Discovery Launch Today

We drove to Titusville yesterday. Up at 3:00 AM to go to the river across from the launch pad. (about 3 miles across the water from the Kennedy Space Center) We had explored back roads yesterday to get us over to the mall area where we could park and walk across Hwy 1 to an empty field for viewing. We even had 3 back up plans as they were expecting a big crowd. There are only 3 more shuttle launches after this one and then the program will be stopped. No problem, we parked close and got set up on the front row. Sitting in the dark for 3 hrs, we met some interesting people, Fred saved the lady next to us from a stinging centipede, and Fred had to direct rude people from setting up tripods in front of us. After all, we had been there since 3:30 and they arrived 30 minutes before the launch. We were all laughing at him but proud that he was stopping them. What a beautiful sight!!!! The liftoff was amazing with all the fire of the ignition, smoke, roar of the engines, and separation of the fuel tanks.

(These two people sneaked by Fred at the last minute)






Close up of the launch pad


So much smoke and exhaust left behind.