Awesome...we South Floridians are used to watching the shuttle streaking into the sky from our backyards, but usually landings bring it over the southern US and gulf states and over Tampa on the way in. ; The weather gods played in our favor this time, and the landing path for the shuttle took it over the southern Florida peninsula this morning. As I write this, about 10 minutes ago, I caught glimpse of the little flash of metal streaking over the west sky from my office window...and then about 3 to 4 minutes later came the series of loud, dull thumps which shook the floor and my desk, and rattled the windows. Seriously cool! ; Big time sonic booms rattled throughout the southern Florida area. ; I'm sure Craig also experienced it over on the west coast...the shuttle passed about equidistant between us, right over the Everglades. Glad to see she landed safe and sound, and our astronauts are home again. ; Just thought I'd share a cool little sonic boom story today!
Thanks, Justin! ; I have seen the shuttle launch from WDW a couple of times but never got to see a launch at KSC. ; Nice to know the astronauts are home safe and sound. ; They got a lot of work done on this voyage. Too bad NASA is taking a step back to the future with the next generation of space vehicles. ; I was hoping in the last 30 years, they'd be able to figure out a single launch vehicle like the Oreint Express project talked about back in the 80's. ; At least, NASA still exists!
I called my mother who is about 20 miles from me, and she felt it and heard it. ; Actually, pretty funny - I called and just asked 'did you feel that', assuming she knew it was the shuttle. ; She basically was still sitting there in her house wondering what it was - a big truck dropping something outside, a car accident, something falling in her attic. ; Completely had no idea the shuttle had just gone by. ; In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if *911 got calls from people reporting an explosion or something who had no idea. ; When I told my mother it was the shuttle - she didn't believe me. ; "You can't feel the space shuttle in your house!". ; She's never gone out to the California desert to watch the fighter jets play like I have...hearing the sound barrier breaking from just a few thousand feet! Sorry you didn't hear it Craig! ; It was pretty loud here...I was inside my office on the 2nd floor, with windows closed, but it was still quite clear...3 heavy thumps and vibrations, and maybe a 4th smaller one.
I'm just glad that they made it home safely. I didn't want it landing in Texas, Louisiana and the Gulf, esp. after Columbia. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31941668/ns ... nce-space/ They noticed foam falling off during launch...l
in my mid twenties, the shuttle came overhead one night, we had no idea, so I went outside to see "what happened". Two doors down the house had a bunch of young guys living in it and we were all outside looking around like a group of idiots. Finally an older man came out from the condos across the street and told us what happened
I remember hearing on the radio about the foam coming off just after liftoff. Glad to see it didn't present any problems. The difference being that now that they are aware of these incidences they are able to do inspection / repairs after arriving in orbit.
Night launch is awesome, even from South Florida...and even better at Disney, where it can bring a tear to your eye just from the sheer awe. ; Seeing it on the Space Coast is mindblowing - an unforgettable life moment.
