Re: Meteor From Space
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:02 pm
I do. Namely because I was on the other side of those clouds. And while I understand that the reason they launch the shuttle is not visibility, I did watch the thing go up for the three seconds I could see it from the Visitors Complex and wonder why they couldn't have scrubbed for a better visibility day.
But there were some very cool things that we did that day (NOT listed in any particular order):
1) Arriving at NASA at 01:00, and staying until 18:00.
2) All attractions, tours (that are safe to go on within a few hours of a shuttle launch), IMAX movies, experiences and astronaut encouters are complementary once you are in.
3) Once the launch was over and all the guests who went by bus to see the launch from the Causeway had left, we had the KSC Visitors Complex to ourselves and about 3,000 other guests... and I am probably overestimating the numbers.
4) During the launch, instead of only having the Launch Commentator to listen two, we had two astronauts, one (Cdr. Jack Lousma) had flown on the Apollo Skylab and Columbia's third flight. I later got to meet him personally and shake his hand. But to listen to a shuttle astronaut's thoughts on a launch as they happen, to watch their faces as the launch vehicle goes through Max Q (so much is communicated without actually being said), and their utter joy when the orbiter is now safely in space with no disasters. Then, you realize that everyone who has ever flown into space or worked on the Shuttles who is following along feels the same way.
5) Riding the Launch Experience several times with no wait.
I followed STS-134 and STS-135 very closely. On STS-134, we have a small connection as my mom used to live less than a mile from where Congresswoman Giffords was shot, and I have been in that parking lot several times. One thing I really liked about Mark Kelly was his understanding of his privilege of being the Commander on the second to last Shuttle mission. His speech a day before returning to earth was absolutely awesome. Having Commander Kelly aboard that ship was a great tribute to Endeavour's legacy, as well as his.
I love that cupola that they've put on the ISS, just from what few pictures I've already seen from it. To be in space, in a capsule where the windows cover a 180° area giving the best view of Earth anyone has ever had has to be one of the coolest experiences possible. I honestly don't know how you would stay in that cupola for more than about five minutes without going into an alternate mental place. I can't wait until we all can go.
But there were some very cool things that we did that day (NOT listed in any particular order):
1) Arriving at NASA at 01:00, and staying until 18:00.
2) All attractions, tours (that are safe to go on within a few hours of a shuttle launch), IMAX movies, experiences and astronaut encouters are complementary once you are in.
3) Once the launch was over and all the guests who went by bus to see the launch from the Causeway had left, we had the KSC Visitors Complex to ourselves and about 3,000 other guests... and I am probably overestimating the numbers.
4) During the launch, instead of only having the Launch Commentator to listen two, we had two astronauts, one (Cdr. Jack Lousma) had flown on the Apollo Skylab and Columbia's third flight. I later got to meet him personally and shake his hand. But to listen to a shuttle astronaut's thoughts on a launch as they happen, to watch their faces as the launch vehicle goes through Max Q (so much is communicated without actually being said), and their utter joy when the orbiter is now safely in space with no disasters. Then, you realize that everyone who has ever flown into space or worked on the Shuttles who is following along feels the same way.
5) Riding the Launch Experience several times with no wait.
I followed STS-134 and STS-135 very closely. On STS-134, we have a small connection as my mom used to live less than a mile from where Congresswoman Giffords was shot, and I have been in that parking lot several times. One thing I really liked about Mark Kelly was his understanding of his privilege of being the Commander on the second to last Shuttle mission. His speech a day before returning to earth was absolutely awesome. Having Commander Kelly aboard that ship was a great tribute to Endeavour's legacy, as well as his.
I love that cupola that they've put on the ISS, just from what few pictures I've already seen from it. To be in space, in a capsule where the windows cover a 180° area giving the best view of Earth anyone has ever had has to be one of the coolest experiences possible. I honestly don't know how you would stay in that cupola for more than about five minutes without going into an alternate mental place. I can't wait until we all can go.