Kennedy Space Center - launch viewing?

[Marissa227]

I’m looking for advice on viewing the launch on April 15, 2022. Should we buy admission tickets now or wait in hope that a viewing package is available? From what I’ve read they sometimes don’t go on sale until 2 weeks before. Any advice on best viewing location with 3 kids ages 4, 8 & 10?

 

[Capt_BJ]

there are plenty of places to see a launch for free .... given the frequency they are moved I would not buy 'tickets' ... of course I've seen many and can watch from the back yard pool . . .

US-1 in Titusville

Jetty Park at the Port (charge to park per car)

Grills at the port

Cocoa Beach Pier (charge to park and small per person fee to access the 'fishing pier)

 

[Pooh's World]

Yeah seems like llaunches are often cancelled

 

[Marissa227]

Thank you!! We would like to visit the Kennedy Space Center that day regardless of whether the launch happens or not. (Although seeing the launch would def be a bonus!!) It is an extra day we’re adding on to our trip after Disney & Seaworld. I’m reading that if they release a launch package, they will close the Center to general admission and only guests who have package tickets will have access. Does anyone know what happens if I buy a dated general admission ticket now and then they say it’s not valid? Will they refund? If we wait and see is there a chance the center will close due to capacity with it being Easter weekend? Thanks again. This is our 5th trip to Disney as a family and I’m used to having everything well planned out months in advance but we would like to branch out and try some new things on this trip

 

[Marissa227]

there are plenty of places to see a launch for free .... given the frequency they are moved I would not buy 'tickets' ... of course I've seen many and can watch from the back yard pool . . .

US-1 in Titusville

Jetty Park at the Port (charge to park per car)

Grills at the port

Cocoa Beach Pier (charge to park and small per person fee to access the 'fishing pier)

thank you for this info!! We are from PA so this might be our only chance. We are staying at Renaissance Orlando- Seaworld during this part of our trip so about an hour drive without traffic. I’m assuming there will be traffic though since it is the Crew 4. If the launch ends up working out with our schedule, how early would you recommend getting to one of these locations?

 

[Capt_BJ]

launches, even crewed ones just don't draw the crowds like the shuttle did so I wouldn't worry too much about traffic. There will be some but not grid lock and police won't let folks just stop on the road shoulders any more.

The launch window (time) has not been announced (that I could find) and certainly this plays into crowd and arrival time. But I'd think your controlling factor is ages of 3 kids. You need to keep them entertained. If not going to do KSC as part of this event I'd recommend just planning a beach day at Jetty Park. There's beach with concessions to keep kids entertained and you can get there plenty early but watch the Jetty Park web site for potential special rules on this launch day. Alternately you can do same thing at Cocoa Beach Pier where I've never seen an access limitation for a launch ..... you don't HAVE to be on the pier. Any place on the beach north of the pier (between Jetty Park and the Pier) has a very good view ....

 

[Marissa227]

launches, even crewed ones just don't draw the crowds like the shuttle did so I wouldn't worry too much about traffic. There will be some but not grid lock and police won't let folks just stop on the road shoulders any more.

The launch window (time) has not been announced (that I could find) and certainly this plays into crowd and arrival time. But I'd think your controlling factor is ages of 3 kids. You need to keep them entertained. If not going to do KSC as part of this event I'd recommend just planning a beach day at Jetty Park. There's beach with concessions to keep kids entertained and you can get there plenty early but watch the Jetty Park web site for potential special rules on this launch day. Alternately you can do same thing at Cocoa Beach Pier where I've never seen an access limitation for a launch ..... you don't HAVE to be on the pier. Any place on the beach north of the pier (between Jetty Park and the Pier) has a very good view ....

Thank you so much!! This is VERY helpful in planning our day!

 

[NH-to-FL]

I'll second the Jetty Park suggestion. We've gone there a couple of times, though never for a launch. Nice beach and worth taking a walk out to the end of the jetty. We have seen dolphins out there.

Also stopped for lunch at Grills. When we were there a Norwegian Cruise shipped came into port. As it pulled into the dock it looked like it was going to run right into the restaurant.

 

[Pooh's World]

Thank you!! We would like to visit the Kennedy Space Center that day regardless of whether the launch happens or not. (Although seeing the launch would def be a bonus!!) It is an extra day we’re adding on to our trip after Disney & Seaworld. I’m reading that if they release a launch package, they will close the Center to general admission and only guests who have package tickets will have access. Does anyone know what happens if I buy a dated general admission ticket now and then they say it’s not valid? Will they refund? If we wait and see is there a chance the center will close due to capacity with it being Easter weekend? Thanks again. This is our 5th trip to Disney as a family and I’m used to having everything well planned out months in advance but we would like to branch out and try some new things on this trip

I think if one person buys the annual pass then parking is free and there are a bunch of other perks/discounts

 

[ChanaC]

Friendly reminder also that you can usually view the launches from Orlando if the weather is right. Yes, go to Kennedy Space Center because it's a really cool place (the Atlantis exhibit is amazing) and check out Cocoa Beach just because it's nice, but if the launch gets pushed back a day and you find yourself at the theme parks you can still see some of it. I recommend looking east from a taller building (the SeaWorld Renaissance would be good, or maybe the top of a parking garage) or find an area where you have a good view of the horizon looking east (ex. standing on the Grand Floridian beach overlooking the lake). If it's not too cloudy you can't miss it. Usually Kennedy Space Center or the company launching it (like SpaceX) will have a livestream you can follow along with on your phone, although keep in mind there might be a few seconds of delay). Night launches are great because it looks like a bright orange ball of flames. For example, here is a cool launch viewed from Epcot!

Just for some reference, I can sometimes see them from South Florida 200 miles away!

 

[ChanaC]

Deleting - double post by accident

 

[Marissa227]

Friendly reminder also that you can usually view the launches from Orlando if the weather is right. Yes, go to Kennedy Space Center because it's a really cool place (the Atlantis exhibit is amazing) and check out Cocoa Beach just because it's nice, but if the launch gets pushed back a day and you find yourself at the theme parks you can still see some of it. I recommend looking east from a taller building (the SeaWorld Renaissance would be good, or maybe the top of a parking garage) or find an area where you have a good view of the horizon looking east (ex. standing on the Grand Floridian beach overlooking the lake). If it's not too cloudy you can't miss it. Usually Kennedy Space Center or the company launching it (like SpaceX) will have a livestream you can follow along with on your phone, although keep in mind there might be a few seconds of delay). Night launches are great because it looks like a bright orange ball of flames. For example, here is a cool launch viewed from Epcot!

Just for some reference, I can sometimes see them from South Florida 200 miles away!

That is awesome and good to know!! Thank you

 

[Capt_BJ]

let's talk about "see a launch"

Yes when weather is VERY clear and depending on the rocket (some are bigger than others) you might see a launch from Orlando, West Palm Beach even St Pete. But what you see is the contrail - vapor trail - and maybe a spot of bright from the 'flame'.

The nearer you are to the launch the more of this you see and especially on a day when the weather is not ideal. I watch launches from the backyard but occasionally even I can't see ANYTHING ...... alto usually if visibility is that low they don't push the button. <they want to have good visual recording of EVERYTHING if there is a booboo>

When someone mentions 'watch a launch' I think of SEEING the burn and contrail/smoke and HEARING the roar. For MOST viewing locations open to the public there is a delay between what you see (speed of light) and what you hear (speed of sound). In my backyard I hear the roar but the time between see and hear is nearly a minute!!!!! Not too much further away and you hear nothing ..... I live about 25 miles south of the pads and I'll get eyes on a launch about 10 seconds after liftoff. <curvature of the earth thing .. it needs some altitude before I have line of sight ... you need to be really close to see the actual pad/ground level or have some height of eye>

Just sayin' ......

here's a short video of a SpaceX launch from Aril 2021 and we were 'on property' WELL inside the perimeter you can be without some special permission. the closest 'public' sites, even at the KSC visitor center will be miles further away .... you will not have a 'ground level' view . . . Jetty Park would be around 10 miles.

 

[Marissa227]

let's talk about "see a launch"

Yes when weather is VERY clear and depending on the rocket (some are bigger than others) you might see a launch from Orlando, West Palm Beach even St Pete. But what you see is the contrail - vapor trail - and maybe a spot of bright from the 'flame'.

The nearer you are to the launch the more of this you see and especially on a day when the weather is not ideal. I watch launches from the backyard but occasionally even I can't see ANYTHING ...... alto usually if visibility is that low they don't push the button. <they want to have good visual recording of EVERYTHING if there is a booboo>

When someone mentions 'watch a launch' I think of SEEING the burn and contrail/smoke and HEARING the roar. For MOST viewing locations open to the public there is a delay between what you see (speed of light) and what you hear (speed of sound). In my backyard I hear the roar but the time between see and hear is nearly a minute!!!!! Not too much further away and you hear nothing ..... I live about 25 miles south of the pads and I'll get eyes on a launch about 10 seconds after liftoff.

Just sayin' ......

here's a short video of a SpaceX launch from Aril 2021 and we were 'on property' WELL inside the perimeter you can be without some special permission. the closest 'public' sites, even at the KSC visitor center will be miles further away .... you will not have a 'ground level' view . . . Jetty Park would be around 10 miles.

That video is incredible! What an experience.

 

[NH-to-FL]

Friendly reminder also that you can usually view the launches from Orlando if the weather is right.

Yes, when the weather is clear I have seen launches from our place in Davenport, FL, about 12 miles SSW of MK, about 65 miles WSW of KSC. I have only seen Falcon 9 launches. It would have been interesting to have seen a Shuttle or an Apollo launch.

 

[vetrik]

In February 2020 we planned to go to KSC the day we debarked a Disney Cruise. Unbeknownst to us (since we were on a boat with no internet), a launch was postponed and rescheduled for the day we were going. We didn’t find out until we were already in the car on the way there (my friend called because her airport shuttle driver told them it was about to happen). We had no way to adjust our timing, but we didn’t hit any traffic and managed to pull into the parking lot and find a spot with just enough time to get out of the car and watch it from outside our car.

It was still an awesome experience, we could see well and got the roar. We had no problems buying tickets and enjoyed the whole day at KSC after.

 

[Capt_BJ]

data point:

There was a delta launch 4:30ish pm yesterday ... delta's are bigger than spaceX ... more boom and flash!!!

I checked the local traffic (cape canaveral and titusville) 15 minutes after the launch and there was no traffic 'delays' or warning beyond what I see on normal weekdays at this time. I verified by looking as several traffic cams ...... no crowds of people pouring out of prime viewing areas ...... most launches are pretty ho-hum ..... heck they happen so frequently now . . .

https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/traffic
there's another launch - spaceX falcon - 0935 tomorrow . . . . another on the 8th ...... <scheduled>

 

[Capt_BJ]

for OP

I just dug around the KSC site and did a dummy booking

I saw no mention of " a launch package " ......... for the April 15 launch

but what I did read was these packages when offered are NOT fully refundable if the launch is rescheduled

Your original post said you wanted to do KSC that day either way .... go for it ..... or do a beach day. Either way if the launch happens you'll be in a good watching place . . .