Have you ever seen a rocket launch in person?

[LongTomH]

I'm as excited as everyone (Well most everyone else) here about the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch. I have to confess that I've only seen one large rocket launch, and that was at a distance; it was a Delta IV launch from Vandenberg AFB.

I was in Hermosa Beach, Ca for a conference of the Space Frontier Foundation (Yeah, I'm a Space Cadet). I have to kick myself that I didn't get to watch a Shuttle launch when I could afford to travel.

How about you? Have any of our old-timers here seen an Apollo launch?

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

1. I saw the space shuttle launch once

What surprised me was how fast it went up. You didn't really get that sensation watching it on television.

I also saw it land early one morning at Edwards AFB. From the time we heard the double sonic boom until touchdown was a little more than a minute. It was impressive both times.

Hard to believe our country has no manned space program now.

As an aside to our launch experience, Titusville television has a channel that broadcasts all the NASA communication. That's how we learned in real time that the crew of the shuttle had forgotten to turn on the satellite before they released it from the payload compartment. Oops!

[forgotmylogin]

5. Me too!

My dad is a space head and while we were on vacation in Florida, we went to see a shuttle launch.

I personally at the time wasn't into it at age 11 - he had to park the camper before the sun came up and I slept in. As I remember, we basically were in a field a couple miles away with a bunch of other people in cars and temporary canopies.

The waiting was boring, but it was a major thrill when it finally went up and feeling that rumbling sound hit you in the chest.

[cloudbase]

2. Apollo 14 n/t

[SCantiGOP]

11. I saw that one too

We were on the way to Daytona for vacation and my Dad, who was a huge science fan, timed it so we could stop at a viewing area in Titusville to see the launch.
I think I was about 15 at the time, because I remember how funny I thought it was that the town was named Titusville (they said titties, heh heh, even though I knew it was pronounced like 'tite').

[wasupaloopa]

3. Yes. I lived in Vandenberg Village where Vandenberg AFB was across the fence from our community. I

could walk to the corner of our street and watch a launch from the ground up. I must have seen 50 or so launches from Vandenberg over the past 20 years.

[Farmer-Rick]

4. I've been quiet about this launch, so people could somehow enjoy it

But really, so a hugely rich guy paid his way into space and threw up his favorite car for amusement.

And how am I suppose to be proud of that? My country did not do that. So a rich guy bought brains and skill. I'm suppose to be happy about it? Rich guys buy up our engineers and scientists all the time.

I don't get it. Watching another frontier turn into a commercial enterprise does not bode well for the frontier.

But glad to see people think it's Not a dangerous turn of events. I think it only shows how the stupid rich are taking over every sector of our life.

[byronius]

6. I must disagree.

Elon Musk has clearly stated that his space efforts are specifically intended to stave off efforts by the wealthy to dominate space travel. He has also stated that he intends to use his company to launch a worldwide network of satellites that will provide free high-speed internet to the world to guarantee net neutrality.

You've got the wrong guy here. He's barely rich, always on the edge of bankruptcy because he's so far ahead of the curve he is the curve, and he's always thinking about humans first. That's why Tesla exists, because GM killed the electric car and Tesla is Elon's revenge.

Elon Musk is AWESOME. Do not disparage him. Read about him.

[murielm99]

8. +100000

[LongTomH]

9. Another +1000 Thanks!!

[CaptainTruth]

7. I live on the island with Kennedy Space Center ...

... when they launch while I'm home I watch from the back yard.

I never saw Apollo or Shuttle launches, I moved here after the shuttle program shut down, but now I watch every launch I can. Night launches are great, & when SpaceX brings an F9 back to KSC the sonic boom is awesome. The launches rattle things in the house, but the re-entry booms rattle everything.

I love it. 😎

[eppur_se_muova]

10. Apollo 16. My dad worked for a NASA contractor.

That got us a permit to view the launch from closer up than the general public -- a mile and a quarter away. Pretty unforgettable, even after all this time. The most memorable thing was hearing the sound through my chest as much as my ears.

The second best thing is to view the iMax films of shuttle launches. No person is allowed to get as close as those cameras got !

Oh, and I've seen one smaller (satellite) launch from Wallops Island.