NASA Launches

[Snapper]

Remember though that the NASA website only lists the NASA launches. They don't show the USAF launches. To get the full story you need to keep tabs on some of the more generic space type URLs. Here's a reasonable one: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/

I was over at Kennedy today hoping to catch the Boeing Delta IV Heavy Lift test flight but the launch got scrubbed between me phoning to check that it was still on and getting to Kennedy. Boeing might have another shot tomorrow but it all sounds very political about whether the USAF and Lockheed will cut them a day's slack or not. The next planned flight out of Cape Canaveral is December 17 when a Lockheed Atlas 5 rocket will take up a new satellite.

The folks at Kennedy are making quite a big deal about the Delta IV as it's going to be the biggest rocket to fly since the Saturn V moonshots. Apparently it can carry a payload within a few thousand pounds of what the shuttle is capable of.

Bluebirds - I hope you get to see the shuttle launch. It is quite spectacular. Cocoa beach or anywhere around Titusville are both great places. Fingers crossed.

[MaggieAllan]

As I've mentioned before, we have been very lucky and seen two launches fron Cocoa. We chose to sit at the bar at the front of the pier as they have TVs, so you can watch all the build up close up and then stand up and watch for it in the sky.

[steph_goodrum]

We've been lucky and seen a launch from Jetty Park of the the rocket taking Cassini to Saturn (which arrived this year after a 7 year journey - can't believe it was so long ago we saw it take off). It's been fascinating tracking the progress rather than watch the launch and forget about it.
The other one was better as from Jetty Park you cant see anything on the launchpad and dont see it till it comes over the brow of the hill.
The other launch we were lucky enough to see was the last shuttle launched before 9/11 (in fact 2 weeks before) so we were able to get passes to watch it from the Air Force Base across the river so it was just as we've seen it on tv with the shuttle on the launch pad etc and all the smoke rising before lift off.
They've stopped doing that now because of security, we did think it was strange that we could video through the base on the way to the site and commented on the apparent lack of security there.
It is definitely one of those experiences not to be missed if you get the chance.

[Champagne]

Understand there is a launch on Jan 8th, during our next trip - hope so 'cos we intend to view if there is!

[bluebirds]

Spoke to my friends who we are going with and we are all heading to the places that have been recommended. A friend of mine many years ago won a competition in the Times to go and he said it was the best thing he ever did. He was a close that is possible to go for non Nasa staff. Definately going to atke lots of film for this one.

[Val]

We always watch from Tutsville, take a couple of chairs or something to sit on as you need to go early to get a view down by the water. We always take a drink with us as well as it does get rather crowded and you always wonder if you pop for a drink you might miss something. GREAT EXPERIENCE[clap]

[linda allen]

We have stayed at the Howard Johnson at Titusville. Its not brilliant but the water view rooms look over to the launch pads for the shuttle. It would be a great place to stay for a launch, though I wouldn't bother otherwise.

[gromit]

We have seen a launch from Cocoa Beach and it was worth it just for the atmosphere. We had radios with us so we could listen in. We tried to get into a hotel the night before and they were all fully booked! Where ever you stay leave early and take something to sit on. We got caught up in traffic and were not were we would have liked to have been but it was still an amazing experience to never be forgotton......[msnsmile2]

[Semper]

Went to see the Endeavour launch in Nov 2002. Spent the day at the space center. Went to one of the flight briefings. Watched the crew preparing for the flight via a live link. The atmostphere was electric, the whole place was buzzing. It was an evening launch so we dragged the entire family out to one of viewing areas. 10 minutes before take off it was cancelled. Apparently it was raining in spain!! Just being there on a launch day was an experience i'll never forget.

It went the next evening, I could not convince the family to make the trek back out. Ended up seeing it from the parking lot of The Magic Kingdom. Still an awesome sight from 40 odd miles away.