Discovery’s Midnight Launch

At midnight last night I was on the beach to see another shuttle launch into the heavens. A shuttle launch never fails to gather a crowd, even after all this time. At midnight, though, we were a small group at the 20th Street Beach Access, and it was a mild, quiet, mostly clear middle-of-the-night.
Living so close to the beach I was able to scamper over just a few minutes before lift-off. Within seconds of the 11:59pm blast it lit the black sky with a bright orange glow and I could see the rocket and its fiery tail arching over the horizon.
My pictures were terrible. I should have practiced for these night shots but I didn’t so the results were disappointing. They did not reflect the awesome shuttle hurtling toward space that the twelve of us gaped at for a few minutes, until it was gone from sight. I applauded and one person joined me. It felt like the right thing to do.
Then we all went home.

Comments

  1. Mickey Johnson says:

    …what an incredible thing to witness. i bet it was an awesome site against the dark sky…xo, mickey

  2. Drawn to The Sea says:

    How wonderful that you "scampered"… it shows you still have (1) a zest for life & (2) a good back. LOL! Must be an incredible sight.

    Julia

  3. Karen says:

    Thanks for sharing the experience.. oh, how I wish I could just Scamper To The Beach in a few minutes time. Sadly I'm still 10 miles away. BUt working on it…

  4. Jan says:

    I watched it on tv….it was pretty cool. I bet it was neat to watch at night from the beach…

    miss you. Jan

  5. Fearless Nester says:

    What a great midnight adventure. I would have applauded right along with you…awesome!

  6. Cari says:

    Wow, now there's something I'd like to experience while I'm down here! Would love to see a post on your favorite food at the beaches – especially PIZZA!

  7. sarah says:

    Seeing a shuttle launch is on my bucket list.

  8. Beth Dunn says:

    Amazing! love the pictures. xoxo

  9. Colleen says:

    Reading your blog always leaves me a little jealous that I don't live on a beautiful beach in Florida. The pictures and the "everyday" life is depicted so well . . . tranquility amid reality, and even the upset of this perfect setting, in the changing tides. . .

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