The Best 10 Minutes

Saturday, I got to experience something that I have wanted to do since I was a small child. I saw the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis from the VIP seating section. I was sitting in the same section that the president of NASA and even the United States would sit. I believe that it was no more than three miles from the launch pad. I am getting ahead of myself, though.

Jon called me up on Friday telling me that he had been invited to watch the launch in the VIP section, and that he could bring a guest. Since Melissa was working during the launch (she works there too), that he would like me to go with him. He said that I needed to be at his place by 7:00am. I told him that I wouldn’t miss it. So on a Saturday morning, I got up at 5:00 am, and rushed to get out of the door at 5:30. Upon arriving at Jon’s we left immediately, and went to the office of United Space Alliance’s reception room. In there, they gave us breakfast, and they had a live video feed of the astronaut arriving (camera after camera, from gate to orbiter). The best part of this was that they also gave out a folder with a mission pin, patch, and sticker, as well as information on the mission, and USA.

From there, we took a bus to get to the site. It was a 30 minute ride, and it was rather interesting. Between Jon, and the guy who was the host (I can’t remember his name) I learned a lot of great NASA trivia. We arrived with several hours to go. The visitors’s center there was pretty neat. There is a Saturn V rocket hanging over head, and the place was buzzing with people. There was a gift shop that I buzzed through, though I left without spending anything. We also went to a presentation on the Moon Landing, which while a bit dated was still done well. I learned a bit about that mission too. Nothing much else, but an over-priced pepperoni pizza with fries. At the end of the 9 minute hold, we all went outside. I found a seat, and we all waited for the count-down to resume. Once it started they asked everyone to stand for the National Anthem. Shortly thereafter, one patriotic song (I can not remember which one now) started playing. At first no one seemed to notice, but it started dawning on people that someone screwed up. After a minute, it stopped in the middle of it, and there was this silence. Almost eerie in nature, and maybe a bit sacred. The tension was palpable as we waited for the music to start. Then, slowly the soft sound of whispered voices rose from the crowd. When I realized what it was, I was very close to tears. The spectators had spontaneously taken up the National Anthem, I have never hear a more beautiful rendition. Once the loud-speakers started playing the right song, people half-heartedly started singing along, but I think that my feeling that it was an almost vulgar formality was shared by many others.

“T-minus 1 minute.”

Instant applause! The clouds are coming in, and we hope that the mission isn’t delayed again.

“T-minus 30 seconds.”

This is it! Everyone’s excitement builds. Everyone gets their cameras ready. We all rise to our feet in anticipation.

“T-minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6″

The engines fire! Brilliant clouds burst from below Atlantis.

“5, 4, 3, 2, 1, lift-off”

The sound of 5 simultaneous fireworks finales crashes in on us. The vibration is awe-inspiring. In seconds, this massive bottle-rocket has cleared the tower and is taking off.

I have seen many shuttle launches before, though all from a far distance away. It just never captures the reality of it. There are people on that thing! It is an absolutely over complicated, bulky, dangerous, flying brick, and there are people on there! They ride the nose of the comet into orbit to further our collective knowledge and improve our lives. Truly heroes, all of them.

Higher, and higher it flew, until all that could be seen is a small star. Brilliant, but completely alone in the noon sky. As a cloud passes, even that is gone.

I peer up at where it was. Straining to see one last glimpse, but that’s it. The show is over. The whole thing was less then ten minutes in length.

It was one of the best 10 minutes of my life.