Your shuttle mission: Seeing a live takeoff

Watching a space shuttle launch in Cape Canaveral is an awesome experience. A mushroom of fire roars out from the launchpad as ignition begins and the rocket rises majestically, slowly at first, then faster and faster. Powerful sound waves released from the rocket pound against your chest, then fade as the vehicle gains speed and ascends higher and higher. Spectators can follow the path of the shuttle as a point of light for some time and see the booster rockets drop off when their fuel is expended (bring binoculars).

You can even see the shuttle rising into the sky after its launch from points much farther away. I once watched a rocket shot from an eastward-facing hotel room in Orlando, about 50 miles away, but it's not the same as seeing it blast off from the pad.

With NASA's fleet of shuttles scheduled to be retired next year, Cape Canaveral is bracing for throngs of spectators - perhaps as many as 1 million - on Feb. 27, when the Endeavor is scheduled to blast off for the final time. Funding for one more launch - the Atlantis shuttle in June - has been authorized by NASA, but is awaiting approval as part of the overall budget bill Congress is considering.

If you'd like to be among the crowd to see it happen, you'd better get a move on.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Endeavor launch is scheduled for Feb. 27, but this could change as flight time approaches. Its main mission is to take the $2-billion Alpha Magnetic spectrometer, a cosmic ray detector, to the International Space Station.

Hotel rooms tend to be booked up early for NASA shuttle launches (some lodgings offer launch packages), so you'll want to nab a reservation, preferably one with a generous cancellation or rescheduling policy, since missions can be postponed by hours, days or even months.

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The best strategy is to build some flexibility into your trip - many launch spectators come to Cape Canaveral a day or two before the launch or stay in the area afterward.

On launch day, expect good viewing spots to be crowded or even inaccessible - ditto for parking. Restaurants will be crowded, and traffic after the launch may cause extensive delays.

WHERE TO WATCH

The best seats

The prime viewing spot is at the Kennedy Space Center's Visitor's Complex at Cape Canaveral. Tickets cost $41 ($31 ages 3-11), which includes access to regular exhibits and special launch activities, such as astronaut appearances. Tickets are nonrefundable and are issued on a reserved, mission-specific basis, which means they're still valid if a launch is delayed. Space for the most recent planned shuttle shot, the Discovery, was sold out weeks ahead of time, and you can't even visit the Space Center on launch day unless you have a launch ticket.

The Space Center also offers reserved tickets to view the launch from other desirable locations - including the NASA Causeway (a standing-room-only site 6 miles from the launchpad) and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame (12 miles from the launchpad).

Here's the good news - the center hasn't announced when it will start taking reservations for the Feb. 27 launch. A spokesperson recommends visiting kennedyspacecenter.com to sign up for e-mail alerts when registration opens. You can keep tabs on the status of shuttle launches at nasa.gov or by calling 877-313-2610.

That said, take heart. There are many other places from which to watch the shuttle launch.

OTHER VIEWING SPOTS

TITUSVILLE One of the best is Space View Park on the Indian River. The park broadcasts a live audio feed direct from NASA's control room on launch day. It also has a walk tracing the history of space, plus other space-related features.

Usually, the park advises people to arrive there three to five hours early because of the size of the crowd, but with shuttle launches coming to an end, the crowds are bound to be even bigger. Other viewing spots in Titusville include Marina Park, Parrish Park, Sand Point Park, Manzo Park, Kennedy Point Park and Rotary Riverfront (titusville.com).

COCOA BEACH There's the Cocoa Beach Pier, Jetty Park at Port Canaveral, Alan Shepard Park, Fischer Park and Lori Wilson Park.

ROADSIDE VIEW Motorists also can park at roadside where viewing is possible along U.S. 1 or Route 528, but no stopping is allowed on I-95, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Department.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE

You can enjoy several recently installed attractions at the Space Center complex.

A new IMAX film, "Hubble 3D," narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, tells the story of the Hubble Space Telescope. A new exhibit using six projection screens, "Exploration Space: Explorers Wanted," speculates on the future of space exploration. And a new interactive stage show, "Star Trek Live," combines science with entertainment using special effects, audience interaction and real space-age technology.

The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, meanwhile, has the new "Science on a Sphere" exhibit, which uses animated images to take visitors through the solar system.

All are included with regular admission to the center ($41; $31 ages 3-11; valid for two days within a week).

Besides the new features, the Space Center complex has enough attractions to keep one occupied most of two days - among them the Shuttle Launch Experience, the Space Center bus tour, Astronaut Encounter and all exhibits (including space capsules and the large outdoor Rocket Garden displaying real rockets). The Astronaut Hall of Fame displays historic spacecraft, offers simulator rides and showcases a collection of astronauts' personal memorabilia.

WHERE TO STAY

Most hotels in the Cape Canaveral area expect to sell out for the Feb. 27 shuttle launch, so very few are offering packages for that period. Indeed, many oceanfront hotels from which one can watch the launch are already fully booked. Check hotel cancellation policy in the event of launch postponement.

Here is a sampling of hotels with availability as of press time. All packages and prices are quoted based on double occupancy - and may change without notice. Visit spacecoast launches.com for other lodging options and shuttle launch viewing tips.

SEASHELL SUITES

8795 S. Hwy. A1A, Melbourne Beach, 321-409-0500, seashellsuites.com

RATE $795

Package for two includes two nights' lodging, Continental breakfast, a prelaunch cocktail party, split of Champagne, plus lunch and dinner for two at a restaurant.

FAIRFIELD INN AND SUITES BY MARRIOTT TITUSVILLE

4735 Helen Hauser Blvd., Titusville, 888-468-4934, marriott.com

RATE $1,257.45 (includes tax)

Its "NASA for two" package includes five nights' lodging with daily breakfast, admission to the Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Center. Certain cancellation and NASA access restrictions apply.

PORT D'HIVER BED AND BREAKFAST INN

201 Ocean Ave., Melbourne Beach, 866-621-7678, portdhiver.com

RATES From $200 a night

Not offering a package, but guests can see the shuttle from the inn's beach.

WINDEMERE INN BY THE SEA

815 S. Miramar Ave., Indialantic, 800-224-6953, windemereinn.com

RATES $155-$275 a night (two-night minimum)

Guests at this luxury bed-and-breakfast can see the shuttle from the beach. Limited number of rooms.

RON JON RESORT CAPE CARIBE

1000 Shorewood Dr., Cape Canaveral, 888-933-3030, ronjonresort.com

RATES From $174

The resort isn't offering a package, but guests can see the shuttle from the beach. Rooms in the main building can sleep up to eight people. Two-bedroom units on the beach rent for $1,500-$2,000 a week.

SPACE: THE NEXT FRONTIER

NASA

Following the last of the Shuttle missions, NASA will rely on Russian space vehicles to take astronauts and supplies to the space station. In the United States, however, SpaceX, a private company, has a multibillion-dollar contract from NASA to develop a vehicle capable of taking crew and cargo to the space station. First test flight of the Falcon 9 rocket booster with its Dragon spacecraft attached is scheduled for Nov. 19.

PRIVATE SPACE LAUNCHES

VIRGIN GALACTIC British tycoon Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic says it will begin taking tourists into suborbital space from a spaceport in the New Mexico desert. Its six-passenger vessel, SpaceShipTwo, made a pair of test "glide flights" last month. Seats for 21/2-hour flights will cost $200,000 and could begin next year.

BOEING CO. It's lined up Virginia-based Space Adventures to sell seats on the seven-person spaceship it wants to build to fly to the International Space Station starting in 2015. Space Adventures currently sells seats on trips to the space station aboard the Russian-built Soyuz spaceship. - Jay Clarke with the Associated Press