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From the air, from the sea, from a chopper: Ultimate ways to see a rocket launch on Space Coast

Pending there's no scrub, you're in for quite an experience.

Jennifer Sangalang
Florida Today
  • Video from a plane shot by Neil Monday in Feb. 2011 shows shuttle Discovery launching from KSC

Best ways to see a rocket launch from the Space Coast?

• From the beach

• A park

• Your driveway

• Space View Park in Titusville

But how about from a helicopter? Or a cruise ship?

Now that's up close and personal.

Shown is a rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center via Beachside Helicopter Tours on Merritt Island.

For the digital audience and those outside of the Space Coast, a livestream is your best bet to watch rocket launches.

But what about those looking for a unique perspective of a launch?

More:  10 great places to watch a rocket launch

More:Signs you live on the Space Coast of Florida

More:Photos: Best rocket launch photos from Space Coast

Pending there are no scrubs due to weather, technical difficulties or other reasons cited by the space agencies (United Launch Alliance, SpaceX, NASA), with a little luck and some cool cash, here are some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to see a rocket launch or landing on the Space Coast. 

While skydiving

Chuck Reed is shown skydiving -- for the first time -- with Yuri Turci, a tandem instructor at Skydive Space Center in Titusville in this December 2008 photo.

You'd think achieving the world's highest jump at 18,000 feet would be quite a feat.

Try skydiving during a rocket launch.

Skydive Space Center in Titusville offers such a service. Sort of. Those interested can book a session on launch days and hope the rocket doesn't scrub while the plane — or you — are in the air.

Tandem jumps at 18,000 feet cost $249, a 15,000-foot-jump is $199 and 11,000-foot-jump costs $159. But seeing a launch while free-falling? Priceless.

When FLORIDA TODAY took a trip to Skydive Space Center in 2010, instructor Dean O'Flaherty shared his memories of skydiving during a shuttle launch.

At the time, with more than 20,000 jumps under his belt, O'Flaherty said those launches really left a mark.

But that was before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"Some that really stand out, when we used to be able to jump during space shuttle launches," O'Flaherty then told FLORIDA TODAY in 2010.

"Those are really cool, but since Sept. 11, they made the no-fly area much larger, so now we're no longer able to fly on those days. Skydiving with the space shuttle in the background, those are pretty memorable jumps."

More: What makes the Space Coast the Space Coast? This

More:SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket roars to life during test fire at KSC

More:Launch schedule: Upcoming Florida rocket launches and landings

Though the no-fly zone still is in effect during a rocket launch, Skydive Space Center can conduct skydives during rocket launches. Thrill-seekers won't be quite as close as before, but can still see it in the distance.

According to its website, Skydive was "granted special permission from NASA that allows us to fly directly over the shuttle launch pads, the Main (Vehicle) Assembly Building and the shuttle landing runway on our way to altitude. ... This allows us to include an aerial tour of the (Kennedy) Space Center on our 18,000 foot jumps."

Call 321-267-0016 or visit skydivespacecenter.com.

Reporter tip: Skydiving during a rocket launch could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so sign up for the photo and video keepsakes.

While in a helicopter

Shown is a rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center via Beachside Helicopter Tours on Merritt Island.

At 2,000 to 4,000 feet in a helicopter, you can bet the views of the Space Coast are amazing. If you happen to catch a rocket launch while up in the air, well, that's just icing on the cake.

So said Garry Varley, co-owner of Beachside Helicopters on Merritt Island. "Whether it's a daytime or nighttime launch, the views, you cannot describe it," he added.

Flying just outside the restricted airspace about 14 miles south of the launch site, you won't hear the rocket but you will see it in orbit.

"It was pretty sweet," said 17-year-old John Kraus of Indian Harbour Beach, a space photographer for AmericaSpace. During his chopper ride with Florida Air Tours, the senior at Satellite High captured a rocket launch with his camera and GoPro.

Though he admitted there was a lot of camera shake and he was focused on getting the perfect shot with an extremely long telephoto lens, he absolutely would recommend the experience.

"Take it in," he added. "It's kind of funny coming from me. Don't take too many pictures, just enjoy it."

At Beachside Helicopters, rides vary from $29-$169 for a VIP tour. For Florida Air Tours, rides range from $19.99-$229.99.

Varley said Beachside Helicopters started rocket launch tours about four years ago. He pays attention to the launch schedule and space updates, but reminds guests there's always a chance for a scrub.

"You can't guarantee it'll happen," he said. "We can guarantee an awesome helicopter ride."

Call Beachside Helicopters at 321-406-0406 or visit beachsidehelicopters.com or call Florida Air Tours at 321-392-4125 or visit floridaairtours.com.

Reporter tip: Ride the helicopter with the doors off for the best view. It's a favorite for photographers and videographers.

While kayaking

Jeremy Edgar, owner of  owner of Fin Expeditions stirs up the water creating glowing algae. He was taking a tour group out in the Thousand Islands off of Cocoa Beach in the Banana river for a nighttime bioluminescence tour. 
Bioluminescence usually is created by a species of algae called Pyrodinium bahamense. that emit light at night via chemical reaction when disturbed. These photos were not enhanced, taken in almost total darkness on Wedensday night, a moonless night.

There's something magical about seeing fluorescent glowing bioluminescence in the Banana River and then seeing a rocket light up the evening sky.

This summertime phenomenon gives kayakers quite a light show in the water. Bioluminescence, caused by tiny organisms, "glows" with each water movement.

Several Space Coast businesses offer tours, departing from the Haulover Canal at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge or near Cocoa Beach Thousand Islands. Bioluminescence tours range from $40-$65 for adults, $30 for kids.

Genevieve Ballard, owner of Cocoa Kayaking takes a group out in the Thousand Islands off of Cocoa Beach in the Banana river for a nighttime bioluminescence tour. 
Bioluminescence usually is created by a species of algae called Pyrodinium bahamense. that emit light at night via chemical reaction when disturbed. These photos were not enhanced.

• Fin Expeditions: Call 321-698-7233 or visit finexpeditions.com.

• Calypso Kayaking: Call 321-639-7350 or visit calypsokayaking.com.

•  Adventure Kayak Tours of Cocoa Beach: Call 321-480-8632 or visit kayakcocoabeach.com.

• A Day Away Kayak Tours of Titusville: Call 321-268-2655 or visit adayawaykayaktours.com.

From Kennedy Space Center

Amid a crowd of other onlookers, U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew (right) and former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson watch the Saturn V vehicle roar skyward carrying the Apollo 11 manned spacecraft into the vast regions of space in this July 16, 1969 file photo. On a trajectory to the moon, the craft lifted off from launch pad 39 at Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969. The moon-bound crew included astronauts Neil Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Buzz Aldrin, lunar module pilot. The mission finalized with splashdown on July 24, 1969. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished. The Saturn V was developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center under the direction of Werher von Braun.

For a bit of nostalgia, consider watching a launch from Kennedy Space Center. The Rocket Garden makes a great backdrop for rocket launch photos, and so does the area just outside the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit. Admission starts at $50 for those 12 and over, $40 for kids ages 3 to 11, with discounts for seniors and military.

For those who want that extra "wow" factor — like feeling the rumble of the engines on the launch pads and hearing the roar of the rocket — KSC Visitor Complex offers VIP launch viewing:

• LC-39 Observation Gantry, $49
• Apollo/Saturn V Center, $20
• NASA Causeway, $40

More:SpaceX test fires Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time

More:Photos: SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket

More:SpaceX Falcon Heavy flight animation

For very special occasions, like the inaugural flight of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket launch — there are four options to watch the launch from KSC:

•  Feel the heat at Apollo/Saturn V Center costs $195

• From the north lawn of Shuttle Atlantis  costs $115

• At KSC Visitor Complex costs $75

• At the Astronaut Training Experience Center on Vectorspace Boulevard costs $35

Special viewing areas aren't available for every launch. Tickets typically go on sale a week or two before launch. It pays to be patient and vigilant when using KSC's site to get tickets. They are usually in hot demand.

Should there be a scrub before launch day, tickets are still valid. If the launch is scrubbed during a bus trip to the observation gantry or Apollo/Saturn V Center, there's no refund.

Call 855-433-4210 or visit kennedyspacecenter.com.

Sangalang is a digital producer at FLORIDA TODAY.

Contact Sangalang at 321-242-3630

or jsangalang@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @byjensangalang

Facebook: /jennifer.sangalang3

Instagram: @byjensangalang

YouTube: /jennifersangalang

Happy accidents

By plane: Every once in a while, someone with a camera strikes YouTube gold. Take a look at this viral video submitted by Neil Monday on Feb. 24, 2011, of shuttle Discovery launching from Kennedy Space Center.

By boat: With the frequency of rocket launches coupled with the frequency of the cruise ships at Port Canaveral coming and going, the chances of seeing a rocket launch or land on a barge (we're talking about you, SpaceX) are increasing. Embarkation and debarkation at Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney cruise lines typically occur about 9 a.m., lunchtime and 4 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Victory Casino Cruises at the Port also makes for a unique way to see a rocket launch. Below is a video of a Delta rocket launch posted Feb. 17, 2012, by the gambling boat.