CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – With just hours until the launch of a new SpaceX dragon capsule, named Freedom, with NASA astronauts on board, visitors were settling into their viewing locations.
Mike Schmid and Mandi Degroot said witnessing a launch with astronauts on board was on their bucket list.
“We specifically came here for this,” Schmid said. “We are hoping it won’t be as busy being like so early. Plus I’ve heard nighttime launches are really cool. Everyone that’s told me, said ‘Yeah, nighttime launches are great.’”
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The pair parked their RV near the Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville to watch the launch.
Visitors said they also like to support local businesses while visiting the Space Coast.
“We were down in Cocoa Beach for a while checking out the other places — like the little town stuff. The thing that’s cool about Titusville is it has that little town feel to it kind of, so exploring stuff by the restaurants and parks and stuff like that has been really cool,” Schmid said.
Successfully launching early Wednesday morning, the four astronauts began an approximately 16-hour journey to the International Space Station, where NASA and SpaceX said they are scheduled to stay for six months. During their stay, the group will conduct hundreds of experiments.
Orlando resident Lauren Koontz, who saw the launch from Space View Park, said it was mind-blowing.
“You could feel it, which I didn’t expect. It was so cool, it’s something that everybody should come down and see,” Koontz said. “We’ll be back, for sure, because it was something to see. It was awesome.”
Amy Kim, visiting from Australia, said she changed her flight out of Florida to stay a little longer and catch the launch.
“It was incredible, it was like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” Kim said, “I just can’t believe there were actually people in that and they’re literally up there right now. It’s wild.”
Though the Space Coast was shrouded in darkness at launch time, both Koontz and Kim said they were impressed with how the rocket’s red glare changed the landscape.
“It literally lit up the whole sky and you could see the field around it when it went up into space. It was so incredible. I can’t believe we were so close to it,” Kim said. “I’m so glad I stayed.”