On July 8, all eyes will be on Florida’s Space Coast as the final mission of the space shuttle program lifts off from Kennedy Space Center and into the history books. Space shuttle Atlantis and the crew for the STST-135 mission are scheduled to launch around 11:30 a.m., but it is best to check the NASA website or local media reports to make sure that the launch hasn’t been scrubbed.
With thousands of onlookers expected to arrive for the historic launch, be prepared with snacks, drinks and a full tank of gas if you are planning on driving out to the Space Coast. Since the drive back to Orlando will take several hours, consider spending some time at the local beaches before heading back on the Beachline (SR 528) or SR 50, the two main routes from the Orlando area to the Space Coast.
While the best view of a shuttle launch can be found at Kennedy Space Center, the city of Titusville has a number of public parks along US 1. Most of the parks have playgrounds, restroom facilities and picnic tables, as well as an unobstructed view of the launch pad. No matter where you decide to watch the shuttle launch, be sure to look east when Atlantis and the entire shuttle program makes its last mission into space.
