Shuttle launch/boat viewing areas.

[boys boating around]

STS 125 Shuttle Atlantis will be launching on Monday 5/11/09 at 2:01pm. I intend to put the boat in the water and want to know if anyone has a good viewing area from the water.

I would like to get as close as possible, outside of the restricted areas of course so as not to upset the C.C. and U.S.A.F.

GPS coordinates would be great.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Shuttle launch/boat viewing areas.

Man is wish I was you. That would be fantastic. Hope some tells you where to go. Pics later?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Shuttle launch/boat viewing areas.

I have no specifics on a launch point, other than to say Halifax Harbor in Daytona Beach is nice. You would get a nice little cruise out of it too.
But viewing should be great from anywhere, really. It's flat ground, and once it clears the trees, it'll be visible. Considering my parents live 20 miles west of Orlando and can see it from their house, being anywhere within 20 miles should be Spectacular!

BTW, the mission commander is Scott Altman, from Pekin, IL and his parents live across the street from my In-Laws. Mrs. Altman gave my 3 year old a sign 8x10 after my MIL made a casual reference that my son is into the solar system. Nice people.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Shuttle launch/boat viewing areas.

Gee, I'd love to be able to watch a launch in person. But I'm in Minnesota, so no can do. Will probably watch it on the computer instead.

Found a neat website called spacevidcast.com. It was once written up in TV Guide. Not a money making website by any means, but has lots of space related videos. I just looked, and there are videos of the Atlantis being loaded with its payload and the spacecraft being rolled out to the pad. They cover all launches live, but they use UStream, so one must put up with Google ads at the bottom (I just close them when they pop up. Still, grrrr.).

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Shuttle launch/boat viewing areas.

I just talked to my dad. He said Titusville is the obvious closest place to be. He warned that people will be pulled over on the sides of streets and in parking lots just watching. So you'd have to get there EARLY. He also said it really doesn't matter where in the ICW that you are. You can not see the launch pad from the water, so you wait for it to clear the trees.
He did say that Mosquito Lagoon north of there would be a good place, if came down from Daytona.
He mentioned a causeway in Titusville on 405 (he thinks) that has a ramp that would be a good place.
The only place he knows is restricted water is out in the ocean, east of the launch. Maybe some places in the ICW, but there would be CC boats there to let you know.
Good luck, take pictures, post them on here!

 

[skargo]

Re: Shuttle launch/boat viewing areas.

We used to own a couple rentals in cocoa beach and traveled down for launches. We used to watch right from the beach, and while they all were spectacular, nothing compares to a night launch if you ever get the chance.