Atlantis shuttle launch scheduled for May 11

Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled for liftoff this Monday, May 11 at 2:01 p.m. NASA will end the shuttle program in 2010, and today's launch will be last shuttle mission (STS-125) to service the Hubble Space Telescope.

If you are planning on watching the shuttle launch from the Space Coast, keep in mind that launches can be scrubbed hours, even minutes, before a scheduled launch, so check http://www.nasa.gov/ or a local news outlet such as http://www.wesh.com/ to verify that Atlantis is still go for launch.

The most popular viewing spots are the public parks along US 1 in Titusville (Space View Park is where the local Orlando TV stations camp out to interview tourists who have come to see the launch), the Bennett Causeway, and Cocoa Beach. The view of the shuttle actually lifting off from the earth is obscured by the condos and hotels along Cocoa Beach, although the view is still spectacular once the shuttle clears the rooftops. The NASA Causeway is the closest viewing area for non-offcial personnel, but tickets must be purchased ahead of time. Kennedy Space Center is only open to guests with pre-purchased tickets on launch day.

Travelers and residents driving in from Orlando should be prepared to make a day out of any shuttle watching experience. While the drive out to the Space Coast normally takes about one hour, the return trip usually takes four hours, so make sure that the car has a full tank of gas.