Discovery's Last Launch

On Thursday, February 24, Space Shuttle Discovery was launched off to space on her 38th flight with nothing less than a hero's sendoff.  In Titusville, chants of USA served as the backdrop for the final countdown, covering up the hollers, the cheerful sobs, and the awe-inspired murmurs as the fiery beauty lifted off for the last time.  Unforgettable moments where we were all world citizens watching the brave among us, wishing toward a common cause, and gently reminded that we are all a part of something larger than ourselves.

Discovery's Launch

For the last year my family has been following the end of the shuttle program and vigorously planning how to get our space geek son (and his space geek parents) to one of the last launches.  Everyone knows that launches are often delayed due to mechanical problems, weather, etc. so the chances of us booking our reservations in August for February and actually making a launch were slim.  After Endeavor's February launch was postponed until April we were devastated, until Discovery's November launch was set for the week in February we would be there.  We got lucky! 

Discovery's Path

Last summer we met a Floridian who was previously a rocket engineer for NASA and he shared with us that the best place to watch was on the water in Titusville.  So, as we left Orlando the day of the launch we knew where to go.  We left 5 hours early for the 4:50 pm launch - I am very type A and like to be places early - only to hit so much traffic that we were pulling into a parking spot at 4:45.  As we were grabbing our things, NASA radio announced a hold on the launch:  a central command computer was down.  "STS-133 might be scrubbed."  We decided that we would "will" the computer to work, jumped out of our car, and fought off the crowds of people to find a perfect viewing spot along the water.  We were in position at 4:48.

Titusville Crowds

People were everywhere.  Car radios were blasting NASA radio, hanging on every word.  4:50 the computer was fixed;  the launch was a go.  The crowd collectively cheered, someone in the distant yelled out USA, and everyone followed along passionately belting out the echo louder and louder.  4:52 Silence.  NASA began the final countdown.  Off in the distance, the launch pad began to spiral red, smoke filled the air, and slowly one of our nation's greatest rose into the air.  People were smiling, hugging, crying, trying to capture some moments on film, and yelling "Go baby go!"  Even writing this gives me chills and puts me back in that moment.  Derek had put Dylan on his shoulders and looking up at him, I saw a little boy in awe, curiously studying the shuttle, connecting with it in a way that only a child could, and taking it all in.  He got it.  He got how special this moment was and his eyes never veered away until minutes later when the shuttle was a distant dot in the sky.  Dylan didn't speak during the launch, but spontaneously began clapping several times.  Unforgettable moments...

Dylan kissing John Glenn

            It might seem as if the shuttle program and reconnecting kids with nature are completely unconnected.  Look a little closer and you will remember that the shuttle program began as a challenge to the American people to unite together and imagine the impossible.  It was a call to action; a call to rise above our individual daily lives and to embrace that we were a part of something bigger, something connected, something important.  In many ways, nature has provided us with the same challenge;  forcing us to look at the future changes to our way of life if we are not able to band together as a people, living with the Earth and minimizing our impact.  As parents, our call to action is to find ways to immerse our children with the outdoors, paving the pathway for future responsibility and conservation.  Then, as we watch our beautiful children form into tomorrow's leaders, we should watch as Dylan did Discovery:  curiously, proudly, and with spontaneous, wild clapping.

For more information on Discovery's last mission, check out http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html.