#24 STS-130 Endeavour Shuttle Launch
It’s pretty hard to describe how amazing it is to see a space shuttle launch. You really have to see for yourself. There are only five launches remaining, so quickly write your Congressman or Senator to request a VIP invitation. Here are some resources to get you started:
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/letterscongress.htm
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
I wrote our Congressman about five months in advance. His assistant called me about a week after I mailed the letter to request the names of everyone in my party and the details on the launch we wanted to attend. She said she would submit our information to NASA for “consideration”. Almost exactly one month before launch day, our beautiful invitations arrived in the mail. The invitations required an RSVP, which I immediately confirmed. A week before launch, NASA emailed a detailed itinerary with instructions on where to meet the bus that would take us to the launch site.
We arrived at our friend’s house in Melbourne around 6pm and had the kids go to bed until 10pm. We arrived at the rally location in Merritt Island around 11:30pm and waited in line in the freezing cold until about 12:15am. They checked our IDs against the guest list and handed us our bus passes. The busses shuttled us to Kennedy Space Center where we had to get off the bus, wait in another long line to go through metal detectors, and wait to re-board the bus while police dogs searched for bombs. Finally, we arrived at the Causeway launch viewing site (about 6.5 miles from the launch pad). We unpacked our sleeping bags and lawn chairs and tried to sleep until the launch at 04:39am. I’m not sure exactly how cold it was - maybe 40 degrees - but I’m certain the night got colder as the wind blew over the river. I don’t remember whether it was my shivering or the lady at the concession stand yelling, “We’re out of hot cocoa - sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits are $2″ that kept me awake. Although, now that I think about it, it could have been the flatulent old man that parked his lawn chair above my blanket-covered head that kept me reconsidering the importance of “101 Things To Do Before You Die”.
At that point, I swore to myself that I would not attempt another shuttle launch. That was also the same moment, 10 minutes before launch, that they announced that the shuttle launch was scrubbed due to clouds that could prevent an emergency landing.
We attempted another shuttle launch the next night (after deep soul-searching); however, my husband let us girls sleep on the warm bus until 10 minutes before launch. I do love him so! We were all in chipper spirits as we ran out to the launch site to hear the final countdown - 10 - 9 - 8 - I should call my mom - 6 - 5 - ring, ring - 3 - “Hello?” - 1 - LIFT OFF!
Husband: “Get off the phone!”
Me: “I don’t want my mom to miss this!”
Mom: “Is everything okay? It’s 4am.”
Me: “Listen to the shuttle launch!”
The moment was so magical. I felt like a kid again, when all things were possible and dreams really do come true.
Watch our launch video here:
About the STS-130 launch:
There are several things that are special about this launch: first launch of 2010, last night launch, and last U.S. built modules delivered for the International Space Station (ISS).
The mission will last 13 days.
There are 6 crew members: George Zamka (Commander), Terry Virts, Jr. (Pilot), Nicholas Patrick (Mission Specialist), Robert Behnken (Mission Specialist), Stephen Robinson (Mission Specialist), and Kathryn Hire (Mission Specialist).
You can text “follow spaceflightnow” to 40404 to get twitter updates of the launch texted to your cell phone. I was able to keep everyone around me updated on the status of the launch because of these convenient texts. Be sure and turn the messages off by texting “leave spaceflightnow” when you want to sleep through the night again.
ok, SO jealous! I didn’t realize that there are only 5 more launches left. Like, ever? Then what are we doing? We’re not going into space anymore? Have we explored all that space has to offer? I’m glad you stuck with it and I know that it paid off! Awesome-congrats!
Comment by Jessica — February 16, 2010 @ 4:37 pm
5 launches? When are they going to be? Will I catch them up? I always heard that humanity is going to colonialize other planets. How is that going to happen, if there won’t be any lauches any more?
I any case, I admire the zeal with which you are trying to achieve these 101 things. However, warning: I don’t think that Mr. Horne necessarily meant that we all have to do those 101 things. After all, wouldn’t life be boring if we all did the same stuff? You just lived a magical moment with the space shuttle, realizing that dreams can be fulfilled,and I think that this is the quintessence of the book: That we can achieve what we really want to do, provided we believe in ourselves. As I have said before: If any of these 101 things have to happen, they eventually will, and the best way to achieve them is to let them occur, not to make them happen. My advice: Do what you heart and consience tell to do you - what you feel in alignment with - and don’t listen to anyone else, not even to me.
P.S. Melbourne - like in Melbourne, Australia?
Comment by Manos — February 18, 2010 @ 10:22 am
OK several things: A) I love the video. B) Is the dude sitting behind your daughters in the video Phil Jackson? C) I’m digging your hat.
This is so cool to have done and looks amazing!
Comment by Miranda — February 18, 2010 @ 4:12 pm
Okay, first of all, I just saw the space shuttle launch video, and I have got to say two things: 1) I am jealous! I really envy the zeal with which you are trying to accomplish these 101 (and more) things, and I envy the fact that you DID see a space shuttle launch! Really cool!
And 2) The Lewis girls are really cute (including yourself), but it’s a pity you were not to be seen on the video.
Secondly, I am sure you are tired of hearing all these compliments about you from me, but I do admire this childlike innocence and naivete of yours and your curiosity for everything and everybody. (Maybe because I am partly like that, maybe because Ifigenia is like that, too.) With that constant sunny smile and loving attitude of yours,I have the feeling you can’t harm a fly. Maybe this is the attitude which we are supposed to face everything in life!
Comment by Manos — March 6, 2010 @ 7:48 am
Gina, a few days ago, you asked me when I was going to post the blog with my achievements with the book, and I answered: “Probably never”. I would like to correct this statement: The things Mr. Horne suggests and which I feel in alignment with - as well as those ones I would like to do and Mr. Horne doesn’t even mention - I am currently trying to do them or do them again. The rest of them, however, since we never know how life will bring things - we may know the goal but we don’t know the way - if they have to happen, so be it, but I am trying to let them happen, not to force them. Conclusion: I am replacing my answer “probably never” with the wiser answer: “I don’t know.”
Comment by Manos — March 10, 2010 @ 7:01 am
These are the last scheduled launches for the current U.S. space shuttle. I believe there are some designs for the next shuttle, but no budget. I’ve heard we’ll use Russian resources for a while, but will be charged a significant fee.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18688-us-space-companies-present-soyuzbusting-price-plans.html
Phil Jackson?? OMG…I about died laughing when I read your comment, Miranda! And my husband couldn’t believe I was wearing that hat. Why not, the kids thought it was cute?
Manos, I can’t wait to hear about some of your adventures. And thank you for the compliments! I’m definitely procrastinating the “Things” that don’t require child-like innocence…we’ll see what the future holds
Comment by Gina — March 22, 2010 @ 9:09 pm