Post date: Jul 08, 2011 7:41:49 PM
Emotions run high at the final launch of NASA's 30-year Space Shuttle program which brought out hundreds of thousands to Florida's "Space Coast."
CAPE CANERVAL, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (JULY 8, 2011) REUTERS -
On the final flight of America's 30-year Space Shuttle program, Atlantis rocketed off its seaside lauchpad on Friday (July 8), a flight that for many was an emotional experience.
About 1 million sightseers witnessed the smooth liftoff from Florida's Kennedy Space Center - including thousands of invited guests at the Space Center.
"I got quite choked up," said Matthew Pavletich - who came from New Zealand to witness the historic flight. "I really did. It's sad in a way because it's all happening so fast during launch. It doesn't hang around. It goes. It happens so quickly, it's so hard to get a real grasp of it. You're overwhelmed by adrenaline and emotion. And it's coming so frick'n fast, you feel like saying, 'stop, stop, stop, wait a minute, I want to savor it."
That was a common theme among those fortunate enough to see Atlantis take off in person.
"You feel it in your chest when it starts to hit the sound barrier," said Nicole Winchester, a tourist from Toronto, Canada. "You can feel like right here as it goes up higher. Emotionally it's just amazing to see. It's beautiful. It's beautiful to see the pillar of flame go up into the sky and after that, it's just waiting to make sure everything's gone okay."
Even after Atlantis could no longer be seen by the naked eye, the thrill of the launch was still felt by many eyewitnesses.
"It's surreal," said Hannah Noble, a tourist from Denver, Colorado. "Feeling the rumble and seeing how bright it is. You can't even imagine it unless you see it with your own eyes. Seeing it on TV doesn't do it any justice either."
Also on hand to watch the launch of Atlantis was Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield, who had flown on Atlantis on an earlier mission.
"I feel much safer when I'm in the Space Shuttle because you can do things," said Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield. "You can fix stuff. You can take action. You can react to problems. You actually have control. Here on the ground, all I could do is clench and unclench my fist because I can't do anything about it. I feel so helpless just watching. My heart is in my throat."
Cloudy skies threatened to delay the 12-day mission to the International Space Station, but conditions cleared in time for blastoff of the 135th and final mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program.