About two weeks ago we took a wild chance and booked airline tickets to go to Florida in hopes of watching the final space shuttle launch scheduled for July 8. We were very hesitant as the shuttles don't normally take off on the scheduled day. Over the past year we had been thinking about doing this as being there for a shuttle launch was an item on our 'bucket list'. Our Florida daughter called and said "book the flight--I have tickets for the launch". We thought it over and decided to go for it, hoping above all hopes that the launch would really take place. This launch of the Atlantis space shuttle is the 135th launch of the shuttle program spanning 30 years.
![]() |
| 7 days until launch and we are "GO" |
It rained all day in Florida on Thursday, the day before the scheduled launch. NASA was only giving the launch a 30% chance of happening on Friday due to weather. We checked the updates constantly and when the final fueling began we knew our adventure was about to begin.
![]() |
| Photo from internet snapped the night before the launch. |
Early in the morning of July 8 (2:00 am) we started our drive from Fort Lauderdale to Cape Canaveral. Our parking placard indicated we needed to be at the Kennedy Space Visitor Center no later than 7:00 am. Since it's normally a 3-hour drive, we allowed 5 hours because of all the traffic that was expected. Good thing we did. At 5 am we were 8.8 miles from the Visitor Center and it took just under 2 hours to go those last 8.8 miles in bumper to bumper traffic. One million spectators were invading the area.
![]() |
| Photo from internet of Atlantis on launchpad |
But we arrived on time and settled in on one of the lawns to watch the giant video screen showing live video of the shuttle crew and final preparations. The commentator on stage by the screen told us where to be watching for the takeoff. We were 7 miles from the launchpad and would not see the shuttle until it blasted off and cleared the tree line. During our 4.5 hour wait for the launch we could wander around the visitor center and check out all the exhibits.
![]() |
Our first spot on the lawn of the Kennedy Space Visitor Center
|
![]() |
| Photo from internet showing countdown of 3 hours until launch. |
During our wandering we found another location that we thought would be better viewing so we packed up all our stuff and moved. We no longer had the video screen displaying the countdown so we had to depend on the roar of the crowds to let us know when the 10 second countdown was on.
![]() |
| Wandering around the visitor center prior to launch |
The excitement of the crowds grew with each passing minute until we finally did the 10 second countdown and heard the roar of the takeoff and then the shuttle emerging above the tree line.
![]() |
| Internet photo of launch with a professional behind the camera |
![]() |
| Our first glimpse of the launch |
![]() |
| What our camera could capture |
![]() |
| And in about 22 seconds, it was gone from site |
All cameras were pointed at the shuttle...many of them with big, expensive zoom lenses. I'm sure they got great photos. My favorite photo is of Terry as he watched the takeoff. It was a very moving experience for him.
![]() |
Terry watching the launch
|
![]() |
| A dream come true! |
We stayed at the visitor center after the launch to let the crowds and traffic disperse. We saw 2 IMAX movies...one on the space station and the other on the Hubble Telescope.....in 3D. They were great.
![]() |
| In our 3D glasses at the IMAX |
So, we did it. Luck was surely with us as we took a chance and went for this adventure. Up until just minutes before the takeoff it was still uncertain that the weather was going to cooperate and provide the right conditions for the launch. We are truly happy that it did!
![]() |
| Photo from the internet.....but our sentiments exactly! |
Mission accomplished and One Bucket List Item checked off!
