STS-135 - Final Atlantis Launch

In all honesty, you may.... MAY have paid for the tightening of a bolt on the employee gate to the storage room! :)

Like in high school when I told my ophthalmologist's son that I put food on his table when I got an eye exam and he told me that I maybe might have paid for refilling the salt shaker, at best.
 
O&M said:
Would love to see a shuttle launch, but don't really feel inclined to pay for the privilige, as it is my (along with many others) tax dollars that pay for it to fly in the first place.
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Did you get invited to purchase tickets? If so, and you don't want them, I would love to purchase four!
 
Has anyone ever watched a launch from the NASA causeway? I've not since college and I barely remember it. I'll be with the wife and little guy though and want to make sure they're not too uncomfortable. Any suggestions on what we can expect, what to bring, etc. Worried about the little guy dehydrated / heatstroke etc.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
Has anyone ever watched a launch from the NASA causeway? I've not since college and I barely remember it. I'll be with the wife and little guy though and want to make sure they're not too uncomfortable. Any suggestions on what we can expect, what to bring, etc. Worried about the little guy dehydrated / heatstroke etc.
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You're awfully worried about your little boy. My advice would be to bring some wine home one night...romance the Mrs. and then you can make a spare. Perhaps you wouldn't worry so much if you had a plan B?
 
ZapBrannigan said:
Has anyone ever watched a launch from the NASA causeway? I've not since college and I barely remember it. I'll be with the wife and little guy though and want to make sure they're not too uncomfortable. Any suggestions on what we can expect, what to bring, etc. Worried about the little guy dehydrated / heatstroke etc.
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Hasn't your kid ever been outside?

Solution: Water and an umbrella.
 
If you all want to get really close and have all the comforts of home the secret is finding someone with indecent sized boat who is willing to take it down the Indian River. Just make sure you don't cross the well marked line of channel markers that marks how close you can get or I'm pretty sure you'll never get the boat back.

When I was 11 or so I was on a Grand Banks trawler that belonged to a friend of my dads for a night launch. If I recall correctly we were about 3.5 miles from the pad when it went off.
 
I did not get tickets. No one I know got them. I'm still thinking about coming down to try and see the launch. Who is all actually going to be there and where is everyone staying and watching the launch from??
 
I'll be there with my folks, wife, and son. Watching from NASA causeway. Hope it's not delayed.
 
I hope to be there...will be working with the non-rev gods....I'm going to find a lil' restaurant on the beach and plop myself there for the day...beer, beach, good friends (hope to see most of you join me), shuttle...ayup, that's all i need...that's all i need...except this chair, i'm gonna take this chair too and that's all i need.... :)
 
here's a few restaurants we should call.....

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- WESH 2's space expert Dan Billow has suggestions for where he believes are the best views for watching a space shuttle launch.
He said the closest and best place to watch the launch is Space View Park in Titusville on U.S. Highway 1, near Garden Street. The park may be close but he said it will be packed with people.
"It will be a zoo there," Billow said.
Anywhere along U.S. Highway 1 in Titusville will also provide good viewing spots. Billow recommends the Holiday Inn because it has some space and he said that there are two or three small parks in the area.
Paul's Smokehouse is a restaurant with huge windows overlooking the water and the launch pad beyond with an unobstructed view. But Billow warned that they are probably booked up already.
State Road 528 between Merritt Island and Port Canaveral is also a good viewing spot, according to Billow. A lot of people will be there, but it's farther away than Titusville.
The beach at Jetty Park in Port Canaveral will be spectacular, he said. The outdoor restaurant Grills in Port Canaveral is another option.
Anywhere in Brevard or Volusia counties will offer a great views over the water, Billow said.
NASA also offers other shuttle viewing suggestions on its Web site. Click here for more tips.

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/news/10459522/detail.html#ixzz1PwRKbF84
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Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant
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1. Space View Park:

Located approximately 15 miles directly across from the launch pads. The Park is the first and only walk in the nation that honors America's astronauts as well as the men and women behind the scenes who helped America lead the world in space exploration. Located a block south of SR 406 (Garden Street) and 5 miles North from SR 50 - off of US1 and off of Indian River Blvd. at the end of Broad Street.
This Park provides:

Live audio feed direct from NASA control room. Visitors will be able to listen as they sit on the river's edge with no obstruction of the shuttle and listen to the launch process from speakers in the park.
T-shirts & souvenirs
Near the Space Walk of Fame Museum
Walk through history of space from the Chinese discovery of Rockets in 3rd century BC to Space Station Freedom.
Compare your handprints to those of the mercury Astronauts.
View the astronauts mission logos carved in black granite.
Gaze across the beautiful Indian River at the shuttle launch pads and the huge Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).
Veterans Memorial, Restrooms.
Close to Downtown, Restaurants.
2. Parrish Park:

Located 6.5 miles North from HWY 50 off of US1 on HWY 406 (Garden Street). Located on Indian River across the A. Max Brewer Causeway Bridge. This Park is next to the National Wildlife Refuge just 6.5 miles from the Canaveral National Seashores.
This Park provides:

Pavilions, Picnic areas/Shelters, Boat Ramps.
Close to Downtown and Restaurants.
3. Sand Point Park:

Located 6 miles North from HWY 50 off of US1.
This Park provides:

Baseball, Softball fields
Pavilions, Picnic areas/Shelters, Boat Ramps, Restrooms, Playgrounds.
Close to Downtown and Restaurants.
4. William J. Manzo Park:

Located 1.5 miles North from HWY 50 on US 1.
This Park provides:

Pavilions, Picnic areas/Shelters, Restrooms.
Close to Convenience stores and Restaurants.
5. Rotary Riverfront Park:

Located .6 miles North from HWY 50 on US 1.
This Park provides:

Pavilions, Picnic areas/Shelters, Boat Ramps, Restrooms.
Close to Convenience stores and Restaurants.
6. Kennedy Point Park:

Located 1.6 miles North from HWY 405 (NASA CAUSEWAY) and .5 miles South from HWY 50 on US 1.
This Park provides:

Pavilions, Picnic areas/shelters, Boat Ramps, Restrooms.
Close to Convenience stores and Restaurants.
7. Municipal Marina:

Located off North US1 approximately 1/2 mile North of Hwy 406 (Garden St.)
Ships store
Manatee viewing
Sea Wall
Pavilion
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El Leoncito – This restaurant is a combination of Mexican and Cuban food and has resided in Titusville for over 18 years now. Just off of US 1, El Leoncito is family friendly, great for group outings, and accepts reservations for advance seating.



2. Paul’s Smokehouse – Looking for barbecue? Paul’s Smokehouse is a waterfront restaurant just across the Indian River Lagoon from the Kennedy Space Center, making is a prime location to view the shuttle launch right before you eat. Grab a bite of the New York Strip, Liberty cut Prime Rib with au jus, or a myriad of other meaty dishes.

3. Dixie Crossroads – Recognized as THE seafood restaurant in Florida, bar none, Dixie has a diverse menu of seafood treats in a family friendly atmosphere. Be sure to order up the fitting Cape Canaveral Special, a dish with healthy portions of Rock Shrimp, scallops, and Maine lobster. Or you can order your food as take-out, for a “Dixie-catered” shuttle launch party at your favorite viewing site!
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What time is the launch? I wouldn't recomment Dixie Crossroads for viewing. It is quite a ways from the water and I doubt you would see very well.
 
My friends and I did not win the lottery either, trying to get some tickets through my congressman. Looking forward to going.
 
Launch is at 11:26 a.m. EDT. I'm trying to fly down Thursday night. Cheapest airfare so far is into TPA. Friday launch, Weekend with my mom in Naples..then fly home Sunday night or Monday. Sounds like a good weekend. Just need to confirm that nothing is going on at work that will throw a wrench into my plans.
 
We arrive the 7th on AirTran at MCO. If it launches on time we will go to Sea World on the 9th and head home on the 11th.
 
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