Shuttle launch was awesome

[Virgo10]

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.

I know what you mean. My husband has never bothered to see any of the launches. I understand that he's not well but all he had to do was look out the kitchen window. When I came in to tell him what he missed he said, Oh I saw it on TV.

And, yes, while there were people outside watching it, the vast majority of the neighbors were nowhere to be seen.

The way I feel is even if I see 100 of these, I will never be so blaze that I'd stay in the house and watch it on TV.

 

[amid chaos]

We saw it go by up here in MA. I love the night launches...about 5-7 minutes after launce we can see it.

 

[ducklite]

We watched it from our lanai--it was amazing! Much more dramatic than the day launches we've seen.

We had seen one night launch before, back in 1998 or so, from the causeway area out in Titusville. We didn't expect this one to be as dramatic, but other than being almost deafened by the roar out there, it was!

We couldn't believe that we could see it for over five minutes after it launched. What a picture perfect night for it!

Anne

 

[wdwpluto]

Virgo - your pics pretty much captured what we saw from Pleasure Island, so they work for me!

We had friends in town who wanted to do PI (not that I was complaining, mind you) otherwise we'd probably have driven over to see the launch.

 

[Feralpeg]

I know what you mean. My husband has never bothered to see any of the launches. I understand that he's not well but all he had to do was look out the kitchen window. When I came in to tell him what he missed he said, Oh I saw it on TV.

And, yes, while there were people outside watching it, the vast majority of the neighbors were nowhere to be seen.

The way I feel is even if I see 100 of these, I will never be so blaze that I'd stay in the house and watch it on TV.

When my sister and I stood outside my house to watch, we only saw one other family in our neighborhood watching. I don't get it. The house at the end of the block was having a big party. You'd think they would all go out to watch something they may never witness again. I am so glad I got to see it!

 

[lucas]

Dang, dang, dang!!! We forgot to go out and watch it!

Great pics, thanks for posting.

 

[manning]

I was able to see one these lauches in the mid 80's from three miles away. Had a friend who worked for nasa and got me passes.

What is amazing is the noise and vibration those shuttles make on liftoff. Also how it starts off is something else. It looks like it hangs there for a second or so then starts crawling up and immediately looks like it is shot out of a cannon. That exceleration is amazing.

You are looking straight up and can't believe it when they announce it is over a hundred miles high and 50 miles down range.... and you can still hear it roaring.

Once you see one go up you will never forget it.

The only way you could get me into one of those is give me a couple of bottles of valuim at one time, and knock me out!!! With that said if only I had 30-40 million to spare and a ticket to Russia.

 

[lesroi]

Like many posters, I watched this launch in complete AWE, from my driveway. The entire sky was lit up and then, there it was! I was beyond excited! I was overcome just watching it. I can't imagine how awesome it must have looked from the Space Coast. Even here in Clermont, we had a wonderful view.
Many people were out in my neighborhood and you could hear the cheering and goings-on as people were witnessing this awesome event.

I was only sad that my DH is in California on business, so he missed it. We generally watch every launch together. I know that I, like Virgo, will not get tired of seeing the launches. They are just amazing!!!

Tracy

 

[Miss Jasmine]

We watched it from our back patio. It was amazing. There was much cheering and clapping in the neighborhood. DH took some pictures but we haven't downloaded them yet. I think I may be the poster closest to KSC on this thread. Not sure though. Night launches have always felt special but none as special as last night's felt. There is much excitement around these parts since KSC has one of its own on the shuttle.

I've watched from the three mile viewing as well back in the late 80s. There is NOTHING that compares to that. I am so thankful for the experience.

 

[rparmfamily]

Of all weekends we went to Atlanta!!!! We missed it, had we been home we could have watched it go overhead. We were secretly wishing it would go next week.

Looked awesome on TV though.

 

[Virgo10]

We watched it from our back patio. It was amazing. There was much cheering and clapping in the neighborhood. DH took some pictures but we haven't downloaded them yet. I think I may be the poster closest to KSC on this thread. Not sure though. Night launches have always felt special but none as special as last night's felt. There is much excitement around these parts since KSC has one of its own on the shuttle.

I've watched from the three mile viewing as well back in the late 80s. There is NOTHING that compares to that. I am so thankful for the experience.

WE WANT PHOTOS! Seriously, you have the most awesome view. Can't wait to see the ones your DH took.

 

[Deb in IA]

I know what you mean. My husband has never bothered to see any of the launches. I understand that he's not well but all he had to do was look out the kitchen window. When I came in to tell him what he missed he said, Oh I saw it on TV.

And, yes, while there were people outside watching it, the vast majority of the neighbors were nowhere to be seen.

The way I feel is even if I see 100 of these, I will never be so blaze that I'd stay in the house and watch it on TV.

I really envy you, Virgo10.

I would LOVE to see a shuttle launch, especially a rare night launch. With the shuttle program winding down, I don't know how many more launches there will be.

Our family came soooooo close to seeing a launch in July. We were on the July 1-8 Disney Magic cruise, and we waited in port for the scheduled 3:45 pm launch of the Discovery on July 1. Sadly, it was scrubbed at T-minus 9:00 due to an incoming thunderstorm. By the time it was launched on July 4, we were in the Grand Cayman.

 

[nkjzmom]

Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and pictures. I grew up in Titusville and my Dad worked out at KSC. Many times we had passes to go out and watch, sometimes we'd head out to the river, but actually we could climb up on our monkey bars in the backyard and watch! The roar was so loud and all the windows in our house would vibrate. Even after all the launches we witnessed we never lost our amazement and excitement.

Even during school we'd walk outside to watch. I miss it so much. I hope to plan a trip down during a launch sometime. Thanks again for letting us live vicariously through you!

 

[DisnyMama]

My DS and I were walking through Downtown Disney in Nov. 02 and noticed all of a sudden that people were looking into the sky with their video cameras and pointing so we looked up and I just stopped and couldn't move. I could not believe what I was actually seeing-I got goose bumps. We stood there watching the shuttle till it was just a speck of light in the sky. We have always looked at that trip as our very favorite and best trip. I forgot that it was during that vacation we got to see the shuttle so no wonder it holds so many wonderful memories for us. All of you who live in Florida that get to see the launches from home every time are very fortunate. When I lived in California and during the days when the shuttle used to regularly land out at Edwards AFB and I would hear the sonic boom I thought it was kind of neat (I know, silly) because I new the shuttle was nearby coming in for a landing and that all was well and a successful mission.

 

[Rubbertops]

We saw it from Epcot - near France. It was great to see it with so many people. A lot of cheering and clapping. Too cool.

 

[Gdad]

You have got to check out this guys WEBSITE He has some of the most amazing space shuttle photography I have ever seen!

 

[Virgo10]

You have got to check out this guys WEBSITE He has some of the most amazing space shuttle photography I have ever seen!

WOW! Thanks for the link. I loved the water tower one.

 

[boettj]

We had just gotten off Pirates, and I was walking to get the our stroller. When I heard people saying look it's the shuttle. I ran like an idle school boy. I have never seen it live. I had to slow down as my DD4 was not keeping up. We watched it until I believe it separated. That is my guess. The flames stopped, and you could see a smaller dot of light.


This was "Totally awesome"


take care.

 

[alldiz]

wow.....
thanks for posting the pics....
unbelievable
kerri