Goin' to Florida and need some help ...

[digismile]

Well my better half Suzanne and I are finally making it legal and getting married in Orlando next month. We will share the moment with our immediate family from both sides and spend the time hopefully golfing, taking her grandson to Disney World and whatever else comes along. This should be a great week long holiday for the entire family.

It just so happens that the next launch window for the space shuttle is potentially within the last few days of our trip. This is something I've always wanted to see!

The website for KSC gives a few names of locations where one can watch the launch. I've never been to Florida so what I'd like to know, are these sites generally places that have to be camped out days in advance, so that you and 100,000 of your closest friends can quietly enjoy the moment?:D And is there any hope of photographing the moment with something other than a 600mm with 2x extender? All I've got is a 70-210 tele.

Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Brad

[gus]

No idea about seeing big tin bird but congratulations anyway :thumb

[Harryb]

Congrats on your upcoming marriage.

Probbaly the best location is Jetty Park

Directions: From north Cocoa, go east on SR 528 from I-95 or U.S. 1. After you cross the Banana River, follow the signs for the South Docks and go into the south entrance to the Port. Turn right on George King Blvd. and follow the signs to Jetty Park. Entrance fee is $5.00 per car. To get to the Port Canaveral Locks from the south entrance to the Port, turn left on Mullet Drive. The road winds around and passes under a drawbridge. Canaveral Locks are at the very end of Mullet Drive. For information, visit www.portcanaveral.org (http://www.portcanaveral.org/), or call 321-783-7111.

I would get there in the late morning to get a decent spot. Its apretty place to spend a day. You should get some decent shots with your lens.

[DJ-S1]

Color me jealous! I may (big capital MAY) be taking a business trip to Orlando June 5-8, and guess when the launch window ends...June 3rd. So there's no chance of me seeing a launch, even if I do get to go.

Now a landing, on the other hand... :uhoh One can always dream!

Congratulations on the upcoming nuptuals, that's the important part! Best of luck! :clap

[digismile]

Thanks everyone for the greetings, and thanks very much Harry for the directions! Now all I need is a bit of luck with the launch date.

Does the shuttle qualify as a BIF?:D

Thanks again,
Brad

[dragon300zx]

Digi I am jealous. I wanted to get shots of them moving the bird from the assembly building to the pad while I was there at the start of the month. They were supposed to move if on monday but ended up delaying the move till wensday the day after I left. :cry Oh well one of these years I will get to be there for a launch.

[Andy]

Congrats on your upcoming marriage.

Probbaly the best location is Jetty Park

Directions: From north Cocoa, go east on SR 528 from I-95 or U.S. 1. After you cross the Banana River, follow the signs for the South Docks and go into the south entrance to the Port. Turn right on George King Blvd. and follow the signs to Jetty Park. Entrance fee is $5.00 per car. To get to the Port Canaveral Locks from the south entrance to the Port, turn left on Mullet Drive. The road winds around and passes under a drawbridge. Canaveral Locks are at the very end of Mullet Drive. For information, visit www.portcanaveral.org (http://www.portcanaveral.org/), or call 321-783-7111.

I would get there in the late morning to get a decent spot. Its apretty place to spend a day. You should get some decent shots with your lens.


:scratch why can't he just hope the "a" train? :dunno

[digismile]

:scratch why can't he just hope the "a" train? :dunno
I thought the A Train went to Sugar Hill in Harlem? :rofl

[dragon300zx]

Digi,

I'm sorry :cry.

NASA: Shuttle launch no sooner than May 22


Just saw the headline on CNN.com

[DJ-S1]

Digi,

I'm sorry :cry.

NASA: Shuttle launch no sooner than May 22


Just saw the headline on CNN.comOn the bright side (for me anyway): my trip got approved. So I'll be there starting on the 4th or 5th. Lessee...May 22...12 day mission...landing on June 3rd? Well, there's always a day or two delay on the pad, maybe I'll get a BIF after all!

[digismile]

Can't tell you how bummed I am about the delay! I knew it was a long shot, but I still hoped! Suzanne doesn't want to delay the wedding either :D

I still plan to go to Kennedy Space Center to see a Saturn V rocket. When I went to Johnson Space Center at Christmas specifically to see a Saturn V, they were building a flippin' building for it, so it was the only site not available! I still have the 4' high Saturn V model from when I was a space crazed kid of the 60's ...

I almost had Suzanne convinced that I needed some new L-Glass to photograph the shuttle ...:D Rutt bought himself quite the 50th Birthday present, so maybe I should buy my own wedding gift :rofl

[DJ-S1]

Suzanne doesn't want to delay the wedding either :D Geez, you'd think she'd be a little more understanding! :lol3

I've been a space geek since I was little too. My Dad was part of the recovery team for Apollo 10 when I was 3, I've been hooked since then. This will be my 1st chance to get to KSC, I'm really psyched! Can you tell?

Sorry you'll miss the shuttle, I've resigned myself to missing it also. Don't want to get my hopes up too high, because with my luck it will land in the middle of the day when I have to be in meetings. :bluduh That will just KILL me!

[flyingpylon]

I realize that what you guys want are nice close shots of the takeoff, but don't forget that there's LOTS of open coastline in Florida. I've seen the shuttle take off while standing on the beach several miles away and it's still pretty spectacular.

[digismile]

I've been a space geek since I was little too. My Dad was part of the recovery team for Apollo 10 when I was 3, I've been hooked since then. This will be my 1st chance to get to KSC, I'm really psyched! Can you tell?
Wow! That's cool! There was nothing better than watching a B/W TV waiting for the first communication from the capsule and watching for a grainy picture of the parachutes opening.


Sorry you'll miss the shuttle, I've resigned myself to missing it also. Don't want to get my hopes up too high, because with my luck it will land in the middle of the day when I have to be in meetings. :bluduh That will just KILL me!I could call you on your cell during the meeting and you could feign a family emergency :rofl

Hope you get to see it!

[DJ-S1]

I like the way you think, Digi!

[DJ-S1]

NASA is expected to announce today the postponement of the next shuttle launch until July.



Drat. Oh well, can't win 'em all...

[digismile]

How inconsiderate. Don't they know people make plans?:rofl

If I'm ever going to see the shuttle, I think I'm going to have to try and stash some rainy day money (yeah right) so that I can take a trip on short notice ...


NASA is expected to announce today the postponement of the next shuttle launch until July.



Drat. Oh well, can't win 'em all...

[DJ-S1]

How inconsiderate. Don't they know people make plans?:rofl

If I'm ever going to see the shuttle, I think I'm going to have to try and stash some rainy day money (yeah right) so that I can take a trip on short notice ...:agree

Actually, I have seen a shuttle launch, technically. They launched to a high inclination once, and it was just after dark here in RI. THe high inclination means that it came very far north, and my son and I were able to see the last minute or so of the main engine burn. That was cool, but not as cool as being at the Cape!

But I'm still going to be making my first visit to KSC, and I can't wait! :clap