Last Discovery Shuttle Launch

I had the great opportunity to visit Cape Canaveral for Discovery's last shuttle launch....EVER! I never would have called myself a space shuttle enthusiast, but I guess I sort of am since I've seen what I consider to be a lot! ;) They never get old! This time though, I got to actually be at NASA to witness the STS-131 Discovery Mission to the International Space Station.

It all began with a NASA shuttle picking us at at 2am the morning of the launch and bringing us to the NASA campus.

Before the launch, there were the "opening cermonies" where dignitaries and special guests were introduced, the national anthem was sung, and details including crew bios and mission goals were presented.


Post mission briefing, we headed to the breakfast buffet line before making it outside to the balcony to secure a spot to watch the launch. We were as close as we could get to the launch site...3 miles...and getting to see the launch from that close was pretty amazing. Night launches are always so impressive in my book! Getting to hear and feel the rumble hit you as the shuttle takes off is pretty cool too. And yet ANOTHER plus for this launch...minutes before Discovery's launch, the International Space Station could be seen passing right in front of the moon in the pitch black sky.

We ended with a beautiful early morning sky highlighting the launch afterglow and the NASA tradition of post launch beans and cornbread (and Lousiana hot sauce!)