OT-Discovery

Way back in October 1991 DH and I were on holiday in Orlando and then the USVirgin Islands. While in Orlando, we managed to make out way out to Kennedy the morning of a shuttle launch. We got VERY lucky and had someone give us a pass to get on to the base -- which we did. We were about a mile from the launch pad, sitting along one of the waterways that criss cross the facility. About 20 meters away was one of the huge P.A. system vehicles so we not only got to see the launch, we got to hear all of the announcements. Best of all was the FEEL! You have NO IDEA what it feels like to witness a shuttle launch from just a mile away. First we saw the huge plume of smoke from the rocket ignition, then the ground shook like there was an earthquake and then the sound hit us. OY what a sound! Everything happened almost at once and it was total sensory overload of the best kind. I will never, ever in my life forget seeing & **feeling** that shuttle launch. Of course, one of my dreams has been to go into space

-- even if just for a bit and even if I DO get motion sickness. What I wouldn't give to live long enough to be able to go to a hotel on the moon :-))))! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

We watch the lift-off on TV, and then go out on to the deck, and follow it until it is too small to see. Unfortunately this time the sand cloud from the Sahara obscured our vision of it. Jim caught a couple of glimpses, but his eyes are sharper than mine. It was neat when I lived at Patrick AFB during the Apollo program in the late 60s early 70s; now that was really exciting.

Gillian

I had to be completely satisfied with TV this time too. I was able to see the last successful one when it got high enough in the sky, but it was just a very fast moving streak. Today I couldn't see anything at all, probably because of the sand.

It still amazes me.

Lucille

A friend of mine lives just outside of Orlando and frequently goes to Titusville to watch the launches. She also said that she can feel/hear the sonic boom most times if she doesn't go to watch. I'm quite jealous... =)

Lucille said

My daughter was just over a year old when the astronauts landed on the moon. I saved the newspapers and gave them to her recently. She's not a packrat like I am but I'm hoping she'll keep 'em.

The last sonic boom we had around here from a shuttle landing at Edwards AFB was when Columbia came home for her refit. (whimper)

I normally get up about 9AM, but deliberately rose early to watch Discovery's return to space.

Discovery also made the return to space after Challenger. Darla Sacred cows make great hamburgers. Picture Trail Gallery: