Reported by Greg Pallone
TITUSVILLE -- With the space shuttle fleet set to retire, time could be running out to catch a shuttle launch.
One of the questions News 13 gets asked most is: Where is the best spot to watch a launch?
That’s not an easy question to answer.
The Kennedy Space Center, of course, offers the best view, but the ticket packages it offers sell out quickly.
You can also watch the launch from the KSC Visitors Complex, where tickets are also required. Unfortunately, there is no clear view of the launch pad, so viwers at the Visitors Complex have to wait for the shuttle to clear the tree line.
The spot does, however, have an advantage in that the sound will be much louder.
Titusville is the second best clear-viewing area. About 12 miles from the launch pad, it’s the closest off-site spot, and the only free location to watch the shuttle.
The view from anywhere in Titusville along the Indian River, running the length of U.S. Route 1 from Garden Street in the north, down to around Highway 50 in the south, is perfectly clear across the water to both launch pads.
One of the more popular places the aptly named Spaceview Park, at the northern end of Titusville. The Astronaut Walk of Fame is there, too, which is a good way to pass the time while waiting for launch.
People love to pull over and camp during the launch. You will see this along the Beach Line Expressway, especially near the causeways and off Highway A1A in Cocoa Beach.
Jetty Park, in Cape Canaveral, is a popular spot for tourists and locals. Many camp for days just to get a good view of the launch, as well as cruise ships coming and going from Port Canaveral.
If you do head out to the Space Coast, pack the car with everything you will need, including sun block and bug spray -- and don’t forget your camera!
The shuttle provides a great view from across Central Florida. If you grab a photo, share it with us!
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