Goin' to Florida and need some help ...

digismile · April 17, 2005

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 · April 17, 2005

No idea about seeing big tin bird but congratulations anyway

Harryb · April 17, 2005

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, 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 · April 17, 2005

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!

digismile · April 18, 2005

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 · April 18, 2005

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 · April 18, 2005

Harryb wrote:

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, 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.

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

digismile · April 18, 2005

andy wrote:

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

I thought the A Train went to Sugar Hill in Harlem?

dragon300zx · April 20, 2005

Digi,

I'm sorry :cry.

NASA: Shuttle launch no sooner than May 22

Just saw the headline on CNN.com

DJ-S1 · April 20, 2005

dragon300zx wrote:

Digi,

I'm sorry :cry.

NASA: Shuttle launch no sooner than May 22

Just saw the headline on CNN.com

On 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 · April 21, 2005

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

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

DJ-S1 · April 21, 2005

digismile wrote:

Suzanne doesn't want to delay the wedding either

Geez, you'd think she'd be a little more understanding!

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 · April 21, 2005

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 · April 21, 2005

DJ-S1 wrote:

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.

DJ-S1 wrote:

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

Hope you get to see it!

DJ-S1 · April 21, 2005

I like the way you think, Digi!

DJ-S1 · April 29, 2005

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

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

digismile · April 29, 2005

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

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 ...

DJ-S1 wrote:

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 · April 30, 2005

digismile wrote:

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

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 ...

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!

Goin' to Florida and need some help ...

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