Space Shuttle Launch

[Jiminy V]

We leave for Disney in 3 days!!:sohappy: We heard that the Space Shuttle will be launching while we are there. Can the launch be seen from anywhere in Disney or do we have to rent a car and drive closer to the launch?

Thanks.

 

[tizzo]

We leave for Disney in 3 days!!:sohappy: We heard that the Space Shuttle will be launching while we are there. Can the launch be seen from anywhere in Disney or do we have to rent a car and drive closer to the launch?

Thanks.

You should be able to see it in the sky just North of East. It will look like a bright light rising into the sky, with a smoke trail visible if it's daytime.

Be aware that shuttle launches are subject to last minute scrubs for anything from weather to technical glitches. Timing is important since it's only visible for a minute or two after launch. If you have a device that will give you internet access, I suggest tuning into the video feed from cfnews13.com or floridatoday.com. You can watch the video of it leaving the pad and then turn your attention to the sky in time to see it appear.

 

[Master Yoda]

The launch can be seen from WDW but just barely especially with a day time launch.

This is the view from MK

and from Epcot.

To get a good view you will need to get closer. One of the better free vantages is from Space View park in Titusville but you will need to get there way early, on the order of several hours before the launch, to get a good spot.

Here is an image from Space View Park.

 

[MissM]

At this point I don't think Discovery is ever going to launch. We took time off work and were going to head over way back in November! Then it got bumped and bumped again and bumped again! Holy cow.

Just saying you can plan but you can't even be guaranteed a launch will go when scheduled.

 

[mike&pam]

You can see it pretty good from Epcot standing near the lake. We watched it once from their, but was early evening and you could see the smoke and flames off of it.

 

[wendysue]

We watched a launch from Pop Century at the top of the 50's building facing the East parking lot about a year ago. It was still dark out, very early in the morning. The launch was awesome, and a few minutes later, the sound wave arrived.

 

[PrincessASquare]

Thanks for the info! Those pictures are awesome!

 

[tizzo]

FYI, they're reporting locally that they're looking at further delaying the launch due to a potential conflict with an ESA launch from someplace in South America.