Tonight's Rocket Launch

**Shift** · 11-15-2008 02:13 AM

I'm bored as shit. But I just watched the rocket blast off and it was cool as hell, I love watching them but this was the first night launch I've seen. Apparently you could see it as far south and across the state as Port Charlotte! So, who else saw the rocket take off tonight? And who doesn't give a shit?

**Catbus** · 11-15-2008 02:22 AM

Wheres Port Charlotte? Not that I give a shit or anything...

**Shift** · 11-15-2008 02:24 AM

It's a little hellhole on the southwest-ish coast of Florida, all the way across the state and down quite a bit from Cape Canaveral. I knew you could hear the sonic boom there, but I didn't know you could see the freaking shuttle!

**John11** · 11-15-2008 02:31 AM

I watched it too and I had thought about posting about it. This was actually the first shuttle launch I had watched live and it was very awe inspiring. I have been really interested in space and the universe since I was in second grade. The only books I would read then were about the planets and the solar system.

I really hope we land a man on Mars in my lifetime. I always hear talk about it, but it always seems to be only talk.

**Howie** · 11-15-2008 02:32 AM

Oh good. All went well. The last I new they were 70% go.
I know they were taking A LOT of stuff up there for what will be 6 astronauts now I think.
It amazes me the amount of fuel that entire launch uses. Awesome.

**Shift** · 11-15-2008 02:42 AM

Originally Posted by John11

I watched it too and I had thought about posting about it. This was actually the first shuttle launch I had watched live and it was very awe inspiring. I have been really interested in space and the universe since I was in second grade. The only books I would read then were about the planets and the solar system.

I really hope we land a man on Mars in my lifetime. I always hear talk about it, but it always seems to be only talk.

Yea, space is pretty damn awesome. I remember being so interested in space and astronomy when I was younger... I still like hearing about it, but I rarely read about it. Watching the rockets launch is like a link to the past

How bright was it? I couldn't look directly at it at first, it hurt my eyes! Looked just like a mini sun rising. Then it crossed the (nearly?) full moon, that was just the coolest thing ever. I started kicking myself for not bringing my camera down!!!

!

**Shift** · 11-15-2008 02:49 AM

Originally Posted by Howie

Oh good. All went well. The last I new they were 70% go.
I know they were taking A LOT of stuff up there for what will be 6 astronauts now I think.
It amazes me the amount of fuel that entire launch uses. Awesome.

Haha, at one point it's arc started to level off and I was like, "Oh my... is it falling?" haha! But I guess they got up alright. The 70% chance is one of the reasons I haven't gone to see one in person... it's just too far of a drive when they always say they might postpone

It definitely must use a ton of fuel. I'm far enough away and I still couldn't look directly at it at first. That thing is bright as hell! And HUGE!

**Howie** · 11-15-2008 02:51 AM

Wooo!!!

You mean that you actually seen it in person? That is very cool I'll bet. I don't know why I just thought you had meant you wathced it on TV or something.

**John11** · 11-15-2008 02:56 AM

Originally Posted by Shift

Yea, space is pretty damn awesome. I remember being so interested in space and astronomy when I was younger... I still like hearing about it, but I rarely read about it. Watching the rockets launch is like a link to the past

How bright was it? I couldn't look directly at it at first, it hurt my eyes! Looked just like a mini sun rising. Then it crossed the (nearly?) full moon, that was just the coolest thing ever. I started kicking myself for not bringing my camera down!!!

!

Wow! I didn't realize you were actually there! I am extremely jealous. I live in Texas so maybe one day I'll make it to Houston to see a shuttle launch.

Full moon was yesterday btw. So yes, nearly full moon.

**Shift** · 11-15-2008 02:57 AM

Originally Posted by Howie

Wooo!!!

You mean that you actually seen it in person? That is very cool I'll bet. I don't know why I just thought you had meant you wathced it on TV or something.

Oooh no. All I have to do is raise my blinds! I went outside though, it's so nice out tonight

Like I said, you can see it all the way across the state to the north and south. But from where I am the only reason it's difficult to see with the naked eye is because it's so bright!

**Catbus** · 11-15-2008 03:17 AM

Originally Posted by Shift

It's a little hellhole on the southwest-ish coast of Florida, all the way across the state and down quite a bit from Cape Canaveral. I knew you could hear the sonic boom there, but I didn't know you could see the freaking shuttle!

Damn, I was hoping that my Charlotte had a port. I don't even think that Charlotte is near the ocean, I've never really been there though. I wouldn't even be able to see it anyway.

**Shift** · 11-15-2008 03:37 AM

Originally Posted by John11

Wow! I didn't realize you were actually there! I am extremely jealous. I live in Texas so maybe one day I'll make it to Houston to see a shuttle launch.

Full moon was yesterday btw. So yes, nearly full moon.

Well I wasn't THERE, but I could see it easily from where I am. If you ever want to see one and can't make it up close, pretty much anywhere in the state will let you see it (at night at least). You can probably see it from anywhere in central Florida when it launches during the day.

**Shift** · 11-15-2008 03:38 AM

Originally Posted by CatBus

Damn, I was hoping that my Charlotte had a port. I don't even think that Charlotte is near the ocean, I've never really been there though. I wouldn't even be able to see it anyway.

Charlotte NC? My dad lives there, I've spent a large amount of my life in Charlotte

No port, though, sadly

It's way on the west side of the state.

**Shift** · 03-16-2009 01:36 AM

Shuttle Launch!!!

Can't believe it was so long since the last one. I couldn't see the boosters or anything this time, I guess it was just too light out. Next time I'm taking my camera, 400mm will be infinitely better than the jittery crap that I took tonight

**Oneironaut Zero** · 03-16-2009 05:03 AM

Damn, I missed it this time. I've made a few threads about shuttle launches, and was actually going to go down to the cape and watch this one, but they kept pushing the date back (I only live like 30 miles from Canaveral). They are talking about extending the program through 2010, so a bunch of us are probably going to go out to the Cape to watch the next one, if it takes off at a decent time.

**YULAW** · 03-16-2009 05:07 AM

Damn I can't believe you missed it. How is that possible? They launch right from your freaking backyard... lol.

Does anyone know whats the purpose of this launch? Did they already launch the Kepler telescope?

**Oneironaut Zero** · 03-16-2009 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by ShadowNightWing

Damn I can't believe you missed it. How is that possible? They launch right from your freaking backyard... lol.

Rofl. Yeah, I know. A friend of mine was having a party, so we were all out back getting drunk and playing games, and his backyard faces in the opposite direction.

None of us were even thinking about the launch at the time. Haha.

**Shift** · 03-16-2009 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Oneironaut

Rofl. Yeah, I know. A friend of mine was having a party, so we were all out back getting drunk and playing games, and his backyard faces in the opposite direction.

None of us were even thinking about the launch at the time. Haha.

Ah, damn. Next time make it a launch party