This section offers hints and advice for those attending a shuttle launch for the first time. Included are tips on - what launches to attend, - obtaining launch passes, - when to arrive for a launch, and - where to stay. For the first time shuttle launch viewer, I'd say that you should choose your launch wisely. For instance, if you are travelling half way around the country (or world), don't plan too heavily on seeing a launch that has just a 6 minute launch window. Instead, pick one that has a long 2.5 hour window if possible. That increases the odds that you'll actually see it go up. Secondly, if you are viewing the launch from the NASA Causeway, wait for a launch from Pad A. It is significantly closer than Pad B is. Thirdly, your odds at seeing a launch may be better for early morning (e.g., near sunrise) launches than for launches at other times of the day or night. There are several reasons for this: at sunrise at KSC, the TAL sites are still in daylight; the winds are usually lighter in the morning; and the sea breeze, which can bring clouds and rain showers over the space center, has not yet had time to begin. Regardless of where you are viewing the launch from, secure your launch pass as early as possible. Most, if not all, of the various types of passes are definitely a finite resource, and are given out on (more or less) a first come, first served basis. You should begin acquiring your launch pass or passes two to three months before the launch date. Elsewhere in this guide you will find information on the different types of launch viewing passes. Many people choose to view a launch from the shore in Titusville, but there is really no reason not to get a closer view. When going to view the launch, arrive on-site as early as possible. The center opens for viewing site traffic about 4 hours prior to a launch, and with good reason. The traffic can be quite heavy in the hours leading up to a launch, and the last thing you want to do is to get to the viewing site late (or not at all). Additionally, the KSC gates will close about one hour prior to launch to clear the roads for emergency traffic, so if you're late, you may be out of luck. Also, do not arrive at a KSC gate before they are open for viewing site traffic. Although other traffic is allowed through, you will be turned away by the KSC police even if you're a minute early. Another bit of advice for a first time launch viewer is to not focus too heavily on taking lots of photographs. The event happens so quickly that before you know it it's over and you may realize that you viewed the whole thing with one eye closed and the other stuck in your viewfinder. I've attended some launches where my primary goal was to take pictures or video, and others where I just stood there and watched it go up without worrying about pictures. I have to say that I enjoyed the latter much more, but the tradeoff is that I had fewer pictures to take home. There are many hotels to choose from in the Kennedy Space Center area: Cocoa Beach -------------- Best Western Cocoa Inn 321 632 1065 Cape Colony Resort 321 783 2252 Cocoa Beach Oceanside Inn 321 784 3126 Crossways Condominium 321 784 5331 Crossways Inn Resort 321 783 2221 Days Inn Oceanfront 321 783 7621 Discovery Beach 321 784 2550 Hilton 321 799 0003 & 1 800 526 2609 Holiday Inn 321 783 2271 & 1 800 HOLIDAY Howard Johnsons 321 783 9481 & 1 800 654 2000 Motel 6 321 783 3103 Ocean Landing 321 783 9430 Ocean Suite Hotel 321 784 4343 Wakulla Motel 321 783 2230 Merritt Island ---------------- Holiday Inn Merritt Island 321 452 7711 Cape Canaveral ---------------- Radisson Resort at the Port 321 784 0000 Canaveral Towers 321 784 1130 Royal Mansions Resort 321 784 8484 Titusville ---------------- Best Western Space Shuttle 321 269 9100 Days Inn 321 269 9310 Holiday Inn (riverfront) 321 269 2121 Howard Johnson (waterside) 321 267 7900 Quality Inn 321 269 4480 Ramada Inn 321 269 5510 Reserve your room well in advance--at least 5 or 6 weeks prior to the launch date. Hotel rooms have been known to fill up quite rapidly.