[amsat-bb] Re: About Shuttle Launch on Monday

[Philip Jenkins]

Yes, definitely worth it.

The first one I saw was in late September 1993 just south of New Smyrna
Beach.  I was at the very south end of Canaveral National Seashore. The
shuttle launch was at 645ish, just before dawn.  The only relief from
mosquitoes at that time of the morning was to stand almost in the ocean....
:-)

There was a fireball to the south when the shuttle launched, as it was still
dark down close to the ground.  Then a beautiful trajectory to the NE out
over the ocean towards the sun...since it wasn't quite daybreak yet, you
could see the sun glinting off the shuttle for a very long time.

The most unexpected thing were the series of sonic booms coming down the
beach!

Even having to take an rubbing alcohol bath for the mosquito bites was
nothing compared to seeing the launch...


Philip N4HF

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 11:13 PM, Tim Cunningham <tim_cunningham at charter.net
> wrote:

> It is definitely worth the experience. I have viewed it from the viewing
> area at the Cape with only a 30 minute delay, but the most memorable was
> actually from Clearwater on the other coast of Florida. I had just checked
> into my hotel room for a business trip and turned on the television. As I
> was looking at the view through the palm tress over some water to the east,
> I heard the news break that the shuttle was about ready for lift off. The
> sun was setting on the back side of the hotel and I could see the
> reflection
> of the moon on the water through the pine trees at dusk. It was just a few
> seconds before I saw the glow of the engines and watched the shuttle lift
> off  up and arching over the moon leaving its trail behind. It was an
> awesome sight! As luck would have it I did not have my camera with me, but
> that sight is etched in my mind forever.
>
>
> 73's,
>
> Tim - N8DEU
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Warren Elly" <w1gud at tampabay.rr.com>
> To: "Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF" <nigel at ngunn.net>
> Cc: <lstenzel at bellsouth.net>; <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 7:46 PM
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: About Shuttle Launch on Monday
>
>
> > I've covered more than 100 shuttle lanuches for Tampa CBS now FOX
> > station...
> > Its worth it. Get a room, book the time...and see the sight of a
> > lifetime.
> > Every shuttle is different....
> > Atlantis unreal Monday...very different angle...
> > A once in a lifetime...worth the trip
> >
> > great beaches and sea food in-between launch attempts
> >
> > 73, Warren W1GUD
> > On May 12, 2009, at 8:09 PM, Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF wrote:
> >
> >> Agreed, but the further you travel, the more chance that the launch
> >> will be delayed by a significant number of days or
> >> weeks.
> >>
> >> lstenzel at bellsouth.net wrote:
> >>  Viewing of a launch and tour of KSC are worth the trip.
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