Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Space Shuttles - Space Station
  Recalling STS-31, Hubble deploy mission

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Recalling STS-31, Hubble deploy mission
yotlu
Member

Posts: 36
From: Austria
Registered: Apr 2017

posted 03-11-2020 10:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for yotlu   Click Here to Email yotlu     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I thought I'd share this little story with you guys. I'm from Austria and was born there in 1984. Back in 1990 my parents took my brother and me on a two week trip to Florida. Unfortunately I can't remember a lot of this trip. Thanks to my dad, I have some video footage. And lately I also found photographs of the trip.

One thing I can remember was that we were about to witness the launch of a space shuttle, but it was cancelled. I don't know why it took me so long to figure out which flight it was that I missed.

So now 30 years later I find out it was STS-31, the very flight that took the Hubble Space Telescope into space.

So back in the days we were heading south and our bus would stop at a near highway so we could watch the launch of a space shuttle. But no. Cancelled. Let's move on. So after Disneyland and other stuff we went back on April 14th to visit the Kennedy Space Center. This is my dad and me in front of the VAB.

And here I am with my mother with STS-31 in the rear.

While being at KSC, on the video footage my dad says "this is like a model railway to me." My dad passed away in 2013.

So here I am sitting, 30 years after the trip. Three years ago a little spark in my brain reignited, and brought back my interest in spaceflight. I have since met Charlie Duke and Fred Haise in person. I wish I had witnessed the STS-31 launch into space back then. This would certainly have left an impression. And it wouldn't have took me so long to take action to meet the heroes of spaceflight.

Since then I have never been to the US again. But I hope I can go back there.

But now, thinking about, that I was almost witnessed the Hubble Space Telescope launch into space, sometimes puts a little smile to my face.

Mike Dixon
Member

Posts: 1417
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-12-2020 12:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Dixon   Click Here to Email Mike Dixon     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Touching story. A hand signed litho of that crew would be my goal. Memories.

Panther494
Member

Posts: 417
From: London UK
Registered: Jan 2013

posted 03-12-2020 03:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Panther494   Click Here to Email Panther494     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Memories to treasure indeed. Thank you for sharing.

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement