Hi there It seems that NASA is being nice enough to light the world's biggest birthday candle for me this year, and so I want to go see the thing go up. Besides, they're almost done Any suggestions for places to stay, where to watch from, etc.? I do know that I shouldn't plan on the shuttle actually launching on time. Thanks T
Book early !!! I am hosting the sister of astronaut Kay Hire, and she is dealing with 250 guests..... everything has been booked here for this launch.... everything..... Titusville is the closest town/city.... closer is better for the view.... but not much to do there.... at the same time, you can head from there to Orlando or south to Cape Canaveral, etc for things to do... and sleep in Titusville, or stay elsewhere and deal with the traffic. Like in another thread, the traffic after a launch is amazing - even at 4:30 am... Clarion Kennedy Space Center is probably the closest hotel. In Cape Canaveral, try the Ron Jon's resort.
We usually stayed at various beach hotels near Patrick Air Force Base. If you can manage to get in the press area, or just opposite the countdown clock, you will have an extrodinary experience. I went to the first launch, the first night launch (I was at the countdown clock for that one), the first female astronaut launch, and about 10 others. They are all worth every second of time you are standing, sitting, whatever, for the launch to take place. Happy Birthday Tillman, me too, buy each other a drink some day.
I went to the launch last night at 4:39AM that was scrubbed. Got in the car at 4:30AM on the 406 causeway and didn't move for 1.5 hours. It was insane. Literally did not move. Everyone in line turned their cars off and went to sleep because of the wait on US1 and other roads. STS-134 will be on the pad around mid-July and STS-133 will be at LC39B as a rescue mission. About a week before launch, you can go to Canaveral National Shore's south entrance and go to Playalinda Beach...walk a mile south...bam, close view of the two pads (looking south). Here's the same view looking north: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Space_shuttles_Atlantis_%28STS-125%29_and_Endeavour_%28STS-400%29_on_launch_pads.jpg
