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  12/5/2001: STS-108's launch anniversary

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Author Topic:   12/5/2001: STS-108's launch anniversary
sts205cdr
Member

Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 12-05-2008 01:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for sts205cdr   Click Here to Email sts205cdr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Me and two friends hunkered down at the Surf Studio in Cocoa Beach the day before the scheduled launch on the 29th of November. I can remember us watching TV and slowly realizing the fouled docking interface was going to mean a postponement of several days. My friends stuck it out as long as they could, but eventually had to leave for home, brokenhearted. Somehow, I had had the foresight to plan for a week's delay, and was at Rusty's in Port Canaveral to witness the launch on December 5th...

Minutes later, I looked over and noticed Scott Kelly standing around with a smile and a beer. That was the cherry on top, chatting with Scott while his brother Mark was rocketing into space.

December 5th, 2001 - One of the best days I've ever spent.

--John

OV-105
Member

Posts: 816
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 12-05-2008 04:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for OV-105   Click Here to Email OV-105     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You did buy him a beer didn't you?

sts205cdr
Member

Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 12-05-2008 04:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for sts205cdr   Click Here to Email sts205cdr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by OV-105:
You did buy him a beer didn't you?

No, but I did send Scott and Mark both an MPLM patch when I got home. Scott had commented that he didn't have one when he saw it on my jacket (under my OV-105 patch).

--John

Ben
Member

Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000

posted 12-05-2008 05:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I am rather surprised to hear that Scott Kelly would be watching the launch from Rusty's and not be on site with family or VIPs.

sts205cdr
Member

Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 12-05-2008 05:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for sts205cdr   Click Here to Email sts205cdr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
His family was with him, but I was a bit surprised, too.

--John

Tom
Member

Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 12-06-2008 07:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tom   Click Here to Email Tom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
John...very interesting story!

Has anyone else here watched a shuttle launch (off site) alongside an astronaut?

All times are CT (US)

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