Now Arriving Runway No.5

[SirRod]

The space shuttle just landed at the Cape, It sounded like it was flying through my house, I had to open up the door and let it out...
There was a tremendous Sonic Boom, and usually there are Two but being it was so close I only heard one, the second must have blended in with the first.
I mean it shook the whole house, my mother called within seconds asking "What Was That". I said I don't know, so I turned to the local cable news and they said "we don't know if you heard the sonic boom but it was the space shuttle". The news showed the landing, at night which is very rare, but it was absolutely a perfect set down.
It is a privilege to be a Fla boy and get to see the rocket and stuff they launch at Kennedy Space Center.
Back in 1969 I was driving in Ruskin Fl. at around 11:30 am listening to the Apollo 11 launch, when I actually saw the Saturn 5 rocket from this coast. I looked up and said "There it is". I have an original Apollo 11 patch, that I'm very proud of.
Junkie there really wasn't any where else to put this post.
I was so excited I just had to tell all my Junkie friends.

[Noyes]

I saw the night launch on cable HD live a few weeks ago. I know it is not the same as being there but it sure was neat. I only wish that I had been able to see something like that. your a lucky man Rod!

[Milkshake]

That is awesome, visited the place in Mississippi close to the inlaws that does some of the engine stuff, thought that was cool. One time I would like to see a take off, night would be something to see, especialy live.

[tate0301]

The closest I've been to moving spacecraft was when a jumbo jet flew right over me with a shuttle riding piggyback on the jet. I guess they were transporting it from one base to another. It was in Nashville TN

[SirRod]

There has only been one other Shuttle launch at night that I've seen, I don't remember the exact date but it was in 1993 I think. I was working late as a security guard at a multi million dollar nursery, here near where I live.
I knew about the launch because it was a Polar shot, normally all rockets are launched East because the earth rotates at a 1000 mph. So the rockets get a great boost in speed and use less fuel.
It was a perfectly clear night, it takes about a minute before you can see the vehicles plume of exhaust. When I saw it it was brilliant orange trail. I prayed for the astronauts safety. I saw the solid fuel booster drop away and disappear. Saying Go! Go! Go!
I could still see the three Shuttle rocket motors firing, I watched it go to azimuth then start to orbit. I watched it till it was out of sight, following the curvature of the earth. It gives me chills right now just writing this.
I've seen the shuttle in orbit with the sun lighting it.
Of course I saw Challenger when she exploded at throttle up, I cried that day.
Was in total disbilef.
It has been fun being able to watch the rocket launched.
Were only about 80mi or so from the cape.
There are so many more I could tell you about...

[CANNIBAL]

You just got my attention I have been interested in space flight and astronomy since I was a child.

[SirRod]

I also live in the landing pattern of McDill AFB since I was a child.

When I was very young I saw some of the very earliest launches from Cape Canaveral.

I'm a surfer and use to surf at Coco beach. I was at Port Canaveral one evening with a friend from school. He had my 9' Oceanside nose rider and my full length wet suit, and was trying to catch a few waves before complete dark. There were all these people with binoculars, Cameras with Hi power lenses, telescopes, etc. All set up and pointing to the east. I asked one guy "Whats going on?" he said "there was a British Communication satellite about to be launched". When I looked I could see a small very brightly lit up object standing in the distance. Then it launched...The whole world lit up brighter that daylight. This rocket blasted off with the rumbling and shaking I've never felt in my life. About that time my friend who I had forgotten about came running out of the surf dragging my board behind him...The launch has scared him out of the water...everyone was laughing, it was the funnest thing I ever saw, he thought the end of the world had come and we were being "Nuked" LOL... I haven't seen him since High School.
I've only scratched the surface of these stories.

[Milkshake]

My father was a retiree from the Air Force, fire fighter on the bases, so I grew up seeing the shows and such. There was a show in South Dakota when a thunderbird had to bail and crash in a field next to our block, middle of nothingville so noone was hurt. That was something I will always remember. We used to sit on the roof and watch, when dad was on duty we could not be at the strip for some reason. I was able to see alot of cool stuff as a kid, not to mention ride on the trucks all the time. Does not compare with space shuttles, bet their kids have lots of cool stuff to do all the time.
You will have to start a story thread S R, I would enjoy hearing about some of the stuff you have seen involving the cape. Sure others would also.

[Volcano]

Here are a couple of shots of the Shuttle launch Aug 8th, 2005; from my backyard on Cocoa Beach

....and the Last Titan IV-B from Cape Canaveral, Launched May 4, 2005; shot from secured area on Air Force Station causeway open to program families just for the event

aaahhhhh, that was a very nice chapter of my life

[Noyes]

VERY NICE! Thank you for the pics!