Launch!

[lauradi7dw]

A week ago we finally saw one sort of close-up. I started watching launches on TV in 1962, I think. I definitely remember John Glenn going up in Friendship 7. I am not so sure about Alan Shepard the first time. In elementary school, we were herded into the auditorium for every launch and landing, squinting at a small TV. Last Friday we were on a bridge over the Indian River, ~7 miles as the crow flies from Pad 39A, watching the flames and smoke as Atlantis headed toward the ISS for STS 135. This wasn't the first time we'd tried, but this time my presence wasn't enough to cancel the launch. Readers of this journal know that I sort of believe in jinxes. It had gotten to the point that all of Arthur's family teased me about it. As of the time we set out from the motel for our 4 mile walk to the viewing site, the weather was still making a launch doubtful, but after a couple of hours and many flights overhead by the planes and helicopters that help determine such things, they were given a go. There were still enough clouds that we only got to see what was happening for a few seconds, but that's enough. I had mentally composed a long thing about the future of humans in space (or not), but it's probably not worth the time. I may worry about jinxes, but I don't believe in destiny, and I certainly don't believe it's humankind's destiny to trash other planets the way we have this one. I like knowing that there are always people up there in the space station, but I'm no longer convinced that the science is worth it, although it's still cool to think about. There were two guys in the long and stupid mob waiting at MCO to go through security who had hand-carried plants from California for some sort of experiment that's up there now. (the TSA people in Orlando apparently feel a free-for-all approach is better than orderly lines. The combination of regular weekend travelers, the launch, and a Zumba instructor's convention made the wait about an hour long. I only caught my plane because a thunderstorm delayed all flights).
Flickr seems to have changed its system so that I can no longer embed photos the way I used to.
Go to this one of Arthur & his sister pointing at the distant shuttle+rocket, and then click on the newer button. There are four pictures altogether.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63005968@N00/5939072576/in/photostream/lightbox/

note: I'm in favor of the wildly over budget Webb telescope, though.