Pre-Dawn Launch

Vero Beach
No LL

We got up early to watch the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery. We're very glad that we did, the experience was wonderful.

It was one of those totally still nights when the surface of the water made a big mirror. We elected to row the dinghy over to the beach instead of using the motor. Silently gliding through the water in those conditions is magical.

Turnout at the beach was very modest. We saw no more than 100 people up and down the beach. We arrived just in time with less than 2 minutes until launch.

The moment of launch was not as spectacular as the previous time we saw it at the beach. That time there were low lying clouds that reflected the orange glow from the flame to light up the sky like dawn. This time, the sky was clear and the orange glow was less. (first picture)

To make up for it though, this launch happened only minutes before dawn. The reward came about 3 minutes after launch. At that moment the first direct rays from the sun hit the highest puff of smoke from the launch. It marked the spot where the booster rockets separated. The sunlight made the smoke glow brilliantly in all the colors of the rainbow. See the second picture. Sorry, the picture is much less spectacular than the sight.

About 5 minutes after launch, we could still see Discovery as it entered the Mediterranean. Only then did the rumbling roar of the sound reach us. We are 65 miles away from the launch site and the rocket traveled about 6500 miles while the sound traveled 65 miles. Amazing.

As we rowed back to Tarwathie, the smoke plume continued to rise and twist and turn as it was illuminated by the direct rays of the rising sun. See the third picture. We also saw one of the cruisers out fishing in his kayak. He was just sitting there, totally still and enjoying the experience. He must have enjoyed the peace and beauty even more than we did. Good for him.