Shuttle Launches From Florida's Space Coast

Shuttle Launches From Florida's Space Coast


Title: Shuttle Launches From Florida's Space Coast

Author: Kirby Collins

Article:
Since the early days of the Mercury program, visitors to the
Space Coast have enjoyed NASA launches from Kennedy Space Center
and Space Shuttle launches are to continue into 2010 when NASA
is planning to retire the space shuttle fleet. When a Space
Shuttle launches, people come from all over the country to see
it, they are that spectacular. Launches are such a large part of
the Space Coast, we made 321 our area code.

All of the launches from Cape Canaveral are spectacular,
especially night launches which light up the Space Coast to the
awe of residents and visitors alike. There are many excellent
places along the beaches and in local parks from which to view
the launches. Launch dates change frequently so be sure to make
your plans accordingly.

The space shuttle is not the only launch vehicle that lifts-off
from Cape Canaveral. EELVs or Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle
such as the Delta 2, Atlas 5 and Delta 4 Heavy carries payloads
such as GPS satellites and NASA payloads such as the GLAST, the
Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope observatory into orbit well
past the space shuttle retirement.
The Space Program has long been a source of technology advances
and that continues today. The new Constellation Program will
begin in 2015 with flights from Cape Canaveral. The goal of the
mission is to set up an outpost on the Moon that will allow a
test bed for its ultimate mission to Mars. NASA has been
exploring Mars with robotic vehicles and prepare for their
ultimate mission, Manned Spaceflight to Mars.

Tourist can also visit the beautiful beaches of Cocoa Beach on
the Space Coast. Cocoa Beach is known as the small wave capitol
of the East Coast, its wide beaches stretch for more than 10
miles. The area has many shops, restaurants, and hotels as well
as a pier jutting 800 feet into the Atlantic, its a popular
place to view a launch.

Many Orlando vacationers are already here during launches, by
keeping up with the latest news, they'll know when to visit the
nearby Space Coast to view a launch. Should a launch happen to
get 'scrubbed' there are still many unique experiences to be had
along the Space Coast.

The Cocoa Beach Pier is a great place for family fun all day
long, after a day playing volleyball or surfing or just hanging
out people watching and tanning you can go up the pier and do a
little shopping on your way to one of the several fine
restaurants there. After dinner go out to the end of the pier
and enjoy the view from the Tiki Bar or take the kids to the ice
cream parlor & arcade there.

Cape Canaveral is also very close and offers a wide variety of
waterfront dining featuring fresh caught seafood mixed with the
imagination of local chefs, or just sit back and watch the waves
roll in or the ships go out while sipping drinks and taking in
great live entertainment.

About the author:
PlacesAroundFlorida.com is a href="http://www.placesaroundflorida.com/">Florida Vacations
website featuring href="http://www.placesaroundflorida.com/Cape_Canaveral_Florida/C
ape_Canaveral_Launch_Schedule/">Cape Canaveral Launch
Schedule updates.