Anyone watch the launch?
 

I think that was the coolest thing i've ever seen. In case you didn't watch, this was the first time that NASA had cameras attached to the external fuel tank of the spaceshuttle. You could actually see the seperation between the space shuttle and the fuel tank nine minutes after take off with Earth in the background as they made their ascent.

What can I say? NASA blinded me with science or something :o

Yeah - it was really cool!!!!

Science - Sci Sci Science :cool: - very cool indeed.

Yea, I was the kid who always wanted to be an astronaut, so I've always been interested in NASA. So I got up early (Yes, 10:30 ;)), and was absolutely amazed. I think the separation of the shuttle and fuel tank was one of the neatest parts, but just the whole thing was pretty impressive.

Brad

Ha! Me too. I don't know where you are in NJ but we have had NASA TV on our local access channel and about two weeks ago, they took it away! I used to watch all of the updates from the space station and i'm sure they had excellent coverage this morning (being NASA and whatnot :laugh: ). I think it would have been even cooler had I gotten to watch that this morning but even so, incredibly impressive. Glad i'm not the only nerd!

I'm picturing you in a while lab coat right now with one of those lights on your head :laugh:

I'm in Marlton...Near Cherry Hill and outside Philly. But, YES, our channel had it, too, and I used to watch it. I went away for 2 days and when I came back, they had taken it away. So, oh, I know the feeling...;) I had to settle for CNN this morning, but I could have done without some of the commentary. :sorry:

No, not in the slightest.

Brad :)

Oh, I know Marlton/Cherry Hill well. The guy on CNN was sort of annoying (I had on Fox news at first -- they had two astronauts with them watching -- their reactions were priceless). I often wish they'd just let the video roll and keep their mouths shut.

I was such a space geek when I was younger - I used to carry around a folder with all sorts of papers and pictures and whatnot that I'd collected about astronomy :laugh:

Then I found out how much math is involved and I gave up on the astronomy thing :rolleyes:

Same here. I was incredibly dissapointed by that :distress: My parents bought me a telescope when I was a kid. Unfortunately, it died in a tragic lens accident but needless to say, that thing got a workout. One family in the development across from mine has an observatory that houses some ridiculous telescope. I've always wanted to go knock on their door and check it out :laugh:

I did
 

Missed it...
 

not really a person into circling the planet...

If the NAS-holes want my attention go to Mars or at least the moon (Since everyone knows the moon landing was "staged"...That cracks me up when people say that it was "staged", "Just how was it staged" is the question I usually ask 'em.) and quit wasting time circling the Earth.

yeah - I always wanted a telescope..SOOOO bad - but we could never afford one :distress:

And when I think back it's like - rather than my family encouraging me to work at math and science to keep up my love of astronomy - they were just like, 'yeah -lots of math -too bad for you" :laugh:

When the shuttle was launched it was 16.45 over here and I was still at work, so I didn't get to see it live.
Just saw some on the news, it's still amazing to watch every time. Hope they return save.

i wish them a safe journey & return also~ tho i personally would never have the kahonies to want to be up in space, i am awestruck everytime i see a launch~

My telescope wasn't anything advanced -- it cost maybe $100 tops but it did it's job for me, may it rest in peace :laugh:

"Marissa has ALGEBRA AND CHESMISTRY!" :rolleyes: I hear, ya!

we could see the streak over here on the gulf coast. florida is a pretty narrow state. it was cloudy-ish but the sky cleared up and we climbed to the roof. cool beans.

I live in Orlando, so I watched it today from the 6th floor of an office building. It was pretty cool, I had never seen a launch before. Titusville is about 40 miles away and I got a pretty good view, surprisingly.

I saw the launch a little later on NASA's website. Oh man, am I worried about the astronauts. The latest report has NASA investigating a chip in the thermal tiles on the shuttle. Of course, with the new cameras installed, it's possible to see things now that they never could before, so it may not be an issue.

All of my dreams have revolved around aviation, astronomy and NASA. In '86 after Challenger, I became so interested in the space program. It absolutely consumed my life for years. In my bookcase, I have a large binder filled with photos and information NASA sent me over many years of writing to them. They never charged a penny for it (my dad would joke those were his tax dollars at work!). I recently wrote to them again asking for a crew photo of the return to flight, so I hope they answer me once more!

Too bad my entire family thought I was completely over my head with my dreams and math/science weren't my best subjects. :( I still love the shuttle, but am starting to believe it's time to retire it and look into more options.

My son in is Orlando, too, and saw it. He's in BMW technician school and they let them go out to watch.

We also have a small lake house on Sam Rayburn lake in E. Texas only a few miles from where the search for Columbia took place. Many of the townspeople went to the launch today. There was a bonding that took place here during that tragedy...we lost two locals in the search and recovery. A memorial is in progress to commemorate the site where the astronauts/wreckage were found.

I just took a look -- they posted photos of the origin of the debris and debris falling away from the shuttle. I'm wondering when they plan to fix the missing tiles and how they will go about doing so. I know early tomorrow morning they finally make their rendezvous with the Space Station so i'd assume tomorrow is out.

Very nice that they're doing so. It's still difficult to believe that it all happened 2 1/2 years ago but i'm glad they've decided to move on with exploration and research.