Take off for the last time

Since it is short before lift off for the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-116 for the last time it might be time for me to tell the story about how the photo of Discovery became cover photo on my blog. Actually it is the result of a real walkabout experience as we arrived in Mims, Florida by coincidence December 7th, 2006, the date of the originally scheduled launch. We were totally unaware of the big event so a late arrival turned into a rush south, down the coast to a hidden place - a small local restaurant on the shore just opposite the launch pad at J.F. Kennedy Space Center. Unfortunately the first attempt was canceled due to a low cloud ceiling. Being able to stay in the area we were looking forward to a new attempt.

The second launch attempt took place on Saturday, December 9th, 2006 with a successfully lift off at 8:47:35 PM eastern time, the first night launch since November 23th, 2002. It was a magnificent absolutely clear evening and the small restaurant was crowed with excited locals listing to NASA live on the radio and on the ongoing TV. Someone who had a few free yards in their front garden took the chance to earn a few bugs for parking. The local NASA fan club was sharing the latest rumors and interpretations of the news on the NASA channel, the weather forecast was discussed over and over and everything was mixed with old stories, personal experiences from the many prior lift offs and the smell of the home made burgers. Time for lift off came closer, the little restaurant oozed from excitement, the radio amateurs did the final tuning and I tried to decide how to take a picture of the take off.

As the launch time got closer people was gathering on the beach, air planes and helicopters were checking the sky for the last time and disappeared from the area leaving the final decision concerning take off to a small aircraft which in lonely majesty flew across the sky, obviously satisfied since it very rapidly left the scene and left us in total silence. Seconds later the horizon was illuminated and a giant light slowly started its journey across the sky, amazingly quiet despite the enormous power output. Discovery made a nicely formed curve in its attempt to leave the earth and increased its speed and altitude while it was illuminating the black sky, seconds later the booster tanks released and Discovery was on its own - on its voyage towards new understanding. As we were trying to understand what we had witnessed, we mingled into the streams of cars heading back to Mims.

Discovery safely returned to the earth Friday, December 22th, 2006 at the J.F. Kennedy Space Center. And some years later my own picture of the launch found its way to my blog as a symbol and metaphor of my own journey.

While I'm writing this Discovery has taken off safely for the last time and is now orbiting the earth - you can follow the STS-133 mission live here. Meanwhile take a look on the launch that Saturday evening December 9th, 2006 when i saw Discovery take off.