Space Shuttle Launch
So, last night I went and saw the Space Shuttle launch. I have to say, I’ve seen plenty of launches since I’ve been in Orlando now for 10 years or so, but this is the first time I’ve ever gone out to the coast and watched it from there. Let me tell you, it is definitely a sight to see.
To start, I didn’t see the launch from Kennedy Space Center property - I was just north of the Cocoa Beach Pier. But I could see KSC from the beach so no loss there. Unfortunately, the launch pad was set behind a hotel, but when the shuttle took off, it was like a sunrise behind the hotel - incredible. Now, it wasn’t quite a night launch, though, it was dark by the time you couldn’t see the shuttle anymore in the sky, but when the shuttle was high enough to have it’s exhaust smoke shine brilliant in the setting sunset - WOW - it’s hard for words to describe. I was so glad that I had gone out for the launch.
All in all, it was a great day for the most part. Sent about 9 hours at the beach. Started the day out there around 10 am, and stayed there until the 7:43 pm launch time. It was definitely a long day. The only real downside, ignoring the fact that I’m a lobster right now, was that it took almost 4 hours to get home - when under normal circumstances it is only suppose to take 40 minutes. Traffic was ridiculous, and it went all the way back to Orlando without letting up. Had to have been the worst traffic jam I’ve ever been in. This is also taking into account that we were able to bypass probably half of it.