First, a little background on how this day was set up. A coworker of mine got tickets for his parents to view the Space Shuttle launch scheduled for last November. After spending a week in Florida enduring a couple of delays and the eventual scrub of that launch, His parents decide they aren't going back for the rescheduled launch of Discovery. He decides to go himself, but since he has three extra tickets and knew that me, my wife and daughter are planning on going, we come up with the plan of the four of us flying down in the company Mooney.
His original tickets are for the Astronaut Hall of Fame viewing area, the furthest away of the NASA viewing areas. Not really any better than what you can get for free along Rte 1. Due to the rescheduling, NASA sends him an email asking him if he wants to upgrade to the Visitor Center Complex area. He asks me and we agree to do the upgrade. The advantage of the Visitor Center area is you are 4 miles closer and there is a lot more to keep my seven year old daughter entertained while we wait. The disadvantage is there is no direct view of the launch pad. you can watch the blast off on the big screen TV, but can't actually see the shuttle until it is above the tree line.
The day begins around 4:15 am. Due to the TFR for the Titusville area going into effect at 0945, the plan calls for a 0600 departure for the 3 hr flight. After some concerns with the fog as we hear airplanes going missed on ILS's in JAX and DAB, Titusville is calling 5 miles and clear. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good! The rental car is waiting as we arrive and off we go.
We we get to the Space Center the crowds are already forming and our excitement continues to build even though the launch is still over seven hours away. We inquire about any chance of upgrading to the Causeway Viewing area, the best view available to the general public at only 3 1/2 miles away with nothing but water between you and the launch pad. The answer is ,unfortunately, no, but we are still happy to be where we are.
We have fun seeing all there is to see at the Space Center. If you haven't been lately, my daughter (and me too) really enjoyed the Shuttle Launch Simulator ride which wasn't there last time we visited. By chance encounter in the gift shop, I had a very nice conversation with Scott Blue, of Ice Pilots fame. (See my other recent post for details). Just when I thought the day could not get any better ,at 3:00 my cell phone rings. It is my coworker. He had just walked out of an exhibit and noticed a line of people off in the corner. Wondering what could they possibly be in line for with the launch less than 2 hrs away he wanders over and asks. There are some extra Causeway tickets available! There are no guarantees, get in line if you want to, but when they sell out thats it. What the Hell, we hustle on over and are some of the last people allowed in line. 30 minutes later we are on a bus headed to the best seats in the house! The bus driver tells that we should realize how lucky we are, this never happens. Those tickets sell out months in advance and they don't just become available on Launch Day. Some one on the bus tells us these tickets were going for $500 on craigslist.
Out on the Causeway, we truly realize how fortunate and lucky we are. The view is spectacular. As we wait on pins and needles there is a hold in the count down, all systems are go except for the Air Force Range Safety officer's monitor is not working. Without being able to insure that the area is clear, they will have to abort. Even the NASA commentators are saying "please no, the weather just doesn't get any better than this". With less than 5 seconds left before the launch window closes and they have to abort, the all clear sign is given. Its a go! Cheers from the crowd erupt and the count continues, five minutes to launch. While the detailed view is better on TV, There is nothing like seeing a launch in person. Cameras do not do justice to how intensely bright the rockets burn. At first you hear nothing, about the time you are thinking "wow, I really thought you would be able to hear it from here: the Roar hits you. It is like nothing you have seen or felt before. Around you, people are cheering, yelling or are just in awestruck silence. The whole experience overwhelming and unique.
We endure a long wait for the bus ride back to our cars and then an even longer traffic jam back to the airport. Under normal circumstances, we would be irritated, but we all agree that after what we just witnessed, it is well worth the hassle. After a beautiful night flight home, ( I even got see a very bright shooting star right in front of us,) we arrive back in Atlanta at midnight, 18 hours since we left in the morning.
Back at home at 1:00 am, the little girl in bed, I should be exhausted but I'm still on a high. What the hell, I don't have to work tomorrow so I crack open a beer and watch the replay of the launch on the NASA channel with my wife as we reflect on the days events. I am so glad I got to share this day with my family. Right up the time we where leaving, my daughter was not thrilled about going. By the end of the day she was so excited it was unbelievable. What fun to watch her transformation. We also talk about how this day would not have been possible without General Aviation. It is kind of surreal how much we could experience in a day and still get home to sleep in our owns beds. We are truly very lucky.
Like I said, What an awesome day!
PS: If anyone is still reading this, I am sorry for the length, but thank you for letting me share the story. You are now free to continue on with you regularly scheduled day.
His original tickets are for the Astronaut Hall of Fame viewing area, the furthest away of the NASA viewing areas. Not really any better than what you can get for free along Rte 1. Due to the rescheduling, NASA sends him an email asking him if he wants to upgrade to the Visitor Center Complex area. He asks me and we agree to do the upgrade. The advantage of the Visitor Center area is you are 4 miles closer and there is a lot more to keep my seven year old daughter entertained while we wait. The disadvantage is there is no direct view of the launch pad. you can watch the blast off on the big screen TV, but can't actually see the shuttle until it is above the tree line.
The day begins around 4:15 am. Due to the TFR for the Titusville area going into effect at 0945, the plan calls for a 0600 departure for the 3 hr flight. After some concerns with the fog as we hear airplanes going missed on ILS's in JAX and DAB, Titusville is calling 5 miles and clear. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good! The rental car is waiting as we arrive and off we go.
We we get to the Space Center the crowds are already forming and our excitement continues to build even though the launch is still over seven hours away. We inquire about any chance of upgrading to the Causeway Viewing area, the best view available to the general public at only 3 1/2 miles away with nothing but water between you and the launch pad. The answer is ,unfortunately, no, but we are still happy to be where we are.
We have fun seeing all there is to see at the Space Center. If you haven't been lately, my daughter (and me too) really enjoyed the Shuttle Launch Simulator ride which wasn't there last time we visited. By chance encounter in the gift shop, I had a very nice conversation with Scott Blue, of Ice Pilots fame. (See my other recent post for details). Just when I thought the day could not get any better ,at 3:00 my cell phone rings. It is my coworker. He had just walked out of an exhibit and noticed a line of people off in the corner. Wondering what could they possibly be in line for with the launch less than 2 hrs away he wanders over and asks. There are some extra Causeway tickets available! There are no guarantees, get in line if you want to, but when they sell out thats it. What the Hell, we hustle on over and are some of the last people allowed in line. 30 minutes later we are on a bus headed to the best seats in the house! The bus driver tells that we should realize how lucky we are, this never happens. Those tickets sell out months in advance and they don't just become available on Launch Day. Some one on the bus tells us these tickets were going for $500 on craigslist.
Out on the Causeway, we truly realize how fortunate and lucky we are. The view is spectacular. As we wait on pins and needles there is a hold in the count down, all systems are go except for the Air Force Range Safety officer's monitor is not working. Without being able to insure that the area is clear, they will have to abort. Even the NASA commentators are saying "please no, the weather just doesn't get any better than this". With less than 5 seconds left before the launch window closes and they have to abort, the all clear sign is given. Its a go! Cheers from the crowd erupt and the count continues, five minutes to launch. While the detailed view is better on TV, There is nothing like seeing a launch in person. Cameras do not do justice to how intensely bright the rockets burn. At first you hear nothing, about the time you are thinking "wow, I really thought you would be able to hear it from here: the Roar hits you. It is like nothing you have seen or felt before. Around you, people are cheering, yelling or are just in awestruck silence. The whole experience overwhelming and unique.
We endure a long wait for the bus ride back to our cars and then an even longer traffic jam back to the airport. Under normal circumstances, we would be irritated, but we all agree that after what we just witnessed, it is well worth the hassle. After a beautiful night flight home, ( I even got see a very bright shooting star right in front of us,) we arrive back in Atlanta at midnight, 18 hours since we left in the morning.
Back at home at 1:00 am, the little girl in bed, I should be exhausted but I'm still on a high. What the hell, I don't have to work tomorrow so I crack open a beer and watch the replay of the launch on the NASA channel with my wife as we reflect on the days events. I am so glad I got to share this day with my family. Right up the time we where leaving, my daughter was not thrilled about going. By the end of the day she was so excited it was unbelievable. What fun to watch her transformation. We also talk about how this day would not have been possible without General Aviation. It is kind of surreal how much we could experience in a day and still get home to sleep in our owns beds. We are truly very lucky.
Like I said, What an awesome day!
PS: If anyone is still reading this, I am sorry for the length, but thank you for letting me share the story. You are now free to continue on with you regularly scheduled day.
