How to see the shuttle off

Kat Lemieux — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 07:03:56 GMT

Another way to watch the launch, in a social setting, is to come to the (virtual) International Spaceflight Museum on Spaceport Alpha in Second Life. We have some screens where we post NASA TV streaming video for the first 60 avatars who come to the sim to witness the event with like-minded space fans. (It's limited to 60 by the realities of server capacity.) It's lots of fun!

How to see the shuttle off

JR, Orlando, FL — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:43:47 GMT

I'm very much looking forward to the launch friday - though I wish it could have been an hour or so later. The last night launch was one of the more impressive things I have seen in my life. I watch them from my yard - no crowds to fight there.

How to see the shuttle off

Brent White, Statesville, NC — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:52:32 GMT

I have never seen a shuttle launch itself, but I was in St. Augustine on the lighthouse's lantern deck back in September 2006 when I took a shot of the shuttle's booster rockets firing as it headed off to space.

What you need to do to get a shot like this is be facing east on the lantern deck of the St. Augustine Lighthouse at launch time. In a couple of minutes, you should see a bright orange trail and be able to hit it with a good telephoto lens (I used a Canon EF Telephoto lens at its full 300mm length, fitted with a polarizing filter). The key is TELEPHOTO, not ZOOM. It'll be the best $5 you've ever spent.

How to see the shuttle off

Mark, Florida — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 20:20:38 GMT

Thankfully I can walk into by backyard (facing south) and am able to have a great view of the shuttle going up! I have seen several launches, between the shuttles and the rockets. My all time favorite launch was the night time one back in December, it was so awesome to see the glow in the sky and the orange trail.

How to see the shuttle off

Don Tabbutt, Louisville, KY — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 05:25:34 GMT

In person, I watched the first flight of Columbia with John Young at the controls in 1980.

Later, with two young children in tow, we watched the Challenger's last launch on our way to Key West for a vacation. Neither child has since completely recovered, and to this day prefer not to watch launches.

Our last visit for a live watch was when the shuttle launched at night from the Cape on a DoD mission around 1990. It was spectacular at night...as though the Sun were rising with enormous sound effects.

If you can ever get there, don't miss a launch in person.

How to see the shuttle off

Katey, Deltona, FL — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:19:38 GMT

While I've never been to Canaveral when a shuttle actually went up (they had to scrub it when I was there last), there is a park at Port Canaveral that fills up fast. You can also sit anywhere on Cocoa Beach which is where we were. Although the shuttle didn't go up, we had helicopters overhead all day and the tank retrieval boat off in the distance to watch. Trailer Boats magazine also lists watching a shuttle launch as one of the top 10 things to do in your boat because you can get closer than other vehicle traffic without paying to be at KSC itself. For me though today I have to work so I may just head out to New Smyrna Beach and watch from there or just watch from my backyard!

How to see the shuttle off

Draco, Cleveland ohio — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:10:15 GMT

for those of who have to work and can only listen, does anyone happen to know the scanner frequency(s) used for the launch? please post I'll check back.

How to see the shuttle off

Bonnie, Georgia — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 18:33:33 GMT

From near Augusta, Ga we had a great view of the shuttle during the December launch. We are excited about clear skies tonight.

How to see the shuttle off

matt, boston, massacusetts — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 22:15:28 GMT

how can i see it from here in the northeast, in massachusetts? i know it'll be light still, but i want to see it if possible... any tips? which way to face? also, is it broadcast on any radio stations?

How to see the shuttle off

Rick, Frankfort KY — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 23:29:29 GMT

I was in Vero Beach once during the 90's and watched a shuttle launch from there. Even that far away, the sound (took about 2 minutes to get there) was chest rumbling awesome. I've never had a chance to see one up close, but I'm damn sure going to at least once before 2010.