Thursday

Endeavour Shuttle Launch

We are now located about 85 miles north of Kennedy Space Center where the Space Shuttle is launched. We can see the Shuttle in the sky even this far away! There was a Shuttle launch last night at 6:30 p.m.! The Endeavour Shuttle with teacher Barbara Morgan aboard was a successful launch! Praise God!

My husband and I lived further south and we worked at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) but took an early retirement 10 years ago. We watched many Shuttle launches, including the Challenger disaster. Last night's launch made me a little nervous because it brought back memories of the Challenger accident with the teacher Christa McAuliff aboard.

It was still daylight last night for this launch. When the Shuttle launches at nighttime, we can see the fire trail for a long time. The night launches are beautiful, and totally light up the sky, like daylight!

I "borrowed" this photo from the OrlandoSentinel.com

7 comments:

Susan said...

My husband watched the launch on TV. He would love to be able to see one. He is facinated with space. In fact he watched to day as they connected with the space station.
Susan

retha said...

I could not post at your Show and Tell, I do not know why! Hope you find this.

Such a beautiful idea to use your keepsakes like that.

We do not know much about space craft here where I stay. I can believe it magnificent at night. Well, daytime too I am certain.

La Tea Dah said...

Katherine, I especially enjoyed this post. I have been listening with great interest to reports about this shuttle excursion. Years ago one of my teaching friends applied to be the first teacher in space. She was not selected (but Christa McAuliff was). Having another teacher, especially the one that was Christa's back-up, take this flight is very significant and special. I pray for a safe flight! I understand there will be three space walks this trip that she will be able to participate in. Isn't that awesome?

Several years ago I received the Christa McAuliff Award for Excellence in Education from our state governor. I was honored and humbled --- Christa will always hold an emotional and special place in my heart.

Thank you so much for sharing this!
LaTeaDah

Karen said...

I love this post. I am younger but I do have a vauge memory of the challenger. My father who now works at Goddard but then worked at Johnson took me to see it. I have pictures of me running around it before the disaster happened.

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Thanks to all of you for your interesting comments. I enjoyed reading your thoughts too!

Katherine

Lallee said...

We could see the launches even from where we used to live about 60 miles south of the cape. I remember the day of the Challenger. We had seen enough lifts to notice that it didn't look right. I ran in the house to see what was being announced on TV. That day is etched in my memory. Now living on the west coast of Florida, we hear the loud sonic boom as the comes back into the earth's atmosphere for landing. It shakes the house and startles the pets.

Unknown said...

I have to say that I have found the shuttle program inspirational in a way that no other part of the space program has been for me. Perhaps it is because the way the shuttle comes into land is more like standard air travel. Can you tell me why the current shuttle is called "Endeavor"? I am curious to know if there is a connection with Capt Cook's ship of the same name. You see my five times great grandfather sailed on three voyages with Cook. His name was John Gore and he was from the Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia.

Blessings and bliss