of the river in Titusville, beware that river smells bad. View is great, but lots of people and certainly not enough bathrooms.

I believe the name of the park is Space View Park.