space shuttle viewing
 

So was anyone able to see the Space Shuttle lift off today while flying over Florida? Impressions?

I live in RIC, yesterday my father and I flew down to DAB for a daytrip and to see the shuttle take-off. Our plane arrived at 10:17 and we got outside to look for it. We keep on waiting and then we see some people staring and pointing. It was behind the int'l terminal building so we run over and caught it about 10 secs after it took off. It was pretty cool to see the flame shooting through the sky. Too bad we didn't quite see it take off though. We figured it was about 40 miles away because by the time the loud "boom" got to us it was about 5 minutes later. Do the math...

I was downtown Orlando, on the 10th floor. Usually from Orlando you can see most of the launch (no details, just smoke and some flame). This launch we saw some flame for about a second. The rest of it was hidden behind clouds and haze. Pretty disappointing, since it was the first one for so long.

Off topic maybe - I saw a night launch from just a few miles up the coast back in the early 90's. Those are most impressive. If they ever get back into a normal routine and start doing night launches again, it can make for a neat little vacation if you live a state or two away.

You don't have to be in Florida. Once I was on a South Carolina resort island beach at dusk with several business colleagues, and we all gasped as a pillar of smoke rose from the southern horizon with a glowing light at the top. Turns out it was a shuttle launch. You'd think from that far away it would not be visible or would only project an apparent short vertical distance, but it looked just like it was almost next door (except that the shuttle itself was not visible, and the flame was much smaller than it appears when you're closer).

I'm wondering where the shuttle lands. All I've heard is the 1-day extension, to Monday. Was just curious 'cause I'll be in the air Monday afternoon flying home from DCA.

Usually, back at KSC. But sometimes, it needs to go to Edwards.