Florida Trip to see the Shuttle Launch!

After working on the Space Shuttle flight software for 10 years I finally got to go see a launch at KSC in Florida. It was an awesome experience! My good friend and co-worker Jennifer went with me and we had so much fun! First I got to fly on the company jet which is the only way to fly! We got to park right near the plane at Elington and then just walk on board, they didn't even check ID, no security, no instructions at the beginning of the flight, and lots of good food and drinks! The flight went great, it is very small inside though, and we flew into Orlando because the airport by KSC was restricted due to the launch. So the only bad part of the trip was driving 3 1/2 hours to get to KSC when it normally takes 45 min. There were so many people going to see the launch we got in a huge traffic jam. So we were worried about missing the launch but we got there 30 min. before and made it to the employee viewing site just in time! It was an amazing site to see! There is a video at the end of this post. And then we got to tour several buildings at KSC and stay at a hotel on Cocoa Beach for the weekend! It was a great trip! And Jeremy and the kids survived while mommy was gone, he did a great job taking care of them!

Here is the company plane

Here is right before the launch

The STS-132 Atlantis Space Shuttle launch to the International Space Station!

Here is the Launch Control Center and the Vehicle Assembly Building

Here is the inside of the VAB, it is 525 feet tall, and it is where the shuttle is prepared for launch

Me by the top of the Solid Rocket Booster

Looking up at the crane that lifts the shuttle

Jennifer, Me and a Florida co-worker Matt

Me and Jennifer in front of the countdown clock

Mercury rocket

Shuttle launch pad

The crawler that brings the shuttle to the launch pad

The shuttle landing strip

The KSC visitor center

Rockets at the visitor center

We got to tour the Tile Processing Facility, these are the tiles that go under the shuttle

The tiles coming out of the oven

Putting tiles on the Orion vehicle

Where they sew the blankets for the outside of the shuttle
The outside of the Orbiter Processing Facility where the shuttle undergoes maintenance between flights, we got to tour inside and it was so neat to see the shuttle upclose!
Me standing under shuttle Endeavour
The side of the shuttle
The payload bay of the shuttle

Standing by the nose of the shuttle
I also got to see an old friend and co-worker who works in Florida now, Christian!
And we did some other activities while we were there like an airboat ride, going to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and going to the beach

Video Jennifer took of the launch! The sound was unbelievable!