The Final Night Launch

Added on March 4th, 2010 by ivatrevascus0 | Report Post
Tags:NASA, Wallpaper

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14 years ago

I was there. I went the first night when it got scrubbed, then took the next day off work so I could stay in town and watch it go up Monday morning just after 4am. I had a crystal-clear view straight across the river in Titusville. I was right on the bank so I had no one in front of me to obstruct the view.

That was the first shuttle launch I had seen in person despite having lived in Florida for over 6 years and being very interested. I figured if it was the last one I should get my ass up there and watch it. It was absolutely beyond words. Words like “incredible” and “amazing” just don’t do it justice – neither do videos of the event. Cameras just don’t capture scenes like the human eye does. It was indescribable.

If you are at all interested in seeing a shuttle launch, there are 4 left (all daytime of course). See what you can do to make plans to get to FL and see it. It may not be a planned expense, but it is a memory that you will keep forever and one that is worth far more than the inconvenience of travel.

bytehead (#884)

Reply to Shanghai_Factor

14 years ago

I was there too. But I had the MTV imbeciles out on the dock in front of me. And none of my pictures or video came out. So I’m a little pissed about that. But it was great to be there to hear it. Quite the experience. I may drive down for the next one as well.

Too bad it was cold as hell those two nights.

And boy did the crowd thin out the next night.

GrandAdmiralThrawn (#745)

14 years ago

*nods*

Good words Shanghai. Wish I could. I think it is a sad thing what we are doing….

cpnichol (#1076)

14 years ago

I’m jealous. I’d love to see something like that.

I’m cautiously optimistic about the future of manned space flight. The plan to go back to Orion style rockets seemed like a step backwards, but at least it was something. Now NASA is going to be contacting to the private sector, that’s going to mean more money and investment to the private companies. It could fail if they’re not up to the job or it could be the start of a whole new era in space exploration and allow NASA to focus on something more ambitious.

Hope it’s a success, we need to be up in space doing stuff.

Hob (#8045)

14 years ago

There are very few crossroads where one group of people can have such a profound impact on the course of human history. Spaceflight is one of those crossroads. In 500 years no one will remember the recession, the war on terrorism, universal health care, but the first exploration and colonization of another planet, that will be remembered forever.

metalhead2061 (#2222)

Reply to Hob

14 years ago

Assuming the exhaustion of our few financial resources during the recession on the war on terrorism leads to the bankruptcy of the government which makes it not only impossible for universal health care but health care in general doesn’t wipe us out first.