STS-133 – Space Shuttle Discovery’s Final Flight
Earlier today the Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) touched down at Kennedy Space Center, concluding its 39th and final mission into Earth orbit.
I was fortunate enough to be in central Florida during the launch of Discovery. The Florida trip was a planned family vacation to theme park land, and the launching of the space shuttle was just a bonus.
So the big question — Can you really see a rocket launch from central Florida?
Yes!
Just don’t expect to see any details. It’s basically a tiny black dot cruising high into the sky and leaving behind a massive exhaust plume in its wake. It’ll look quite a bit different than the normal airliner contrails that sometimes cover the sky.
I was in Epcot on the day of the launch, and (as predicted because I tend to have bad luck) the sky was mostly cloudy that afternoon. We had nice and sunny skies for most of the week, but that afternoon was mostly cloudy with only a few pockets of blue sky. In other words, you just had to keep scanning the few holes in the cloud and hope to be looking at the right one at the right angle during the launch.
I wasn’t so lucky.
launch of Space Shuttle Discovery - STS-133
The camera was ready, but I picked the wrong hole in the clouds. Shouts were heard as the rocket suddenly climbed high into the sky. By the time I spotted it there was nothing but an exhaust plume. Oh well.
launch video of the final mission for Space Shuttle Discovery
Shuttle Discovery docked with the ISS.
Discovery conducted a rendezvous with the International Space Station on the third day of the mission, and it stayed docked until day twelve. Yeah, it’s exciting stuff.
Earlier today the Discovery conducted a deorbit burn before re-entering the atmosphere and making a safe landing at Kennedy Space Center.
Space Shuttle Discovery making its final landing at KSC.
Big question #2 — Can you see the shuttle land when standing in central Florida?
No!
It’s flying too high at that point and the odds of spotting the tiny black dot against the sky are astronomical. But if you listen at the right time, you can hear two sonic booms as the spacecraft cruises overhead. Bang! Bang! Those won’t be major booms from the sky. I’ve been down there during several landings, the most recent of which happened a couple of years ago. Pay attention a few minutes before the scheduled landing time and you should be able to hear it.
It brings me to sadness seeing the Space Shuttle missions coming to a close, especially since the next American spacecraft, well, do we even have plans for a replacement anymore? The Constellation program was looking promising until President Obama signed the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 and essentially axed the Constellation program.
I have doubts that I’ll see NASA return to its glory days like during the Space Race in the 1960s. I wasn’t around back then, but when reading about the programs and watching the mission videos, all I can say is WOW! Those were some really exciting times back then. Technology advanced by leaps and bounds, major accomplishments were made with each mission from Mercury to Gemini to Apollo, and American astronauts were some of the bravest people on the face of the planet.
launch of Gemini IX
Credit for bravery also goes without a doubt to the Russian cosmonauts flying on the early Vostok and Soyuz rockets. It’s interesting how the Russians are still using the Soyuz rockets to carry passengers and cargo into Earth orbit and rendezvous missions with the ISS.
“Земля синего цвета. Как замечательно. Это удивительно.”
(Translated – “The Earth is blue. How wonderful. It is amazing.”)
– Yuri Gagarin, Vostok 1