Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery May 31, 2008

Saturday's launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-124) went perfectly as you all probably saw on the news. Huge crowds were counting down the seconds on the launch clock with loud shouts.
Forty-Three years have gone by and I never thought I would see something so beautiful as the Space Shuttle and the brilliant neon orange fire of the main engines and solid boosters. It was so fast. The pictures broadcast on T.V. do not do a launch justice.
It was an absolutely defining moment for me that took 43 years to experience. I am forever changed.
My husband and I were on the NASA guest viewing stand at the Apollo Center. I was bawling my eyes out. (I wasn't the only one). Grown men had tears running down their cheeks. The cheers were immense.
We saw the Shuttle as the solid rocket boosters were jettisoned. Another cheer. We saw the brilliant flame of the main engines sparkle as the shuttle curved in a beautiful arc down range. I took still pics.
My husband had the DVD video camera. How to describe my emotions? Lump in the throat, knot in the chest and tears in my eyes. The entire thing was sheer magic. I now know why people come from all over the U.S.
and even the world to see a manned launch.
There must have been close to 100,000 people or more at the Kennedy Space Center and all up and down the coast.
Watching many other people I found out that our space program is dearly loved by the American people.
There are Floridians that never miss a launch.
The entire weekend was filled with smiles and good cheer.
Oh, God, I wish I could have seen the Saturn V! We met one gentleman who worked on Apollo and actually saw a Saturn V launch. He said that the Shuttle was pretty but there was nothing like the Saturn V.
I also saw my beloved S-IC Stage, the F-1 engines and the entire Saturn V in the Apollo exhibit.
After 43 years it was all as I remembered. I even met a great bunch of guys from Rocketdyne in California. There were engineers from all over the U.S. We recognized each other as engineers. How cool was that?
This will not be my last launch!