Shuttle launch was awesome

[safetymom]

Just watched the launch of the shuttle. Wasn't sure where in the eastern sky I should be looking. All of a sudden part of the sky got real light and then up came the shuttle. It was truly awesome to see. You could see it for quite a while.

Here's hoping for a safe flight.

 

[kerrynic78]

That was the most amazing sight ever, our entire neighborhood lit up!!

 

[Feralpeg]

It was great! When they started the engines, it was so bright. If I didn't know better, I would have sworn it was a couple of blocks away. We watched it for a long time.

Safe trip, Discovery!

 

[makinorlando]

Here are some pics I took from my house. We are about 50 miles. Not the greatest pics but it shows the brightness for afar! This was the first nighttime launch we have witnessed as we moved to Orlando in 2003. I took these with my Canon S2-IS. Night Snapshot Mode.

This is at liftoff - you can just see the sky starting to brighten.

 

[safetymom]

Yes it look so close. It looked like it was over Disney.

 

[rie'smom]

My daughter and I were very fortunate to see a launch several years ago. The really cool thing was that we were in Tomorrowland. I couldn't help thinking about how Walt Disney would have loved it!!

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

makinorlando...thanks so much for the photos. It really puts it in perspective for those of us who don't live in FLorida. Awesome!

 

[mskani]

WOW!! Those pictures are great! When we went to WDW in 2002, the space shuttle lifted off while we were at Epcot and I have a picture of it in my photo album. But that cannot compare to what happened tonight. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Hollister]

It was amazing! I was looking then all of a sudden The sky got brown. It scared me because I thought it blew up Then we saw it go up. It looked so close! And you could see the space station so clear too.

 

[Patio]

What wonderful pictures! I got to see the launch in July 2005 from the Pop Century bus stop. I took pictures and thought it was really neat. I pray for a safe flight and return.

 

[Gdad]

From my driveway - about 125 miles away. Taken w/ 50mm 1.8

 

[lovethattink]

Yes it was awesome, we watched it from CBR, very cool. I was amazed how long you could see the shuttle, seems so quick when it's launched in daylight.

 

[Claudia1]

We saw it from Epcot! We had just gotten off SpaceShip Earth, walked toward the exit, and saw it go up.

Awesome!

 

[anewvance]

We went out to the beach to see if we could see it. It was the public beach and the parking lot was packed. Unfortunately we didn't see it...

My sister was at the beach about 20 minutes North of us and she saw it perfectly, go figure. At least we know for next time.

 

[LuvDuke]

It was beautiful. We were watching from our kitchen window. All of a sudden you saw the glow and then you saw the shuttle just go higher and higher into the sky.

This was the 2nd time we saw a night launch and it was just as thrilling this time.

 

[floridafam]

We drove over by the beach to see it and it was really nice. There was a lot of clowd cover. I saw the light at first and then it went away. I, too, thought something happened.

We got home and DH said it took of parallel/in line with our front door and there was no need to go to the beach. Ugh.
I just watched the video he took of the launch and it was in view for way longer than it was for us (and it was a much better view.)

Night launched are just awesome.

I wish them a safe mission.

 

[Virgo10]

My photos came out pretty bad but maybe the description of what happened from a first time viewer of a night launch can convey my feelings.

Honestly, I really didn't know what to expect. I figured the shuttle itself would be pretty darn bright. Even though we're at least 100 miles away, the daytime launches are very cool!

So I went outside about 4 minutes before the scheduled lift off and looked to the northeast. Checked the watch at one point thinking that maybe they'd cancelled again and then, OMG!!!, it started. The entire northeastern horizon turned a light pink, then darker to almost blood red. Some things just unhinge my brain and I was actual screaming AND jumping up and down. Then it appeared over the trees, a bright light that illuminated the night sky and turned that section of it to day.

All over the neighborhood I could hear others that were as excited as I was yelling and cheering the flight on. The shuttle was visible for more than 10 minutes and I watched it until it appeared to be just another star in the Heavens.

When I came inside I was actually shaking. I've seen many cool things in my life but this was certainly in the top three.

Such as they are, here are the photos I took. They do not do justice to the amazing sight I felt privileged to see last night.

The light on the left is a house in the foreground.

I think you can actually see the external rockets in this shot.

*sigh* another Life Experience I can now check off my list.

 

[safetymom]

I put down my camera to watch the launch. I didn't want to watch through the viewfinder. Virgo10 expressed how I felt watching it.

 

[mla2177]

We saw this in Nov 02 while on our honeymmon in WDW. We sat on the benches at POR and watched it for quite a while. It was a very memorable moment! We have pictures of it too!

 

[makinorlando]

I put down my camera to watch the launch. I didn't want to watch through the viewfinder. Virgo10 expressed how I felt watching it.

I did a little of both. I just needed to have it filmed to share a little piece with my non FL family!

I was sad that DD was too tired from a day at EPCOT to get out of bed to witness it with me. I know other folks were out in my neighborhood because you could hear them cheering, but only on of my immediate neighboring houses was out which I found surprising. I felt like I had a private viewing.

It was a highlight of my time living here I do have to say.