I have never seen a launch. But the most awesome space related sight ever was the docked craft fly almost directly overhead just after sunrise. I was on I-26 between Johnson City and Asheville and pulled off the road. The sun was up, but I was still in shade.
It appeared as bright red and as compared to to the speed that a jet advances across the sky, it was like the tortoise and hare race.
That thing was moving ON!!!