NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The following are some of the most popular off-site locations for viewing launches from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida:

• Along the Indian River on U.S. Highway 1, especially in Titusville.



• The Beach Line Expressway, also called State Road 528. The portions of the Beach Line crossing over the Indian River (the Bennett Causeway) and the Banana River are good vantage points.



• Off State Road A1A along the Atlantic Ocean in Cocoa Beach.



• Jetty Park (321) 783-7111 at Port Canaveral, on the Atlantic Ocean just south of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station border. Both Space Shuttle and expendable launch vehicle liftoffs can be viewed from here. The park is open all day year-round.
  + Park fees and information

Image to left: Space Shuttle Atlantis roars into the clear blue sky from the billows of smoke below after launch on mission STS-112, the 15th assembly flight to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA

Boaters viewing launches should tune to Channel 16 VHF-FM for instructions from the Coast Guard pertaining to restricted areas. The Coast Guard will patrol those areas in the rivers and offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. Boaters will not be permitted north of marker 15 on the Banana River (where the high wires cross the river). Boaters may not enter the southern part of Mosquito Lagoon (past the Haulover Canal). However, the Canal, part of the Intracoastal Waterway, will remain open to traffic. Boaters may not set foot on any land that is part of the Kennedy Space Center or the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Although not an official source of NASA information, the Launch Information Service and Amateur Television System (LISATS) retransmits both NASA audio and video signals for shuttle launches and landings. Audio transmissions are at 146.94 MHz and video is transmitted on amateur television at 421.75 MHz. LISATS transmissions may be somewhat sporadic, but generally begin about three hours before liftoff and continue through landing. These are not official NASA transmissions and are not subject to NASA oversight or quality standards. NASA does not endorse or otherwise sponsor or support the LISATS and/or its retransmission efforts.

NASA audio is also available via Ham radio on UHF at 442.6 MHz. Local radio station WMMB provides launch coverage on AM 1240 and AM 1350.

Landing

No car passes or bus tickets are available for viewing space shuttle landings. Due to cloud cover in the area, shuttle landings are frequently more difficult to see than launches. In addition, there is no on-site viewing area large enough to accommodate the general public. However, any of the off-site viewing locations mentioned above can also be used to see a shuttle landing.

Image to right: A field of wild flowers greets Atlantis as it touches down on runway 33 at KSC, completing mission STS-110. Credit: NASA