Thread: Waiting over 25 years.

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I've been waiting over 25 years to see the a launch of the Space Shuttle and I finally got to see it today. It was awsome, I even got Goose Bumps.

The first time I was down here in Florida to watch a launch was when President Reagan got shot. Last year I saw a military rocket launched a night and that was pretty cool, even from watching it from Orlando. But today we were in Titusville parked near just off the highway.

Cool!

Now get back and dig out your house, it's going to a high of 2 Saturday! and I heard you have had alot of snow at home! Vaction over!
I think Dave's done with the chop you wanted on your T, I think you'll need a sunroof with that chopped top. It's a good thing you said that about your Maple syrup, he was able to stop in time from doing your doors & trunk lid.

Pat

Hey Tom!

Glad to hear you finally got to hear the rockets crackle...I get a bit jaded after watching them for so long, but when I hear a visitor speak of the experience, I remember how lucky we are!!!

I wish I could have seen the Saturn 5's lift off, but that was before I moved below the sun belt!

And if you want to feel some cool, they say it will get down to a high of 72 by Tuesday!

I've seen a couple go up, but not from real close. Usually about 20-25 miles away. One time when I was in Tampa, I got up 3 AM to go over and try to catch one from a short distance away. Got down there, got parked, had a great view and then they cancelled. It was postponed to the next day but I couldn't convince anyone to get up at 3 AM again to go. So I have never gone again. On a good clear day you can see them go up from the Tampa area. Not real close but still a thrill.

Maybe I will get there after I retire to the Sunshine State.

Got a be a thrill to see the real deal instead of just a boob tube version of it!!!! Hope you took a bunch of good pics, Tom!!!!

Years ago we took our boat and anchored in Mosquito Lagoon, as close to the launch pad as the authorities would permit us to be. There is no way to explain the feelings when those things go up. Everything on the water got still, birds, no jumping fish, etc. Suddenly you feel this trembling and the water around you begins to vibrate. Then you see it start to rise over the trees with this huge roar and fire shooting from the backside.

It is simply indescribable, almost like a religious experience. None of us could speak after it went out of sight. Leaves you with the strangest sensation. We also saw the Challenger when it exploded, and that was simply horrible. We watched that one from our back yard when we lived in Deltona.

Don

We were several miles away but could see it really good. I was suprized that I couldn't hear the roar of the engines and I also thought there would have been a sonic boom but there wasn't.

Didn't have my camera along, had just finished putting the second coat of joint compound on a room I was working on, grabbed a bit to eat and headed over to Titusville. Got there a 2:30 and only had to waite 15 minutes. Still had my stinky work cloths on; my wife and the other two people in the car didn't appreciate the smell.

Pat..... I talked to my son last week and he said that the snow was chest high next to my driveway, think I'll take my time coming home.

I think Dave's done with the chop you wanted on your T, I think you'll need a sunroof with that chopped top. It's a good thing you said that about your Maple syrup, he was able to stop in time from doing your doors & trunk lid.

I'm showing these pictures so Dave wont chop things up.
I hope I don't get in trouble with post these pictures but my E-mail isn't working and Dave needs to see some pictures of the rear fenders/body of T coupes.

I've seen many shuttle launches; we generally just go stand in the street and watch them go. The first time, though, is a very moving experience. My wife, son, me, and my parents were all standing on the riverfront downtown when the first shuttle went up in 1981 - the feeling of pride and exhileration brought tears to our eyes. Like Don said, it's almost a religious experience the first time.

I saw Challenger explode in 1986. I was standing in front of the shop where I worked with my co-workers, watching it go, and waiting for the familiar ground-shaking rumble to begin when it suddenly went all wrong. That put the whole area in a state of shock and disbelief for days. It was like we had all lost a member of our family or a personal friend... It was a happy day when the next shuttle finally launched a couple of years later.

Everyone should get to see a launch in person once - television just doesn't do it justice. Oh, by the way, the sonic booms only occur on landing.

Tom, The snow in my yard is 3" deep it has mostly melted away
I actualy had a showing on my house, they are starting to look again, they are taking the papers out of the box on the sign again!


Pat

very cool stuff a man should get to see a launch at least once in their lifetime .. nice ride as well..

Tom, I heard that since you were not using your driveway, so the city decided to use it to pile the rest of snow on the block there You need to cut the nice weather and get home now.

Pat

Originally Posted by HemiTCoupe

Tom, I heard that since you were not using your driveway, so the city decided to use it to pile the rest of snow on the block there You need to cut the nice weather and get home now.

Pat

HAHAHAHAHAHA, good try but I'm not heading home till the first week of March. Sure hope it's not too warm. It needs to be in the 40s F in the day and freezing at night for the sap to flow.

Is that a picture of your coupe or the one called Big Tires?

Tom

The sonic boom comes when it reenters the atmosphere. I grew up 20 miles from edwards afb. Heard it all the time, now i live where it launches from , and have never seen it from less than 200 miles. One of these days ill get down south and catch a launch. I can say though ,i have seen it piggyback on a 747 though, thats an odd thing too see flying over. I will say i am fortunate enough too have lived between edwards, and vandenburg afb, so ive witnessed all kinds of strange things flying in the night sky.Good on you for taking the time in life too enjoy one of mans greatest accomplishments!

the company i work for has made numerous parts for the shuttle .. we still make the nose cone for the solid rocket boosters ..we`ve made every single one .. you would not believe the stringent inspectional deminisions that thing must hold just for it to cover the parachute used to float the boosters back down .. then the nose cone just falls to the bottom of the sea to become fish habitat.. there are holes drilled in specific locations that simply let sea water seep in so it will sink at a designed speed and land in the proper direction .. if one of these holes is misslocated a few thousandths or oversised it can kill the part years ago when we were USBI the company would send down " employee`s of the month " to watch the launch