Peter Greenberg: Space Launch Tour
By: Peter Greenberg | Source: AARP.org | 2008-09-22
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I would like to take my soon-to-be 95-year-old father on a trip to see the shuttle launch in Florida. He is in comparatively good health and can walk pretty well with the aid of a cane. The launch does not always take place as planned, and a "window" can be up to three days, so it’s hard to plan how long to stay. I am looking for resources, packages, etc., for a 5–7 day stay in the Space Coast area. We will fly from this area there and rent a car. (My son is an aerospace engineer who works on the project, and I know it will be a real thrill for my father to see what his grandson does for a living.) Any help from you would be appreciated, so that we can save money on hotels. Thanks.
-Ruth, Memphis, Tenn.
Space shuttle launches are often delayed due to weather conditions and mechanical problems. Therefore, it is difficult to be sure when you will actually see a space shuttle launch. We can only give you the most useful information necessary to make an educated decision about planning your vacation.
Because of the frequent delays, it would be advantageous to schedule a trip that begins close to the scheduled date of the launch. That way, if the launch is delayed, there is a better chance you can still watch the postponed launch during your vacation.
Before embarking on your trip, make sure to check the space shuttle launch schedule to confirm that the launch is still scheduled. It may be in your best interest to book hotels and flights that are refundable in case the launch is scheduled out of your vacation window. You could also choose to purchase travel insurance. Just make sure the travel insurance allows you to cancel for any reason and to cancel close to the time of departure (you may not have much time). Additionally, if you purchase a trip through a travel-tour operator, make sure to purchase travel insurance from an outside, third-party insurance company.
The Kennedy Space Center offers space-launch tours, which include round-trip transportation from designated hotels to the Kennedy Space Center, the assistance of a tour guide, a visitor-complex admission badge, and an up-close launch access ticket. If the shuttle launch is scrubbed more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure, guests can reschedule the space launch tour for the next announced space launch date or choose to be refunded. The Kennedy Space Center launch tour costs $124 for adults and $119 for children ages 3-11. If purchased online, the adult rate is $119.
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