Wow, wow, wow.
I have lived in Florida for seven years (plus three years that I called the Sunshine State home as a kid). I never thought the space shuttle was all that big a deal — until now. And while Endeavour has not launched yet (some technical issues), I can promise you that the experience of being at Kennedy Space Center, just 3 miles from the shuttle and, at times, only feet from the astronauts…
Well, it was nothing short of amazing. Even WITH a 4-hour drive home that should have taken an hour!
This is a picture heavy post, partly because I think they tell the story, and partly because I’m not smart enough to talk about space travel. I’ll use captions to try and let you know what was happening, and please let me know in the comments if you have any questions about the #NASATweetup!
Day One
Treated like VIPs
Vehicle Assembly Building
Inside the "Twent"
Astronaut Clay Anderson
Salmonella in a tube (space experiment)
Inside the VAB
This gave me chills
Live hat cam!
Inside the Saturn V Center
Ominous clouds and bad weather scrub the RSS rollback
Taking shelter in the press room
Day Two
Such a lovely start!
Watching the other big story of the day!
Astronaut Ricky Arnold
Proposal at the countdown clock -- she said yes!
- Group photo time! (photo credit: nasa hq photo on flickr)
Actor Seth Green (@SethGreen)
The closest I got to Levar Burton (@LevarBurton)
My favorite astronaut, Leland Melvin (@Astro_Flow)
Lining up to wave to the astrovan
Here it comes!
Oh, wait...there it goes...
Interview with a local radio station (Hi, @CentralFLTop5!)
It was a little surreal when the launch was scrubbed — because the astrovan turned around right in front of us…they were just 3 miles from the launch pad when their mission control team called to tell them it was off.
What happens next? They are figuring out whether they can move forward with a launch attempt on Monday, and if they do, I’ll try my darndest to be there. I started crying just getting through the security gate on Friday morning (true). I can’t imagine what it’s like being so close to the shuttle as it lifts off, and I desperately want to find out.
No matter what, the Tweetup was a success, because it proved that space and science are freaking rad, and combining them with social media is a perfect way of connecting people from all over the world.
I’ve learned so many lessons in the last two days — from the inspiring and often funny messages that the astronauts delivered, to the power of patience. Thank you, NASA, for this extraordinary opportunity. And when it does happen — God Speed, Endeavour.
About Katy
I, much like an astronaut, never leave the house without salmonella in a tube.
I was so confused when I heard it didn’t launch. Hope they get it all smoothed out Monday!
Seth Green–random but cool.
Seriously – chills. What an incredible experience!
OMG! So, I have been seeing pics of you jumping in front of some shuttle, but did not know which one until I went searching. Call me slow!
I am also a NASA Tweetup alumni, for GRAIL that launched in September. I am so jealous you got to see a shuttle launch, but what an experience! I am going to go work at Space Camp after attending their tweetup for STS-135. I love reading your blog and hope to get more into my own blog and social media in 2012.