Wow, pictures and videos just don’t do justice to the awesomeness of a shuttle launch. Even though I was 11 miles away, it was bright, loud, and just generally intense! My cousin, an airline pilot, came down for the event, one of the last few shuttle launches ever. We drove up at 9pm and camped out in Titusville along the Indian River, with a clear view of the launch pad. We arrived at 1am, the crowds were sprawling… RV’s everywhere, cars parked along the roadside, some walking around, others perched in their lawn chairs,  but most people sleeping behind clothing draped windows. This was the last dawn launch, and it was gorgeous. The International Space Station flew by 10 minutes before launch…another rare sight…still can’t believe it only takes only 90 minutes to orbit the earth!

A pic of my own, and a video of one of my favorite bands – Rush playing “Countdown” a song they wrote after being invited to view one of the early shuttle launches. This song has always been one of my favorites since its release in 1982, and it played on a continuous loop in my head as we sat their anticipating the blessed event.