Worth seeing a astronaut launch this year?

[Cloakedwand72]

Is it worth to try to catch a commercial crew astronaut test launch this year from either SpaceX or Boeing? 

[mikegarrison]

How are we supposed to know what this is worth to you?

[Xd the great]

1 hour ago, Cloakedwand72 said:

Is it worth to try to catch a commercial crew astronaut test launch this year from either SpaceX or Boeing? 

It is worth trying to go to space on a commercial crew launch.

All launches are worth watching, actually.

[magnemoe]

If its just for the launch it don't matter much who launch it it, yes an falcon 9 return to launch site get you an landing too. 
An manned launch safety is tightened so scrubs are more likely than other launches as is it has to reach ISS that will give an days delay. 

[tater]

Dunno if crew is any different than just a launch to be honest. A buddy asked me to go to some really fancy car show with him in FL in Feb... I'm actually thinking about it on the off chance there's a launch (told him I might bail on him and drive to the Cape for a few hours). Trouble is I have no idea what cadence will actually look like.

[Geonovast]

Watching the first crew launch would be nice for the historic aspect of it.

However, if I were to ever only see one Falcon 9 launch in my life, which seems likely if I ever get the chance at all, I would make sure it's an RTLS landing.  Crew launch will not be RTLS.  Obviously Boeing never will be, unless there are some drastic changes on their end.

So if you want to be part of that piece of History, then get down there.  Otherwise, if it's a SpaceX launch and you care about seeing the landing, wait for something else.

[wumpus]

On 1/2/2020 at 2:24 PM, Geonovast said:

Watching the first crew launch would be nice for the historic aspect of it.

However, if I were to ever only see one Falcon 9 launch in my life, which seems likely if I ever get the chance at all, I would make sure it's an RTLS landing.  Crew launch will not be RTLS.  Obviously Boeing never will be, unless there are some drastic changes on their end.

So if you want to be part of that piece of History, then get down there.  Otherwise, if it's a SpaceX launch and you care about seeing the landing, wait for something else.

Non-crewed launches are also far more likely to launch on time.  Especially for an initial launch.  You'd probably have to reserve a few months of your life around Florida's Space Coast to expect to see an initial crewed launch.

[magnemoe]

2 hours ago, wumpus said:

Non-crewed launches are also far more likely to launch on time.  Especially for an initial launch.  You'd probably have to reserve a few months of your life around Florida's Space Coast to expect to see an initial crewed launch.

On an positive side, its worse places to spend some months than Florida especially during winter. 
Was at KSP two years ago to round up an vacation at the keys, amazing, the lady I was traveling with went to the beach as she had been at the visitor center before and was not so interested. 
Then we drove north into an snowstorm. Next time I land at an south state airport
 

[Just Jim]

Let me chime in a minute. Is seeing a launch up close worth it???  OMG, yes!

But like a couple people already mentioned, it's not always easy. I live just north of Tampa, FL, almost exactly on the other side of Florida from NASA, and I can tell you first hand the biggest pain in the butt to contend with is the weather. In fact it happened for the latest starlink launch, which is now pushed back to Monday night:

https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2020/01/02/spacex-starlink-launch-date-cape-canaveral

Honestly, the only launch I saw up close was one of the very last shuttle launches, which was amazing... and a complete accident. I just happened to be at my brothers house in Daytona (just up the coast a bit from the Cape), and we caught on the local news when everything switched over live about 10 minutes before...  and everyone ran outside, and I got super lucky enough to see it.

Anyway, that's the big problem.. Florida weather is insane. So I would plan on spending a few days at least. A week would be better. There's a ton of other stuff to see... Florida is a giant tourist trap... lol. And hopefully the weather will cooperate and you'll get to see the launch. 

Edited January 4, 2020 by Just Jim

[tater]

Well, I'll be in southern FL on the 6th or 7th til the 9th of Feb I guess, unless a launch pops up that makes me compelled to stay late. I'd have to leave here a day earlier to see the ULA launch. So I'll be playing Starlink roulette

 

Edited January 4, 2020 by tater

[tater]

Yeah, I'm booked into West Palm Beach the 6th, out the 9th, but if there's a SpaceX launch, I'll head north and change my reservations.

Get to hang out with rich people and their gazillion dollar cars, too (my buddy has his Duesenberg in the show). Should be amusing.