Night launch of space shuttle announced

[CERICROWLEY]

Just announced the first night launch is to take place on December 7th and around 9.38pm

Tickets are on sale now on the KSC website.

[MTP]

Would love to see any launch, but especially a night launch. 2.28 am here in the UK - now do I set the alarm for it or not?

[blott]

If you don't and it goes up on the correct day and time, you'll be very disappointed I would think?

As long as it's not too cloudy, it should be even more spectacular at night.

[Cruella DeVilla]

So we should schedule it in our calendars for around the 15th then

[No Shoes]

We are in Florida at the time of this launch and would very much like to see it. Is anyone able to help me with the following information?

1. Is it worth buying tickets or are there areas close by where we could get a good view? I seem to remember being told there were other good places to view from.

2. How bad will the traffic be after the launch?

3. Will the visitors centre be closed on launch day or could we make a full day of it?

4. At what point will it be known that the launch is definately on/off?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[CERICROWLEY]

Roxane

You can buy tickets at the KSC website, the Vistors center and everything is open, but only to ticket holders. you can still get a good view from many places around cocoa beach, merritt island etc.

Traffic can be hectic on launch day, we went to the first launch and it took me 4 hours to get to KSC and still didn't make it the launch, and I had tickets for the launch viewing area. After the launch it isn't too bad. We stayed all day at KSC after as we had a lunch booked as well.

As this is an evening launch I guess most of the centre will be open upto their normal closing time, and then after only to the areas available for viewing.

Scrubbed launches can go right up to 20mins prior to launch, it totally depends on control center that everything is a-ok and the cloud and lightning factor.

The last launch was scrubbed twice, 20 mins before launch

[Shirley G]

Oh bother, we fly back on the 2nd so will miss it[msnsad]

[ellie]

No Shoes, we were lucky enough to be at our villa in September and despite several cancelled launches we were thrilled to watch Atlantis take off. We were planning to go on the 6th, but it was cancelled that morning, then we actually went on the 8th and it was cancelled 40 minutes before take-off, but finally, on September 9th everything went perfectly.

We found that there was no traffic to speak off. We decided to watch from the Space View Park at Titusville. This is not necessarily the nearest place to see it, but it is directly opposite Launch Pad 39 and provided a great vantage point. Not just that but it is an interesting place to visit as it is dedicated to honouring the astronauts and men and women behind the scenes who helped America lead the world in space exploration.

The beauty of this vantage point, particularly if you have children, is that you are not stuck at the side of the road for hours. Here there are toilets, should you need them, plus various volunteers who support this park and raise money for its upkeep, who had set up various stalls selling food, drinks and space memorabillia. There is also a brilliant cafe within walking distance which does a great breakfast![msnwink]

I believe that if you obtain tickets for a launch and it does not go ahead then those tickets are no good for further dates, but am sure others will have more information about that.

As for the launch, it was spectacular and quite emotional, seeing it disappear into the azure sky. I would certainly recommend anyone to try to see it, but be prepared for it to be cancelled at the last minute. We also expected that there would be far more traffic, but the roads were clear. However, a night launch might be different as it would probably attract more locals.

Hope you manage to see it!

[nicseg]

We have tried many times to time our trip to coinside with a launch but have still not been lucky enough. We have always planned to watch from the beach and I can imagine it being quite spectacular at night. Will keep trying.

[christhear]

We had tickets to watch the last launch from KSC but it was delayed past our return date. I returned the tickets to KSC and they sent me MAx admission tickets in there place which last for 1 year. So although we did not see the launch we still get to use our tickets to visit KSc.