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You’ve probably seen film clips of shuttle launches on TV. You’ve probably seen them dozens of times. But, to quote Al Jolson, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! Seeing a shuttle launch live and in person is one of the truly great experiences a Florida vacation has to offer. Catching at least a glimpse of a launch is surprisingly easy. On a clear day, the rising shuttle is visible from the Orlando area. Getting a closer look, however, requires a bit of planning.
First, you must understand that you don’t have to be close to the launching pad to get ringside seats. In fact, no one can be close to the launching pad. The greatest danger a launch poses to bystanders is, surprisingly, the noise generated by the awesome engines. It is, I am told, the loudest man-made sound next to the explosion of a thermonuclear device. An elaborate sound suppression system clicks in at launch time, spewing 300,000 gallons of water on the escaping gases from the rocket engines. Were it not for this system, the observers in the press and VIP section, some three and a half miles away, would permanently lose their hearing.
Unless you’re a credentialed reporter, a relative of an astronaut, a federal official, or have some inside pull at NASA, you will be a good bit farther way. But you can still have an excellent view and an experience you will remember for the rest of your life.
On days when a shuttle launch is scheduled, the Kennedy Space Center allows visitors who have pre-purchased Maximum Access tickets for that day to view the proceedings from the Visitor Complex. Maximum Access tickets for shuttle launch days arrive in the mail with a special automobile decal, and a roadblock is set up several miles down State Road 405, near the Astronaut Hall of Fame. The guards check incoming cars for decals, and visitors without a decal will be turned away.
At the Center, tour buses may run on a limited schedule on launch day, depending on the time of launch, or they may not run at all. But the entire Visitor Complex plays a live broadcast over the PA system of the events unfolding, including updates from mission control, and a jumbo TV screen in the Rocket Garden plays a live NASA TV feed.
The best viewing venue for the general public, however, is along the NASA Causeway that runs from Merritt Island to Cape Canaveral Air Force base across the Banana River. This puts you approximately six miles from the launch pad. There’s nothing fancy about the viewing area; KSC buses you to the Causeway and lets you sit or stand on the grassy area between the road and the river. No seating is provided, but you can remain aboard the air conditioned bus if you prefer. The shuttle will be visible to the naked eye across the water to the north; a pair of binoculars will allow you to see the vapor pouring off the fuel tanks.
Viewing a launch from this vantage point requires a modest investment and some advance planning. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex sells approximately 5,000 tickets for its buses to the viewing area. The cost is $15 for all ages, in addition to regular Maximum Access admission. Tickets may be purchased by calling (321) 449-4400 or on the Internet at www.kennedyspacecenter.com. (See below for a free alternative.)
The demand for these tickets is unpredictable. On at least one occasion, they sold out within an hour of first being offered. For other launches, typically those scheduled during the wee hours of the morning, the demand has been considerably less intense. If you find that the launch is sold out, there is still a slim chance you may be able to get tickets. Very occasionally a few tickets go back on sale on launch day. So if you arrive bright and early that morning, you just may be able to buy a ticket. No guarantees, of course, but for a sold-out launch it’s your best bet. Given the uncertainty of the actual launch date, you will have to check back regularly to plan your visit. A recorded message at (321) 867-4636 provides the latest information.
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