Liftoff plus 9 seconds

We were in Florida last week visiting the grandparents and soaking up some sun when we noticed over breakfast one morning that the shuttle Discovery was scheduled to launch for the last time that afternoon. Jodi declared a “road trip”, I decided to scrub the afternoon round of golf, my mom gamely agreed to join us and it being well before noon, we woke Cary and jumped into the car and headed north. We figured with a brief lunch break, we could arrive in the vicinity an hour before the launch. This junket wasn’t exactly planned with military precision and most of the car ride was spent on The Google, looking for best viewing spots. As we approached Cocoa Beach, well south of Cape Canaveral it became abundantly clear that we weren’t the only ones with this idea, and possibly the last to have it. Traffic was building and cars completely lined the sides of the road. We lucked out with a great parking spot near the beach, so good that we almost passed it up because it seemed too good to be true. We walked the 100 feet to the beach, and a mass of humanity that had given a bit more thought to packing than we had. Soccer chairs, umbrellas, coolers, blankets and people galore. Retirees, tourists, locals, military and kids.

T minus 9 - countdown on hold

I had my Lumix LX5 and not much else, but this was so much more than a photo op. There was a shared feeling of anticipation, and a collective groan when a radio listening observer announced that the countdown was on hold due to a downrange computer malfunction. All manner of people were sharing this great experience, and not to get too cheesy here, we were all Americans sharing this experience. We all seemed to know one another very quickly. When the countdown resumed minutes later, the excitement was palpable. It was hard not to think of the Challenger as we approached liftoff, and a cheer went up as Discovery thundered past the Gantry and into the clouds.

T minus 2 and counting - My new friends

T minus 30 seconds - Cary, Jodi and my Mom

Many years ago, I photographed Challenger landing at Cape Canaveral on the back of a 747 that had ferried it from California where it had landed. I had organized press access for myself, and had left my family for the day. Although I wouldn’t dream of being at a launch, or even a beach without a camera, on this day, my family was more important than the photos. I hope that the day becomes a memory for my son in the same way that spending this day with him, and Jodi and my mom did for me.