Our view of the shuttle Atlantis STS-117 at Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Center about 7 miles away from the launch pad. The most amazing part was feeling the sound. About 30 seconds after lift-off you felt as if very small pellets were lightly tapping against you.
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The external fuel tanks descending were easily visible to the naked eye. Funny thing about this launch memory -- we more often discuss the traffic. Our close to an hour drive east that morning (June 2007) became an 8 hour drive home due to the crushing number of cars making their way off Merritt Island and back to Orlando.
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Watching STS-118 Endeavour launch over Mission: Space at Epcot (August 2007). The cast members led the gathered crowd in the traditional countdown. It felt like minutes before the shuttle appeared over the show building and then quickly disappeared into the clouds.
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Lots of cheering accompanied the shuttle's appearance. Really enjoyed hearing vacationers calling home and telling family to turn on the TV to watch the shuttle launch they were about to witness soaring over Epcot.
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Nighttime launch of STS-126 Endeavour Nov 14, 2008 viewed from the Observation Deck of the Contemporary. We were planning to watch it from the large staircase overlooking Bay Lake when a cast member suggested we take the elevator up. I've never seen so many people standing along those walkways. And seconds after her rise the skies above opened, rain began to pour and the gathered crowd very quickly made their way back inside.
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The launch of STS-125 Atlantis on the afternoon of May 11, 2009 was the most challenging to spot. First because I was looking the wrong way. Based on my earlier experiences watching the shuttle launch over Mission: SPACE I was looking toward Epcot and was really surprised when she appeared directly over the tram loading area of the Studios. If not for the small patch of blue we may not have spotted her at all.
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On November 16th in the Florida sun as Dream Along with Mickey performed on the Cinderella Castle stage suddenly all eyes were due east to watch STS-129 Atlantis soar into space.
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I teared up as the show performers coincidentally sang the lyric "You can reach the stars if you just believe"
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Finally on February 24th we watched a shuttle launch from Disney's Animal Kingdom from the waterside tables of Flame Tree BBQ. We anxiously awaited launch as updates indicated possible NO GO until moments before lift-off.
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As always the long period from launch caused me to suspect she was hidden by clouds until STS-133 Discovery peeked through the clouds above Expedition Everest. Guests cheers and help each find the fast moving shuttle. Then they do their best to document the "we were there when" moment.
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Discovery's wide jet trail cuts through the blue sky patch above Expedition Everest.
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