We got the neighbors together, fired up a cigar, tuned the laptop to NASA and sat in the street to watch the Space Shuttle launch at Cape Canaveral last night. We are due West and on the opposite coast of Florida, so I wondered if we would see much. The tension built as the countdown approached, suddenly "lift off" squawked the laptop!

We all looked East and then seconds later there was a most amazing sight - the Shuttle's solid rocket boosters were shooting a flame that was so big, it was like it was just ten miles away. A massive orange tail followed the craft up through the clouds as we heard NASA count off the trajectory points and down-range distance. Soon it was 60 miles up and had reached the point where it could safely land in Spain if needed.

We lost sight as it turned further down range and then suddenly the rockets were visible as if a bright orange shooting star.

As amazing as it was all the way across Florida, I figure I must be on the East Coast side for the next night launch. It is darned near religious!! Any takers to have the first periodic Barth Shuttle Night Launch Gathering? I have no idea when, of course. I'll go see if I can figure out when and where. Perhaps it will be like those Big Wave surfers in Hawaii that gather within days of hearing about the perfect conditions.

Corey and Cheri

That's close enough for us to try to make it!!

We were on a 50 ft boat going from West Palm to the Bahamas on a dive trip one year when a launch went up right over our heads.

Nick

If Barb and I have our Barth by then we'll be there!

I'd love to be there but, with the distance involved, I'll have to have some other reason to make the trip. I'm not saying a launch isn't reason enough but, the chance of driving all that way only to find it cancelled or pushed back is too great. I certainly would like to have the family down there to see one. To see it with fellow Barthers would be awesome!

WELL BILL COACH FIXED YET? been wanting to do this trip myself !! would be great !

Update:

I've been all over the NASA Shuttle site and haven't yet figured out if they list night launches well in advance. Maybe I'll call on Monday.

I did find the NASA launch schedule which list Shuttle and other rocket launches. I'll keep everyone informed as I find news that would help plan this.

Corey

There is the possiblity that was the last night launch. The remaining launchs are planned for the day time.
It was packed here on the east coast as everyone thought that could be the last night shuttle they may ever see.