Launch. 2 words: Woo Hoo!!!

STS128-S-037 -- Space shuttle Discovery

Image above: Space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member STS-128 crew head toward Earth orbit and rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS). Credit: NASA

 

 These words were exclaimed by me (maybe multiple times) through the ginormous smile on my face as we left the pad.  And oh by the way, you don’t just leave the pad.  You get kicked off the pad!  The engines light and you feel the rumble, 6 seconds later the solid rocket boosters light and you are literally kicked off the pad and you have no doubt that you are going someplace fast!  I have this vivid memory of how deliberate that departure from the launch pad was – all I could think was ‘wow we were sitting snuggly in our seats on the pad and now we are definitely OFF the pad’.  ~2 ½ minutes later when the boosters burn out and fall away it gets much smoother and quieter, and then at ~8 minutes the engines have used all the fuel in the external tank and they stop too.  Then you have arrived to zero gravity.  Amusing to see your arms and legs start to float up — and of course anything else that isn’t tied down is floating too.  It was a most excellent start to this amazing adventure!   

2 thoughts on “Launch. 2 words: Woo Hoo!!!”

  1. Hello Nicole,
    I can imagine that launch was a thrilling experience for all of you.
    Weren’t you a bit afraid when the inferno behind you started?

    Please don’t drop anything when you are flying over my city! We have a new roof!

    Greetings from Cologne in Germany

    Uli

  2. Hi! Nicole,

    I’m heading to Florida next week to see STS 129 blast off for your return to Earth. Save travels and enjoy your final days in space.

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