Space Shuttle Launch-Where to stay?

[FlySacto]

I just listed to drag the kids to Florida tonight to go watch the night launch of Discovery on Saturday. I bought the tickets from the Space Center for the whole facility tour/attractions, and the bus ride out on the Cape for the launch. Should be fun even if they don't fly. I've never been in the area so any suggestions for the trip and a good place to stay nearby?

Thanks!

 

[i fly boxes]

the shuttle was supposed to launch last night but was scrapped due to weather. They say there is a good shot it will be scrapped until tuesday so before you go, check that out.

 

[dingo222]

anywhere on cocoa beach is good. they have a bunch of little piers/boarwalk things where all the locals come out to watch the launches

 

[pb1900]

I agree, Cocoa Beach is the best if your there for the Shuttle. I live out there and there are plenty of hotels right on the beach. I think there is a hilton out there that goes for around $100 a night. If you need cheaper you can go south towards Indiatlantic. It's about a 20-30 minute drive down A1A from Cocoa Beach.

 

[Cat3C]

For pure enjoyment, try going into the WRONG entrance to the facility. Did this by accident and was planning on turning around. Long story short - really cool machine guns trained on the rental car by guys with no sense of humor - good times.

Try Grills restaurant by the port. Good seafood and within site of the pads

 

[pb1900]

Grills Tiki Bar is the best! Very busy at a launch though... bring coats too, it's cold in Florida right now.

 

[pb1900]

Heads up, only a 30 percent chance of a launch, but the facility there is still amazing, the kids will have fun even if it doesn't go. www.spaceflightnow.com is good for all the up to the minute space stuff.

 

[Twisted Mind]

Night launches are spectacular!

 

[FlySacto]

Heads up, only a 30 percent chance of a launch, but the facility there is still amazing, the kids will have fun even if it doesn't go. www.spaceflightnow.com is good for all the up to the minute space stuff.

Cool website. Made it into Cocoa Beach and into the Comfort Inn next to Ron Jon's. This place is a dump but the wife and kids are STOKED for tonight! Going to try the H.I.E down the street for tomorrow night. I wish I knew what the launch parameters for WX are for this mission as surface winds and clouds don't look like a problem right now. Digging on the net I found the generic page for them but there's a wide range depending on trajectory, temps, ect. Pretty confusing, you'd think it was rocket science or something....

 

[The_Russian]

Go to Cocoanuts. it's on the beach south of Ron Jon's. Fly Sacto PM me for details. I am from the Cocoa area.

 

[FlySacto]

Discovery went up without a hitch. We took the bus out to the observation area south of the pad. If any of you guys have even a bit of NASA nerd in your system you've got to come down for one of these. Too cool! The sky lit up like a nuke going off in slow motion and the sound gets over to you shortly after they start the roll. I'll try to post a link to the b-grade video I shot from my PalmPilot when I get back. Good times!



To "The Russian": I PM'd you.

 

[RJAA]

We had reports from flights enroute that they had a visual of the shuttle launch as far as 350NM out of MCO. One south of MOB and the other was from a flight that was enroute over CHS heading northbound. They said it was amazing.

 

[LearAv8r]

we were 15-20 miles (maybe) west of the launch at 9,000 ft. saw the whole thing, absolutely amazing and the passengers will remember that for the rest of their life. probably never get that close again.

man it was very very bright.....everybody was slowed down (210) to catch a glimpse going into orlando last night. pretty cool.....


hats off to NASA

 

[Axel]

We saw it from the back porch in Virginia zipping low and fast across the SE horizon. Picked it up at t+6-ish and watched it accelerate until engine cut-off.

Saw it from the press area at Kennedy in '83 and from the hotel balcony in Daytona in '94. Cool stuff.

 

[Flic1]

Saw it from the ground in Sarasota, FL. I wasn't sure what, if anything I would be able to see but it was quite spectacular and it lit up the eastern horizon. Saw the booster separation and was able to see main engines burning bright white until just before cutoff. Amazing.....

 

[kf4amu]

Camera phone pics from Daytona.