You are not going to believe this (shuttle launch related)

[Midnight Judges]

Just flew into Tampa Bay for a conference. As we were approaching the city the pilot gets on the intercom and says "the shuttle is scheduled to take off at 25 after, if they launch on time you should have a pretty good view outside the left side of the aircraft." I was sitting in the middle seat on a Southwest 737. Sure enough, the weather down here is perfect and they launched right on time as we were making our descent. So I watched the shuttle launch out of the window! Bad ass!!! What are the chances?

[skinsfan_1215]

Actually I do believe it. Pretty cool story though. :)

[jrfriedm]

That's awesome. I only wish I could have that kind of luck and see something like that.

[AsburySkinsFan]

I believe it because I've seen it like that too. I was living in Port Richey, FL at the time just north of Tampa, and I was picking up my paycheck on my day off when they announced on the radio that the shuttle was about to launch, I pulled my car over got out and looked East as I watched the tiny flick of light stretch the long plume of smoke into the heavens. One of the coolest things I've ever seen in my life.

[JMS]

I remember when I was in college watching the shuttle launch from Daytona beach about 100 miles away. You could still see it perfectly.

I took my 4 year old daughter down to see a nighttime shuttlle launch a few years ago. My wife was making fun of me the entire time. I thought my earliest memories were right around the time I was 4 so we will give the kid something to remember and hopefully to inspire her. I'm thinking I would have loved that when I was a kid.

Well that was the plan. Went down to Florida two days ahead of time, woke the kid up at 2am in the morning packed her into the car and drove over to the cape. about 2 minutes before the shuttle goes up she anounces she has to go to the bathroom. When a 4 year old says they have to go to the bathroom they typically mean right now. Like find me a spot or I'm going in my pants. A mistake I made before. Anyway gas station had about 100 people in line so we go in the swampy woods. I'm holding her about 2 feet off the ground and she let's fly. Get back to the blanket seconds before launch time...... Great launch... Loved it. Lite up the entire sky. All the way back to our hotel room all my daughter can talk about is going to the bathroom outside. That's all she remembers from the trip.

[redskin56]

I try and watch it every time it goes up. Have a great view from my back yard, especially at night. Its unreal.

Saw it today from outside my office, broken clouds but could still see it for at least two minutes.

[SnyderShrugged]

Thats fantastic man! Congrats! How close was it? I watched it from Daytona beach once as a kid, it was cool, but it was mainly just watching the vapor trail (is that the right term?)

[Larry]

I remember when I was in college watching the shuttle launch from Daytona beach about 100 miles away. You could still see it perfectly.

I watched two launches from my parent's beachfront place in New Smyrna. (The island between Daytona and the Cape.)

What I most remember about the thing was that it took like a minute and a half for the sound to get to me. And it was still loud enough to rattle the windows.

[Larry]

Thats fantastic man! Congrats! How close was it? I watched it from Daytona beach once as a kid, it was cool, but it was mainly just watching the vapor trail (is that the right term?)

Well, "vapor trail" isn't really correct.

The exhaust gasses from the SRBs are smoke. Tiny particles (maybe single molecules, for all I know.) of Aluminum Oxide and metallic Iron.

And the exhaust from the SSMEs (the main engines) is steam. (Which is why you can't really call it a "smoke trail", either. But IMO, it's pretty close.)

[SnyderShrugged]

Well, "vapor trail" isn't really correct.

The exhaust gasses from the SRBs are smoke. Tiny particles (maybe single molecules, for all I know.) of Aluminum Oxide and metallic Iron.

And the exhaust from the SSMEs (the main engines) is steam. (Which is why you can't really call it a "smoke trail", either. But IMO, it's pretty close.)


I knew I could count on someone smart to fill in that gap! Thanks Larry! (vapor trail just didnt sound right)

[Spartacus87]

I was going to go to the launch today but something else came up.

My family is on a list for VIP viewing for the launch in February.

[ACW]

Useless w/o pics.

[Mark The Homer]

That is pretty cool...

[Mad Mike]

Useless w/o pics.

:D

http://www.daytonavr.com/Shuttle/DSC_0080_crop_sml.jpg

Pretty much as you see it with the naked eye.

http://www.daytonavr.com/Shuttle/DSC_0119_crop_sml.jpg

The pad after launch. Note the Vehicle Assembly Building on the right for scale (that building is huge)

http://www.daytonavr.com/Shuttle/DSC_0134_sml.jpg

(I took my mom down to see it go up ;))

[HA1LV1CT0RY]

Hell yeah, that's awesome.

Was it something like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv5J5cBwwFc

[mjah]

The exhaust gasses from the SRBs are smoke. Tiny particles (maybe single molecules, for all I know.) of Aluminum Oxide and metallic Iron.

And the exhaust from the SSMEs (the main engines) is steam. (Which is why you can't really call it a "smoke trail", either. But IMO, it's pretty close.)
Yeah, you can call the SSME exhaust "vapor"... but not the noxious SRB smoke.

It's a hybrid! ;)

[cjcdaman]

Just flew into Tampa Bay for a conference. As we were approaching the city the pilot gets on the intercom and says "the shuttle is scheduled to take off at 25 after, if they launch on time you should have a pretty good view outside the left side of the aircraft." I was sitting in the middle seat on a Southwest 737. Sure enough, the weather down here is perfect and they launched right on time as we were making our descent. So I watched the shuttle launch out of the window! Bad ass!!! What are the chances?


Wow! Was the rest of your kick ass ticket selling band there to witness it, as well? What a sight!

Thanks for the pics, MJ!

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

if they launch on time you should have a pretty good view outside the left side of the aircraft."

You would have that view, wouldn't you?

;)

---

Cherish that moment, dude. Pretty amazing.

[ACW]

Damn Mike, those are some badass pics :cool:

[Switchgear]

All the way back to our hotel room all my daughter can talk about is going poddy outside. That's all she remembered from the trip.

That's kids for you. Good story man, I got a chuckle out of that.

[JMS]

I watched two launches from my parent's beachfront place in New Smyrna. (The island between Daytona and the Cape.)

I love New Smyrna Beach. My family used to vacation there for decades. I haven't been since my father passed away. That's a much nicer beach than Datona. We used to go to a condo property called the Inlet in the middle of a nature perserve. Really good stuff...

Spring break though in college, I'd go with Daytona.



What I most remember about the thing was that it took like a minute and a half for the sound to get to me. And it was still loud enough to rattle the windows.

I don't remember the sound. It's been nearly 30 years. I do remember the sight. I'm going to take my daughter back before the shuttle series ends. Who would not be inspired by watching a space shot.