Last Shuttle Launch

[Tom Hendricks]

Space Shuttle Discovery STS-133 will launch on November 1st @ 4:40pm and will be the last mission of the Space Shuttle fleet. I was thinking about attending the launch, as I have never seen a launch in person. I was wondering if anyone was attending or thinking about attending the launch? I have been a huge space fan my entire life, I was a freshman in high school on April 12th 1981. I have pretty much watched every launch either on TV in the beginning or on the Internet as of late. I have always wanted to watch a launch in person, but circumstances always seamed to get in the way. Now is the last opportunity to do so and I think I must take it.

 

[RedShirt]

I really wish I could but of course time & money are 2 obstacles we can't bypass here.

I was in the 3rd grade when Columbia first launched and my mom let me stay home to watch it. It was very awe inspiring even on the crappy little color TV we had and I'd always hoped to see a launch in person.
Oh well...

 

[Candlelight]

Being so far away I'll miss it, and have never seen a launch. Pity. The shuttle fleet were awesome.

Maybe Discovery will develop a minor fault and necessitate the launch of Atlantis to assist. Then we'll have the only time in history two shuttles are in orbit at once.

 

[Owain Taggart]

The closest I've ever been to a Shuttle was the Enterprise when I went to visit D.C in May.

 

[sojourner]

Ahem, http://www.placesaroundflorida.com/Cape_Canaveral_Florida/Cape_Canaveral_Launch_Schedule/

one more.

 

[diankra]

As Sojourner says, this is the last flight for Discovery, not the Shuttle.
There's one more flight for Endeavour around February 2011. And some sources list an option for one more contingency flight by Atlantis in June 2011, though I'm not sure how reliable and up to date they are (see wikipedia for STS-135).

 

[sojourner]

Oh Congress loves the Shuttle as a work program, so 135 has a good chance of happening.

 

[Squiggy]

Oh Congress loves the Shuttle as a work program, so 135 has a good chance of happening.

Yeah. We're planning for a STS-135 sometime in June or July.

 

[Brent]

I've never been to a launch before, but really want to, I'd like to go for the very last one, that'll be a big event in american history, I want to be a part of that.

 

[FPAlpha]

I've never been to a launch before, but really want to, I'd like to go for the very last one, that'll be a big event in american history, I want to be a part of that.

Which will probably get huge coverage by the media.

I can't think of a moment in my life when there were no Space Shuttles.. i'll be a little sad when the last one returns.

Still a little bit baffled why NASA or some joint operation haven't developed a successor that's cheaper and modern.. yes, i know about the costs but a modern version would have been cheaper and better and there is clearly a need for it.

 

[JustAFriend]

Well all I have to do is look out my front door. Any place along the coastline from Miami to Jacksonville Beach will give you a view. I'm just north of West Palm Beach now and even at 150miles you can see it easily:

STS-126 from my front door...

Don't forget to look at the sticky at the top of the page on Space Shuttle Launch Viewing.

Big warning: the last launches will see well over 2million people trying to move in and out of Titusville. I-95 and the Beeline Expressway over to Orlando will be a parking lot for hours on either side of the launch. I've been in that traffic on a standard launch and its murder....

 

[Mr. B]

I've been telling myself I am going to see a shuttle launch before the program ends. A friend of mine recently moved to Florida... I'm going to have to bring this up.

 

[T'Bonz]

Yeah. We're planning for a STS-135 sometime in June or July.

Ugh. Too hot.

I tried to get tickets for the November launch, but NASA now has a lottery system and my luck was out. November would have been a perfect time to go.

 

[JustAFriend]

I tried to get tickets for the November launch, but NASA now has a lottery system and my luck was out. November would have been a perfect time to go.

Again, anywhere in the area is a good view. You don't have to be on NASA property, anywhere within 15miles of the launchpad and you're golden.

That video in my post above was >150miles south< out my front door....

 

[sojourner]

Anywhere within 15 miles will be jam packed with people for the last launch though. Your best bet might be to go to New Smyrna beach and drive south using the frontage road which takes you onto the national sea shore.

 

[sojourner]

STS-135 has been officially approved by congress.

 

[RapidNadion]

Missed my chance to see the launch from the Visitors Center as well a few weeks ago (lottery messed me up too, even though I was in the virtual waiting room at 8am or 9am sharp - whenever it opened). I know the viewing from the KCSVC isn't the best, with the trees and all, but the idea of having the whole of the VC to "ourselves" (ticket holders) for the eight-hour wait leading up to T-0 was very appealing.

Hopefully STS-135 will happen, and take some of the ticket pressure off 134. Would love to take a FL trip in Feb.

 

[sojourner]

135 will probably be in june.

 

[Candlelight]

I'll just jump in a helicopter and fly around the launch pad till she takes off.

They let you do that... right?

I'm guessing there's an exclusion zone for boats too?

 

[sojourner]

yes.