Over the course of NASA’s 30-year Space Shuttle program, many millions of people from around the world witnessed a Shuttle launch live in Florida. Families and friends camped in public parks, people flocked to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Astronaut Hall of Fame, tourists joined established tours to the NASA Causeway, and native Floridians simply stepped outside or took their boats/other watercraft out on launch day. People even managed to view Shuttle launches from Florida’s marvelous beaches, Disney World in Orlando, cruise ships in Port Canaveral, or even the occasional commercial airline flight! Of course, members of the world’s press corps, dignitaries, and other special guests experienced Shuttle launches from much closer, the closest being Kennedy Space Center’s launch complex 39 press site located just 3.1 miles from the Shuttle launch pad(s). [Read more…]