Space Shuttle launches have always captivated me. From the times when my family would stand out on our dock, or when I was in elementary school and our teachers would lead us out onto the playground to watch the rockets red glare, the ability to see man’s journey into space has been nothing less than amazing.

In the 2-3 minutes it takes for the shuttle to first come into view to the point at which it’s finally out of sight, a nervous energy builds within me. But when those few minutes have passed and all that’s left is a trail of smoke up into the sky, my nervousness turns to pride and excitement for such an awesome achievement.

With the scheduled retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2010, the ability to see a launch in its current form is coming to an end. However, as NASA is working harder than ever to complete the space station before this retirement date, the next couple of years should be full of great opportunities to see one of these final launches.

The best viewing locations are definitely out along the space coast, including the Bennett Causeway (1A) over the Indian River and, of course, Jetty Park. From these spots you can feel the earth rumble. It’s a lot like seeing the Grand Canyon, there’s a level of appreciation that can only be gotten with your own two eyes.

If you plan on watching a launch from these areas, however, plan to be there many, many hours ahead of time. Think early morning for a mid-afternoon or nighttime launch.

The view from the Orlando area can be amazing in its own way, especially at night or on a clear day. Just head to a local grocery store parking lot or to the western shore of a nearby lake (easier said than done, I know). Basically, anywhere that has a lot of open ground between you and the eastern horizon. Turn on your car radio to FM 87.7 (local TV channel WKMG broadcast) and listen to the countdown.

After about 15 seconds (less at night), the fire from the shuttle’s rockets will be readily visible just north of due east.

It’s truly a sight not to be missed.

Link: Launches at Kennedy Space Center

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