I forgot to go outside and see it this morning... sooooo early but awesome they did it again!
Comfyfutons, do you have any recommended viewing spots to see the launches? I'm about 1.75 hrs away and would love to catch a launch in person sometime (saw a nighttime shuttle launch as a kid which was pretty cool). Since it's a bit a of a trek and the launch could get delayed (like the May 26/27 one) I'd likely combine with a beach visit too just in case :) Any tips are appreciated!
Here is a good guide to understand the launches and where to view them:
http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.htmlSpacex launches their Falcon 9 from here:
Space Launch Complex 40. I always watch spacex from the south side of the launches near port Canaveral like that guide recommends which is around 10 miles away from the launch pad. However that guide says to watch from 401 @
28.418787, -80.625062 but I find that that road is super crazy packed and you literally can't park unless you get there 3-4 hours early. I watch from ever so slightly farther away on A1A on the bridge/landbridge that goes across the river @
28.405583, -80.652307. You will still have a clear view just make sure to go to near that GPS location or slightly farther west so that your view isn't obstructed by all the lights along 401 and port Canaveral. You will need to go east across the bridge and do a U turn and come back west across the bridge then pull off onto the right side of the road like these directions show
Directions.
The best launch scenario would probably be a spacex night launch when they are bringing the first stage back to land at the the air force station instead of on the drone ship. If you can make it to one of those launches then you would get to see the launch as well as see the first stage come back home.
I have also been tempted to go to jetty Park beach here:
Beach Location but have not done that yet. I'm not sure exactly where I could publicly park or how busy it would be but it would be really cool since it is close and clear view of the landing site if they bring the first stage back to land.
I don't really have any experience with other viewing locations for the other rockets besides the spacex ones.
Where are you coming from? Just a warning... it can be frustrating to come so far and have a launch delayed or canceled. I would estimate that there is a delay till the next day or later in the week probably 25-50% of the time due to things like weather, boats entering the closed waters downrange, tiny anomalies with the rocket that makes computer auto-cancel launches, etc.