Nacho and Diego's Shuttle Launch Trip (STS 117)

I have always wanted to see a Shuttle Launch in person, so this past June, Diego and I set off for the "Space Coast" in Florida to see the launch of the Space Shuttle mission STS 117. After flying into Orlando and getting a hotel room, we headed straight for the NASA Visitor's Complex. We had a great time and I recommend it to everyone especially the "Behind the Scenes" tours where they take you to the old launch site and bunker. The Saturn V area is very nice also and you can see the biggest rocket ever built in person.

The Visitor's Complex is very well run with very comfortable buses and I was able to watch the launch from the NASA causeway which was about 4 miles from the launch site. They bussed us into the area and had NASA Launch Control on a speaker system. I was very excited and I can tell you that despite planning this trip for months, when the countdown got to T minus 15 seconds, I had a lump in my throat that only grew in size until after a minute or so after launch. The last time I had such a lump when my little girl was born. Everyone should see this before they die and I'm glad I finally did it.

Here are just a few pictures.

Nacho

The Vehicle Assembly Building
This building was used to assemble the Saturn V and is still used today to lift the Shuttle onto the tank and booster rocket assembly.

STS117 on the launch pad
View from the visitors gantry with 3x zoom lens.

Business End of a Real Saturn V Rocket
7.5 Million Pounds of Thrust!

Full Scale Shuttle Exhibit

T Minus 30 Minutes
This was our view from the NASA Causeway, approximately 4 miles from Launch Site.

Liftoff of STS 117

Awesome...really. That word is overused a lot but definitely appropriate here.

It's about the sound. Nothing like it.

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Sky One Hour After Launch

Visitor's Complex at Night

A Great Experience
This picture was taken by the Visitor Complex's Director of Operations who even got down on a knee to take it. Many thanks for a great experience.