Few things are anywhere near as stone cool as watching a space shuttle launch, the movies don't even come close.
Maybe you think, thanks for nothin' when NASA doesn't even launch shuttles anymore ... but ... there is a new story now.
As to what makes an old story better ... bigger rockets.
The Space Launch System NASA will be using to launch the Orion exploration vehicle is significantly more powerful. The system is similar to the one used to boost the Space Shuttles into orbit ... but much bigger. Once again, you have a reason to visit Florida because Cape Canaveral is back in business.
Note: some of you have lost contact with Florida but think carefully on keeping it that way. Such things have much greater significance now than when we were kids.
The thing you will see when the space launch begins is the smoke billowing out and around it to each side. That continues for some timeless period and then the rocket starts rising from the center of it. Somewhere around that time the deep, rumbling sound of all that power comes to you, even though the civilian viewing area is about a mile away.
Acceleration is not at all fast because of the immense weight of the rocket but that quickly changes after it starts building speed.
You can't see the Space Shuttle so well from that distance but you can clearly see the white smoke trails she leaves behind as she climbs. Those smoke trail rise up in an impossible way as who knows if there really is a Stairway to Heaven or if this is even it ... but one thing you know is it could be.
The sight is absolutely awe-inspiring and recalls the scene from "Roots" in which Kunta Kinte holds up his baby to the stars and says, "Behold! The only thing greater than yourself."
A child would need to be a certain age and I don't know that age but the kid needs to be able to appreciate enough to understand the magnificence of it. After that, Disney World will never be the same.
Here's the historical record part. There was a grand B&W photograph which was taken by Gordon Mulhberger who, along with the Astronomer and I, was suitably impressified by the launch. Hopefully that photograph was in the collection which was hopefully found after I left Cincinnati ... hopefully.
Note ... again: that's not hopeful the photographs come down here and that's alright. I'm hopeful someone in the family has got them.
The other thing to come to me from this expedition was the most hellacious sunburn I ever got in my life and that includes Australia. If you're going to watch a launch in Florida and fail to take adequate precautions against the sun, you will pay ... and you will itch ... and you will pay. Be ready for that because there's zero protection from any surroundings in the civilian viewing area since no-one wants any obstructions of the panorama.
This is one of the experiences for which there's nothing you can say afterward. What you do, young Starfarer, is you kick back with your best Lee Marvin look and say, just like in "Cat Ballou" after he shot his brother, "Oh yeah, that was just swell."
Note: that was not a shot against my brothers and you would know that immediately if you have seen the movie. It's worth it for that scene alone if Jane Fonda is not enough for you.
And, wtf do you mean ... Jane Fonda is not enough for you.
Maybe you think, thanks for nothin' when NASA doesn't even launch shuttles anymore ... but ... there is a new story now.
As to what makes an old story better ... bigger rockets.
The Space Launch System NASA will be using to launch the Orion exploration vehicle is significantly more powerful. The system is similar to the one used to boost the Space Shuttles into orbit ... but much bigger. Once again, you have a reason to visit Florida because Cape Canaveral is back in business.
Note: some of you have lost contact with Florida but think carefully on keeping it that way. Such things have much greater significance now than when we were kids.
The thing you will see when the space launch begins is the smoke billowing out and around it to each side. That continues for some timeless period and then the rocket starts rising from the center of it. Somewhere around that time the deep, rumbling sound of all that power comes to you, even though the civilian viewing area is about a mile away.
Acceleration is not at all fast because of the immense weight of the rocket but that quickly changes after it starts building speed.
You can't see the Space Shuttle so well from that distance but you can clearly see the white smoke trails she leaves behind as she climbs. Those smoke trail rise up in an impossible way as who knows if there really is a Stairway to Heaven or if this is even it ... but one thing you know is it could be.
The sight is absolutely awe-inspiring and recalls the scene from "Roots" in which Kunta Kinte holds up his baby to the stars and says, "Behold! The only thing greater than yourself."
A child would need to be a certain age and I don't know that age but the kid needs to be able to appreciate enough to understand the magnificence of it. After that, Disney World will never be the same.
Here's the historical record part. There was a grand B&W photograph which was taken by Gordon Mulhberger who, along with the Astronomer and I, was suitably impressified by the launch. Hopefully that photograph was in the collection which was hopefully found after I left Cincinnati ... hopefully.
Note ... again: that's not hopeful the photographs come down here and that's alright. I'm hopeful someone in the family has got them.
The other thing to come to me from this expedition was the most hellacious sunburn I ever got in my life and that includes Australia. If you're going to watch a launch in Florida and fail to take adequate precautions against the sun, you will pay ... and you will itch ... and you will pay. Be ready for that because there's zero protection from any surroundings in the civilian viewing area since no-one wants any obstructions of the panorama.
This is one of the experiences for which there's nothing you can say afterward. What you do, young Starfarer, is you kick back with your best Lee Marvin look and say, just like in "Cat Ballou" after he shot his brother, "Oh yeah, that was just swell."
Note: that was not a shot against my brothers and you would know that immediately if you have seen the movie. It's worth it for that scene alone if Jane Fonda is not enough for you.
And, wtf do you mean ... Jane Fonda is not enough for you.
2 comments:
In 45 years of trying I have never madecthat work. Something always went wrong to delay the launch until I ran out of days
I finally quit trying. If a launch happens to happen and I am down there I still go over.
Now with Cape Canaveral being reborn I shod have more chances
Oh yes, you do. The Orion launches look like they will ramp up slowly in the way Apollo did it. One has already been accomplished but I'm not sure if that was on the giant new booster. That would be thunderous and what an incredible spectacle.
It's the same with my hunt for the Perseids. It's never really come off for the big bang stuff in a full-out meteor storm. Some day! That hunt has gone on for years and years because the first meteor I saw was in the Army days and, whew, definitely must keep an eye out for these. Ever since, I stalk the Perseids.
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