'It's going to be a zoo': Brevard braces for Artemis I crowds for historic moon launch
Space Shirts has been busily cranking out colorful Artemis I commemorative T-shirts the past three or four months on north Merritt Island.
But with anywhere from 100,000 to 500,000 spectators predicted to swamp the Space Coast for Monday's historic moon launch, longtime Space Shirts owner Brenda Mulberry hopes her 17 employees can fulfill the huge spike in demand.
How many men's, women's and children's Artemis shirts is Mulberry printing this week?
"I have no idea — but thousands. I'm printing wide-open. I mean, our printer is printing. Our press is running. And we'll get as many printed as we can," she said.
'Gridlock': Artemis launch spectators, five Port Canaveral cruise ships to snarl traffic Monday
School buses rerouted for Artemis I: Brevard Public Schools to modify bus routes to avoid Artemis launch traffic tie-ups
As a permanent Artemis-themed roadside attraction, Space Shirts unveiled a 20-foot model-rocket Space Launch System — complete with orange solid-rocket booster topped with white Orion spacecraft — on Monday in front of the North Courtenay Parkway clothing-memorabilia store.
“The exploration is paramount. It's just what we have to do as a people. We're going to continue to explore, and this is what we got to do," said Mulberry, whose store printed collectible T-shirts for every space shuttle launch since 1988's STS-26 mission.
"It’s taken too many years — 1972 to now? It's been a long time," she said, referring to the last time an astronaut set foot on the moon during the Apollo 17 mission.
When does Artemis I launch?
The Artemis I two-hour launch window opens at 8:33 a.m. Monday. Brevard County Communications Director Don Walker warns that motorists may begin encountering "an unusual number of cars on the road" by about 2 a.m.
Tourism and space-related officials predict anywhere from 100,000 to 500,000 spectators will descend on Brevard to watch the historic moon-rocket launch, Walker said.
"It's fun to see how excited people get around big launches," said Tom Hermansen, a hotel owner in the Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral tourism corridor and chairman of the Brevard County Tourist Development Council.
Couple the Artemis traffic crush with Monday's typical morning rush hour across north-central Brevard. Plus, Port Canaveral officials say about 40,000 people will board and disembark five large cruise ships on Monday.
"It's going to be a zoo," Hermansen said.
Restaurants plan hours around Artemis I launch: Titusville, Cocoa Beach, Cocoa restaurants plan early hours for Monday's Artemis I launch
Restaurants ranging from Titusville to Cocoa and Cocoa Beach plan to open early Monday to generate receipts feeding hungry launch crowds.
For example, Dogs R Us in Titusville will open its parking lot at 2 a.m. for an Artemis launch party and start serving breakfast at 7 a.m. In Cocoa, Old Florida Grill & Oyster House will open its riverside tiki hut for mimosas and bloody Marys at 7:30 a.m.
Cocoa Beach Mayor Ben Malik said his town's officials are bracing for record crowds.
“We're advising all our residents to stay put — just avoid A1A. Because it's going to be gridlock,” Malik said.
“It'll be a mess. I mean, there's just no other way around it," he said.
“Our little town is going to be quite busy. It'll be certainly a windfall for all the hoteliers and the restaurants and the merchants," he said.
“But the smart locals will just avoid A1A and get their shopping done way ahead of time," he said.
Florida Department of Transportation officials are encouraging motorists to take alternate routes instead of State Road 528 after the Artemis launch window closes. Alternate routes include State Road 520, U.S. 1, State Road 50 and State Road 46, as S.R. 528 is expected to be clogged with folks leaving beachside viewing areas.
"Consistent with previous rocket launches, left turns from northbound S.R. A1A to westbound S.R. 520 will be prohibited in Cocoa Beach. Drivers should plan to continue northbound on S.R. A1A to S.R. 528," said David Parks, FDOT spokesperson.
"Motorists can look for message signs that will provide pre-launch traffic information for inbound traffic and post-launch updates for outbound traffic. Messages will be remotely updated in real-time based on conditions," Parks said.
"Traffic-signal timing will be temporarily adjusted along major state road corridors to help with traffic flow," he said.
Parks added a brief list of Artemis traffic updates:
Cones and signage will be placed along the median of S.R. 528 to enhance safety and reduce the potential of unauthorized U-turns.
Interstate 95 drivers should prepare for potential slow-downs or back-ups near exit ramps across Brevard County before and after the launch.
Additional FDOT Road Rangers will be assigned to assist emergency personnel and motorists in need.
After a Thursday morning meeting with law enforcement officials, FDOT also announced that U-turns will be prohibited on S.R. 528 and George King Boulevard at Port Canaveral, Parks said.
In a Thursday press release, Health First officials reminded patients, customers and visitors who plan to drive to Cape Canaveral Hospital or its neighboring Medical Office Building to expect traffic congestion Monday.
"If you have a physician’s office appointment or an early morning procedure scheduled, please plan your commute accordingly," the press release said.
Space-loving spectators here for Artemis: 'A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity': Space fans travel to Brevard for Artemis I launch
Demand for Artemis I launch viewing packages temporarily crashed the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex website when they went on sale earlier this month. Packages included $250 tickets to watch from the complex's Apollo/Saturn V Center, about 3 miles from pad 39B.
"All of our launch viewing is sold out. We are expecting capacity crowds. That would be thousands of people," said Rebecca Burgman, KSC Visitor Complex spokesperson.
"We're opening very early. Our parking plaza will open at 3:30 a.m., and then the Visitor Complex itself opens at 4 a.m.," Burgman said.
"This is a very powerful rocket. So you'll be able to see and hear it and feel it from very far away. We expect it'll be a really great show," she said.
"And it's really amazing for everyone in our area to see the interest in this rocket and in the program. And hopefully, it'll be reminiscent of the moon landing in the next few years with the Artemis missions — to kind of bring the world together and do something that everyone can be excited about."
Food Editor Suzy Fleming Leonard and Business Editor Dave Berman contributed to this story. Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Artemis I launch in Florida: How big will crowd be for NASA mission?
