Advice on where to watch SpaceX launch at KSC

Posts

5,352

Likes

18,614

pdxleaf

·Apr 16, 2022·So on and so on and scoobie doobie doo

I'm headed down to Kennedy Space Center to watch crew 4 launch April 23rd. (Had tickets for April 15 but launch got delayed.)

Anyone have any advice they'd like to share on best spots to watch a launch (pad 39A)? It's my first time there.

Was thinking about the $250 launch ticket but given that the bus leaves at 300am and it's 250 bucks, thinking it might not be worth it.

Lots of info on the internet but thought someone here might have some personal experience, good or bad.

(Love to see Artemis. That'll be a big one. But it's hard to plan in advance for that one.)

Thanks in advance.

Cheers.

 

Posts

21,708

Likes

49,237

Dan S

·Apr 16, 2022

I once watched a shuttle launch from some sort of astronaut/space museum nearby. I don't recall exactly what it is called. It's not super close, but the views were as good as anywhere outside the complex. The nice thing is that there is something to do while you're waiting.

 

Posts

5,352

Likes

18,614

pdxleaf

·Apr 16, 2022·So on and so on and scoobie doobie doo

Sounds like American Space Museum in Titusville. I wanted to see this too. Close to my hotel so good to know. Thanks.

 

Posts

5,352

Likes

18,614

pdxleaf

·Apr 26, 2022·So on and so on and scoobie doobie doo

Seems like the best place to watch a launch is on tv.

After the launch got pushed back a week, I went to Florida to watch it on April 23. Unfortunately, it got pushed out twice more. It seems the4 space tourists are stuck in the ISS because of weather and Crew 4 can't go up as its too crowded.

Tourists ruin everything.

Kennedy Space Center was excellent. Finally figured out what tge "couch" was in the command module.
Also, while the Saturn V is huge, it was surprising to see how small the Redstone and Agena rockets were. Those Mercury and Gemini guys were really sitting on missles. Absurdly small. No way they weren't thinking they had a good chance of blowing up.

Godspeed Crew4.

 

Posts

10,074

Likes

48,314

Walrus

·Apr 26, 2022

I think these days Twitter might be the best option for anything SpaceX or Tesla related, although perhaps the SEC will hinder that

 

Posts

4,402

Likes

22,782

vbrad26

·Apr 26, 2022

Ah if I would have seen this thread when you originally posted it I would have come hang hah.
Yeah I invited myself...

 

Posts

5,352

Likes

18,614

pdxleaf

·Apr 26, 2022·So on and so on and scoobie doobie doo

vbrad26

Ah if I would have seen this thread when you originally posted it I would have come hang hah.
Yeah I invited myself...

I'll let you know next time. I'd like to see Artemis. That'll be a big boom. The way it's going it'll be hard to predict an actual lauch date though.

 

Posts

10,074

Likes

48,314

Walrus

·Apr 26, 2022

Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free
Dizzy with eternity
Paint it with a skin of sky, brush in some clouds and sea
Call it home for you and me
A peaceful place, or so it looks from space
A closer look reveals the human race
Full of hope, full of grace, is the human face
But afraid we may lay our home to waste
There's a fear down here we can't forget
Hasn't got a name just yet
Always awake, always around
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down
Ashes, ashes, all fall down

 

Posts

21,708

Likes

49,237

Dan S

·Apr 26, 2022

I'm pretty sure that launch dates have always been changeable. The time I saw the shuttle launch, it had been scheduled for the previous week, but canceled due to weather. I guess there are certain time windows available, and if the weather isn't right, the launch just gets pushed back.

 

Posts

4,402

Likes

22,782

vbrad26

·Apr 26, 2022

That's correct. Weather here can be pretty unpredictable.

 

Posts

1,422

Likes

6,570

duc

·Apr 26, 2022

Terrific pictures! Thanks for posting them! You get high marks for watch content too 😉

 

Posts

10,074

Likes

48,314

Walrus

·Apr 27, 2022

I hear take off went off flawlessly. I thought the Russians said we would need broomsticks to get to space since they aren’t taking us up. Did you get to see it live @pdxleaf ?

 

Posts

2,050

Likes

10,666

TLIGuy

·Apr 27, 2022

Fantastic pictures @pdxleaf. Unfortunate timing but it looks like you made the best of it.

Next time you are there you need to land your watch on the Moon. Same sample but it looks like they removed it from the frame it was in last time I was there.

Got a few odd looks taking this one.

 

Posts

1,032

Likes

1,896

jsducote

·May 4, 2022

I may be in the background of some of those photos. Was also in town for Crew 4 launch, but went home Sunday without seeing it. Watched the Starlink launch from Cocoa Beach. Possibly going back for Artemis 1 - my brother-in-law works on the Orion program, so we'll have good seats.

 

Posts

5,352

Likes

18,614

pdxleaf

·May 4, 2022·So on and so on and scoobie doobie doo

jsducote

I may be in the background of some of those photos. Was also in town for Crew 4 launch, but went home Sunday without seeing it. Watched the Starlink launch from Cocoa Beach. Possibly going back for Artemis 1 - my brother-in-law works on the Orion program, so we'll have good seats.

Keep us informed about Artemis 1 launch date. That seems likely to get rescheduled several times. I would love to see that too as it'll be a great blast. I'm guessing early fall.