STS-119

Tonight’s launch of the space shuttle Discovery was beautiful.   This is the third launch that I have seen from about 150 miles away.  It takes nearly 30 seconds from the time of main engines light to when it comes up over the horizon.  

There was a group of about 100 people that watched the launch from atop the St. Petersburg Pier.  The view would have been just as good from the water, but it felt better to be up higher.

I’m hopeful to catch one of the launches up close before the Shuttle Program is concluded in 2010 with five (and up to eight)flights remaining.  If anyone is interested lets get together for a launch party!  There is a sweet spot around May 12-15 of this year with two launch scheduled in that time frame.

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html 

Caution some of the photos are quite large.  I’ll be reviewing the video to see if it is any good before posting.

———————————————-
3-31-09 Video is Posted after the photos
———————————————-

More to learn!

• STS-127 Launch Scrub
  Last night's trip to Titusville for the launch of ...
• STS-125
  Space Shuttle Atlantis headed off to service the H...
• Saint Petersburg Sunrise
  I finally made my way to Tampa Bay's water's edge ...
• Fast things and fake bushes
  It was a weekend of fast things and fake bushes.  ...
• I had a date last night
  It was a while in coming (nearly a year)... What b...