Light blue touch paper and retire

daveake · 17 Nov 2009, 05:21

From today's launch, by yours truly

These taken 12 miles from the launch pad!

Pudding · 17 Nov 2009, 07:55

Awesome pics Dave, you lucky b@st@rd.

*AndyK* · 17 Nov 2009, 12:31

I'm not jealous at all, no way, not in the slightest. Not even a little bit.

Neither am I bitter that when I was in Florida ten years ago the tour rep "forgot" to mention that the shuttle launch we all thought we'd missed had actually been delayed by a couple of days, so if the rep had got their finger out we could have gone to see it.

howlerformeatloaf · 17 Nov 2009, 13:41

those are really good pics. Glad you saw the whole thing go all the way. I saw the one that blew up when I was in Fla. It was not very pretty to watch. It was horrible. I did take pictures but I dont look at them, but very good pics.

daveake · 17 Nov 2009, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pudding

Awesome pics Dave, you lucky b@st@rd.

I know

I've wanted to see a launch for ages, and when it was time to plan this year's holiday I checked for shuttle launches and chose our dates to give us the best chance of viewing one. The original date was for Thursday last week, and we flew out on Wednesday knowing that if there was a delay of a few days we'd still be here.

The view from "Space View Park" where we were was great, and the atmosphere electric. We got there 5 hours before scheduled launch, and even so the best spots were taken by people who got there up to 4 hours earlier than us! The place was packed about an hour or so before launch.

Dave

daveake · 17 Nov 2009, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyK

I'm not jealous at all, no way, not in the slightest. Not even a little bit.

Neither am I bitter that when I was in Florida ten years ago the tour rep "forgot" to mention that the shuttle launch we all thought we'd missed had actually been delayed by a couple of days, so if the rep had got their finger out we could have gone to see it.

Ouch

Only about 30% of shuttles go up at the scheduled time, so we were very lucky that it did. We had cloud cover for a long time but that cleared before launch and the view was spectacular. The excitement in the few seconds before and after take-off was incredible.

Dave

daveake · 17 Nov 2009, 13:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by howlerformeatloaf

those are really good pics. Glad you saw the whole thing go all the way. I saw the one that blew up when I was in Fla. It was not very pretty to watch. It was horrible. I did take pictures but I dont look at them, but very good pics.

That must have been awful

This was apparently the most trouble-free launch and preparation even, with only about 60 "issues". Hope the rest of the mission goes as smoothly.

Dave

Pudding · 18 Nov 2009, 00:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyK

Neither am I bitter that when I was in Florida ten years ago the tour rep "forgot" to mention that the shuttle launch we all thought we'd missed had actually been delayed by a couple of days, so if the rep had got their finger out we could have gone to see it.

We was on our honeymoon at Disney World (as you do) back in 1998 and missed John Glenn going back into space by a week

Somebody's cat got kicked that day I can tell you

17 Nov 2009, 05:21	#1
daveake 200% is the new 110% Join Date: 13.03.2005 Location: Newbury Posts: 2,983	Light blue touch paper and retire From today's launch, by yours truly These taken 12 miles from the launch pad!

17 Nov 2009, 07:55	#2
Pudding I'm A Prize Fight Lover... Join Date: 22.10.2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,532	Awesome pics Dave, you lucky b@st@rd.

17 Nov 2009, 12:31	#3
AndyK Relentless Join Date: 21.11.2003 Location: Over the top..... seeing what's on the other side Posts: 18,694	I'm not jealous at all, no way, not in the slightest. Not even a little bit. Neither am I bitter that when I was in Florida ten years ago the tour rep "forgot" to mention that the shuttle launch we all thought we'd missed had actually been delayed by a couple of days, so if the rep had got their finger out we could have gone to see it.

17 Nov 2009, 13:41	#4
howlerformeatloaf loaf howler Join Date: 15.08.2007 Location: Hershey, Pa Posts: 360	those are really good pics. Glad you saw the whole thing go all the way. I saw the one that blew up when I was in Fla. It was not very pretty to watch. It was horrible. I did take pictures but I dont look at them, but very good pics.