IMPORTANT NOTES
All NEWLY updated information is in GREEN TEXT below.
Information still to be determined is in RED TEXT below.
Dates and times that are subject to change at NASA’s discretion are in PURPLE TEXT below.
Last update of this page: April 5, 2016 at 7:55 am EDT
Launch planning is based on the currently scheduled liftoff of
SpaceX CRS-8: Friday, April 8, 2016 at 4:43 pm EDT
(see NASA Consolidated Launch Schedule)
SSEP Student Researchers that conducted a briefing for the launch of Mission 6 Yankee Clipper on the ill-fated Orb-3 vehicle, October 27, 2014, Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia. CLICK FOR ZOOM
This page provides logistical information for the SSEP delegations traveling down to the launch of the Mission 7 to ISS Odyssey experiments payload aboard SpaceX CRS-8, currently scheduled for liftoff at 4:43 p.m. EDT, April 8, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
Dress code: all delegates are advised that dress code is business casual, e.g., slacks, shirt with collar (no T-shirts or sneakers).
GENERAL CONTACT: for general questions about activities at the launch site, please contact SSEP Assistant Flight Operations Manager John Hamel at johnhamel@ncesse.org or call 434-882-5177
ONSITE CONTACT IN FLORIDA: SSEP Flight Operations Manager, Stacy Hamel and SSEP Assistant Flight Operations Manager, John Hamel will be leading the SSEP delegations at the launch of SpaceX CRS-8. If you have any questions or need additional guidance once down in Florida, please contact John’s cell: 434-882-5177 or via email: johnhamel@ncesse.org
DOWNLOAD MAP of Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex
A. Basic Travel Information
1. Airline and Airport
Where should folks fly in? NASA recommends to their guests that they fly into Orlando given it is serviced by multiple carriers. You can certainly try flying in to Melbourne, which is closer, but flights are far more limited.
However, we strongly advise you to use Southwest, which only flies into Orlando. Here is why—
Everyone traveling to Florida needs to be aware that you’re planning a trip—with significant expense—to see a historic event that may not happen on the date it is scheduled. You may book travel and then find a day later that the launch is postponed. Or … everything is going just fine, you get to Florida and then you find the launch is delayed (“scrubbed”) to a date after your scheduled departure, and you’d like to stay a few more days in the hope of seeing the launch. The main problem is airfare. For most carriers, if you book at their cheap, non-refundable rate, and you need to make a change, you’ll pay a significant change fee per ticket (typically $150) AND you’ll need to pay the difference between the fare you already paid and the new fare. The new fare could be $1,000 or more higher than your original purchase price given most carriers dramatically increase the cost of a ticket as you get closer to the travel date. With the change fee, you might be looking at a $1,200 per ticket added cost—on top of the original price you paid! But that is not the case with Southwest—
If you book on line, Southwest offers Wanna Get Away non-refundable fares which are very reasonable. If you need to change your flight, there is no change fee, and you can try to get another cheap Wanna Get Away far if they are still available. If not, you can get their refundable Anytime fare, which is still reasonable and likely the highest price fare you’d need to get. The Anytime fare for the same flight does not change as you get closer to the travel date. For a flight change you pay the price difference between the fares. That means you know right now what the likely worst potential added cost of a change would be. Also, the Anytime fare is refundable. So if you end up making a flight change from a Wanna Get Away to an Anytime ticket, but then end up not going to Florida (say the launch is delayed yet again to a date you cannot attend), you can get reimbursed for the difference between the Wanna Get Away fare and the Anytime fare.
You cannot beat Soutwest’s fare structure if you need to build into your thinking that the launch can slip—and you DO need to build that into your thinking.
2. General Information – KSC Visitor Complex
The KSCVC provides access to a number of attractions, including: the Shuttle Launch Experience (a launch simulation), IMAX films, the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame (including interactive spaceflight simulators), the Apollo/Saturn V Center, the Kennedy Space Center Tour, and the newly arrived, retired Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Take the KSCVC Virtual Tour
Here is general visitor information for the KSCVC:
General admission is $50 adult/$40 child (ages 3-11) plus tax
You can add behind-the-scenes tours, KSC Up-Close Launch Control Center Tour, KSC Up-Close Cape Canaveral: Then & Now Tour and KSC Up-Close Explore Tour. The added cost of a behind-the-scenes tour is $25 adult/$19 child (ages 3-11) plus tax.
Important notes:
a. You must pay KSCVC general admission even if you only want to take a behind-the-scenes tour.
b. General admission tickets include a second day free for use at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, if used within seven days.
c. Behind-the-scenes tours can book up well in advance of your trip, particularly when close to a launch day, so reserve a tour in advance of your trip!
d. To book reservations for general admission and a behind-the-scenes tour call 888-737-5235.
3. Hotels
We have identified a number of hotels in the area. When booking a hotel, make sure to find out what happens to your commitment of payment if the launch date slips before you arrive in Florida.
Jump to the Hotels page.
B. The SSEP Launch Plan for SpaceX CRS-7
1. Key Thinking for Planning
Fly in as late as possible before the launch so that if the launch is delayed by just one or two days, there is still an opportunity to see the launch if folks can schedule to be in Florida for a few days. However, we strongly advise you NOT to fly in the day of the launch, which will likely cause you to miss it due to flight delays or traffic. In addition, for a morning launch, there is no ability for you to fly in on the same day and get to NASA Kennedy on time. The recommendation is therefore to fly in the day before launch, and extend your stay until at least the day after launch.
2. Gathering Location
On launch day, all SSEP students, teachers, administrators, and family members will meet at 11:45 am at the ATX Training Center. This is located at 6225 Vectorspace Boulevard, Titusville, FL 32780. NCESSE will provide launch viewing badges for SSEP delegations. From there we will board buses that will take us to KSC Visitor Center for the tour.
3. Schedule
[Thursday, April 7] Launch minus 1 Day
SSEP community attendees fly in
Note: if you live in parts of the nation where air travel to Florida takes significant time, you should not take a chance on flying in on the day of the scheduled launch for fear of missing the launch due to flight delays, waiting at the car rental location at the airport, or travel time from the airport in possibly significant traffic.
[Friday, April 8] Launch Day at Banana Creek
BY 11:30 am SSEP delegations meet at ATX Training Center, PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME
11:45 am-12:00 pm board buses for Windshield Tour of KSC
12:00 pm depart ATX Training Center
12:00-2:00 pm KSC Tour
2:00-2:30 pm travel to Banana Creek viewing site
2:30-4:30 pm SSEP delegations are free to explore Banana Creek Center. There is a cafeteria, so delegates will be able to have a late lunch/early dinner
4:43 pm Launch of SpaceX CRS-8 Resupply Mission to the International Space Station
5:00 pm board buses in parking lot behind the bleachers and depart Banana Creek
5:30 pm buses arrive at ATX Training Center; all guests depart
[Saturday, April 9] Launch + 1 Day
approximately 4:30 pm Backup Launch Time in case of a 24-hour Scrub on April 8. NCESSE will contact SSEP delegation leaders with launch viewing plans, if necessary.