Rick Neale | Florida Today

US Navy, Florida Today

U.S. Navy photo illustration by Stan Bailey

11 a.m. Sept. 26 update:

As of Wednesday morning, tickets are not available for the USS Indiana submarine commissioning ceremony.

According to the USS Indiana website:

"NOTICE! At this time all available tickets have been allotted. If you have not received your tickets in the mail, you can pick them up at Will Call.

Note: Please keep in mind there is also the 5K Fun Run and Interfaith Prayer/Memorial Service that are open to the public. In addition the Commissioning Ceremony will be Live Streamed. We will have a link available a few days before to watch the event and encourage viewing parties so you can still be part of the USS Indiana Commissioning."

FLORIDA TODAY will have coverage of the event online and in print. Here's info about the 5K and Sunday service:

• On Friday, Sept. 28, a USS Indiana Commissioning 5K is scheduled for 7 a.m. at Port Canaveral. The untimed fun run starts in front of Port Canaveral's Exploration Tower, and the course winds to the Canaveral Lock and back.

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• On Sunday, Sept. 30, an interfaith prayer/memorial service will take place at 8 a.m. at Jetty Park.

Check back for updates.

Original story posted Sept. 25:

Space Coast residents can apply online for free tickets for the Sept. 29 commissioning ceremony of the USS Indiana nuclear-powered submarine at Port Canaveral.

The commissioning ceremony will mark the Indiana's entry into active service in the Navy's fleet.

"It's the newest fast-attack submarine in the United States Navy. Up till now, the submarine is technically owned by the shipbuilder, in this case up in Newport News," Lt. Cmdr. K.J. Lettow said.

"So at the commissioning ceremony, what is actually happening is that submarine is now becoming U.S. Navy-U.S. government property. This is how it officially becomes an actual commissioned ship of war," Lettow said.

"It's kind of like going to a car dealer and buying a car, when they give you the keys and the title," he said.

Admission is free to the 10 a.m. event, but tickets are required. Ticketed attendees can tour the submarine afterward, and a reception will feature Indiana cuisine: ribs, duck wings and duck legs.

View | 8 Photos

Inside the USS Indiana nuclear submarine

Built in Newport News, Virginia, the Indiana weighs 7,800 tons, measures 377 feet long, and carries a crew of about 150 sailors. The stealth submarine will carry Tomahawk cruise missiles — and its nuclear reactor plant will not require refueling during the submarine's planned operating life.

A black model of the USS Indiana is mounted atop a wheeled trailer outside Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral.

SUB DISPLAY: A model of the USS Indiana, the Navy’s newest fast-attack submarine, is on display in front of Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral. The 377-foot-long Indiana, which has a crew of 150, will be commissioned on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Navy port. pic.twitter.com/pwK9Um8gdy — Port Canaveral (@PortCanaveral) September 24, 2018

On Friday, Sept. 28, a USS Indiana Commissioning 5K is scheduled for 7 a.m. at Port Canaveral. The untimed fun run starts in front of Port Canaveral's Exploration Tower, and the course winds to the Canaveral Lock and back.

On Sunday, Sept. 30, an interfaith prayer/memorial service will take place at 8 a.m. at Jetty Park.

Neale is South Brevard watchdog reporter at FLORIDA TODAY.

Contact Neale at 321-242-3638

or rneale@floridatoday.com.

Support local journalism: Subscribe at floridatoday.com/subscribe.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY CAPE CANAVERAL

View | 5 Photos

USS Indiana to be commissioned at Cape Canaveral in 2018