Sts-116

[WorkerCaste]

Many years ago I went to try and catch a launch from up close and personal. After losing significant body fluids to the heat and insects, the launch was scrubbed. Even though I couldn't go back for the next attempt, I was still close enough to see it when it went up. It was pretty awe inspiring even from a distance. I can't even imagine how exciting it must be when you're close enough to feel it, too.

[Jan]

I've created a thread for those who want to discuss the space program from a cost/political view. This one remains for those with a sense of wonder about it.

Jan
Moderator

[Joseph DeMartino]

Ignoring the rude and un-called for...

I live further south than you do, but on clear days I've seen even daylight launches from West Palm Beach. (Downside - years before I moved down here my parents could see the smoke from the Challenger explosion hanging in the air for what seemed like hours.)

Last night it was too cloudy in my neck of the woods to see a lot, but the light behind the clouds was unmistakeable. I'd love to watch a launch from the Cape, just once, and would even more like to have seen a Saturn V go up. People who did tell me you could feel your teeth rattle miles away in the stands.

After the launch I came back inside and watched the replay on Discovery Channel HD.

Regards,

Joe

[Shivkala]

Next time ANYBODY whines about people going hungry, look to the space program. NASA is so laughably behind the times that they need to just hand over space ventures to private interests. Things would be done more efficiently and more quickly, assuming that there'd be an incentive to do so and, historically, corporations are the best at determining such a thing.

Riiight. Because Nasa's 1/10 of 1% of our budget is such a huge amount. Americans spend more money on junk and fast food than the government will spend on the space program. Sheesh, just think if Nasa gave up that 1/10 of 1% how many problems could be fixed.


Thanks for taking my thread of something good and turning it into something else.

[Jan]

Next time ANYBODY whines about people going hungry, look to the space program.

Strawman. Let's not turn every conversation into something political, shall we?

I read a blog that said that they thought they saw the light of the shuttle from Texas. Having seen it in daylight, I can imagine how bright it must have been at night.

Jan

[Dr Maturin]

Next time ANYBODY whines about people going hungry, look to the space program. NASA is so laughably behind the times that they need to just hand over space ventures to private interests. Things would be done more efficiently and more quickly, assuming that there'd be an incentive to do so and, historically, corporations are the best at determining such a thing.

[frulad]

Bit of a thread crap there, LiM. Care to elaborate on why you don't like the space program (perhaps in another thread) and not just trounce the beautiful experience Shivkala was trying to share with the rest of us?

[Dr Maturin]

What a waste of money.

[Shivkala]

WOW! I live about 160 miles south of Kennedy Space Center. My son and I had a great spot out in the yard to see the night launch from. This massive glow broke above the trees which illuminated this low-lying cloud and shot above it. It was beautiful. Once the solid boosters came off, she was just a tiny speck of white/blue that sailed off into the blackness. It was amazing.