Atlantis Lifts Off in FLorida!

Feb. 7, 2008 -

Space shuttle Atlantis and its crew of seven astronauts launched on spectacular plumes of gold-tipped smoke today carrying Europe’s primary contribution to the International Space Station – the Columbus science laboratory.

Not knowing if was actually going to go off or not this afternoon, we took a shot and a drive. We headed north and east abit and did the one and a half hour drive to a position just shy of the launch site on Merrit Island, FL. We parked in a public beach lot and headed to the shore to see the much anticipated and delayed lift off the the space shuttle. We were approximately 5 - 8 miles precisely south/down shore, sitting on the sand on a beautifully bright yet partly cloudy day. It was 88 degrees here today and being near the shore was a wonderfully refreshing thing to do.

I had been conversing almost all day about the shuttle launch as I was fortunate enough to have my good friend and soon to be brother in law Matt, remind me via text message that today was the day and that it was looking good for launch. I had read a story about the possible launch in Sunday's paper but they were worried then that weather would scrap the launch once again.

With just two hours to go we took the plunge figuring that the worst that could happen is that we took a long ride to the beach. I spoke to Matt a couple of more times and my brother, Scott, as well while we were driving up to Sattelite Beach Patrick Air Force Base area.

My brother and I grew up in eastern Florida and did so thru the mid 50's to late 60's. Being here in Florida where most all of the launces took place and hearing first hand the mandate from Kennedy to put a man on the Moon, this space conversation was embedded in our lives and psychies. It is still very moving for me to watch the lift offs and landings as a result. My brother was on the phone from his Air Force office based in Ohio and gave me the countdown as I watched the launch pad through my binoculars. It was great for all three of us as Matt and Scott were able to watch the lift off in real time on the NASA website as I watched it in real, real time from the beach.

This was a first for Jasper as well and there was lots of activity going on this close to the site. Both on the beach and at the launch site. There were litterally hundres of not thousands of people lined up on the beach for miles to watch the event. There are apparently still alot of people capture or at least interested in the space mission.

Very exciting for us!

I will post Megans Pictures tomorrow of the lift off.