STS-135 Space Shuttle Atlantis July 08 2011 Launch - Space View Park

An estimated one million spectators converged upon the area around Kennedy Space Center to witness the final shuttle launch of the storied American shuttle program. I made an all-night drive on Wednesday evening, and arrived at Space View Park to find hundreds of people already there and claiming their spot to view and/or shoot the launch. My friends Brian and Bonnie were among the earlier arrivals and saved me a spot in front. Collectively, we slept in tents, vehicles, lawn chairs and on the ground, just to make sure we did not miss this historic event. All of Thursday was consumed by lightning storms and constant rain. Umbrellas, ponchos, rain suits, wet clothes and wrinkled fingers were the norm. NASA was giving only a 30% chance that Atlantis would lift off the next day at the scheduled time. But, fortune smiled. As Friday's dawn gave way to morning time, a break in the weather opened the launch opportunity window we needed. Atlantis roared into the overcast sky on a silky smooth trajectory. I feel privileged to have been there to experience the beginning of the last chapter in space shuttle history.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• STS-135
• launch
• Atlantis
• Space View Park
• Titusville
• July 8 2011
• Edge of Glory
• SunDolphin Productions

[Nikeshox2626]

I was 1 of those 1,000,000 in person to see that truly breath-taking

[SunDolphinProduction]

@Nikeshox2626 It really was awe inspiring.

[wadep274]

Great job!!!

[SunDolphinProduction]

@wadep274 Thank you!

[SunDolphinProduction]

@Toraigan OUTSTANDING information!!! Seriously! I did correspond with another attendee who share some stills from the bomb squad truck going by, but the detail you provided here is way interesting. Too bad about the dude's grill! Thank you for taking the time to share this.

[Toraigan]

@Toraigan

I also have video of some of this. I'll have to post it sometime. :)

[Toraigan]

@Toraigan

About 45 minutes later, the 'briefcase' was confirmed to be...a really strange-looking portable Coleman Grill. (But it really did look like a heavy-duty briefcase!)

Atlantis lifted off about 15 minutes later. :)

The funny thing is that, you KNOW that SOMEONE in that massive crowd was thinking, "Oh God, my grill--"

[Toraigan]

@Toraigan They cleared the area and sanctioned it off with police tape (which they used our cars to anchor, LOL). About a quarter of the bridge was evacuated/ ordered back and eventually we were commanded across the road. They brought out bomb-sniffing dogs and sent out a guy suited in that ridiculous astronaut-looking protective gear to inspect the package, taking x-rays with it, etc.

This all started about an hour before launch. We were all certain that they would have to scrub the launch.

[Toraigan]

This is something that happened that day that is never heard about. That truck crossing the bridge at 2:02 ? That's the Brevard County Bomb Squad, preceeded by a covert trailer hauling police ATV's. They were responding to a suspicious package -a black briefcase- left by the flagpole at the Fish and Wildlife Commission at the end of the bridge. I know all of this because my convoy and I had our camp set up right in front of it in the grassy median between the Wildlife Commission and the road.

[vaq139]

@Nikeshox2626 This video made me cry because I wasn't there to see it.All my life and all through the Nasa programs I followed but never saw any launch. this video hit my heart because of what was captured

[wadep274]

Great job

[gaz11h]

great stuff



[WindowsObserver]

@JMChladek Thanks it was awesome to get to go back and watch her land as well - lucked into a spot two days prior :-)