Twenty Seconds of Excitement...

 

The big waiting for the start of the Shuttle Discovery's last flight to the Space Station started for many visitors already early in the day and in the afternoon. Some were enjoying te pretty water views, some had already a drink or two, some were playing cards or just relaxing in the warm sunshine, like this man in the front.

And then, finally at 4.50 p.m. the Shuttle appeared flying high already into the sky

Some seconds after the start came the clouds, covering up the view and that's was it - an excitement of maybe 20 seconds, that's all.

 This is what the Shuttle left behind: a lot of noise and this large and impressive looking smog cloud.

Space Shuttle Discovery's Final Launch

In less than two hours, NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled to make its last trip into low Earth orbit. Discovery will be traveling to the International Space Station, carrying a large module packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as a robotic assistant named Robonaut 2. With the entire Space Shuttle program scheduled for mandatory retirement this year, Discovery is the most-flown spacecraft in history, traveling 143 million miles (230 million kilometers) over the course of its 39 missions since 1984, and spending nearly a full year in orbit. Gathered here are images of Discovery, its crew, and support staff from the past several months, while the spacecraft was being prepared for today's launch. This mission, STS-133, is scheduled for liftoff at 4:50 p.m Eastern Time.

If you're interested in learning more about this flight and to see great pictures, click here.


Hi my friends,

It was quiet an experience yesterday and big fun for me to watch the last flight of the Shuttle. My snaps are only a small collection of documentation what I have seen with my eyes - and with my camera. My big wish is to get one day more closer with my camera, to see the "real thing" close enough!!

Maybe someone out there by NASA will read this...!?  :))

Thank you so much also for all your kind comments to my last post. Gladly appreciated!
I wish you all a wonderful Friday - Weekend is just around the corner.... yeah!
~Susanne






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It looks like rain...

It looks like rain...

Hi my friends,

Thanks for all your comments to my posting two days ago, very much appreciated.

Today is the Launch of the Space Shuttle this early afternoon. If I get some acceptable shots I'll show it to you - if not, you have to bear with my flower snaps or something else...LOL...

Have a nice day!

Susanne

Buy my photography printed, framed or stretched on Canvas here

http://tinyurl.com/y8guwqz

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The Shuttle did NOT went off

Picture source

The Shuttle Discovery STS-128 did NOT went off last night because of - they said - bad weather conditions. Even though the night sky was clear and the stars were beautiful and bright, only some lightnings here and there on the horizon, but not that strong at all.

We all - Dave and I, and maybe 100 other people - were waiting with big patience to see that spectacle. Some brought a radio with them to listen to the countdown that never happened and some had even their laptop on their knees. One could feel the big disappointment in the crowd when the NASA Control Station said "No" to let the Shuttle going up to space. It is now postponed for tonight at 01.10 A.M.

I don't know if I can be standing up again so long....LOL...

Waiting for a big event

.....waving in the wind....

Hi my friends,

we are waiting for the launch of the Space Shuttle "Discovery STS-128" 01.36 A.M. at Kennedy Space Center. It's the first time in my life to see this spectacle live. I hope I'm not to excited and will forget to click the exposure button....LOL.. If not, I'll have some pictures and maybe also a little video to show you :)

It was a great and beautiful day today... we went into Cocoa Beach and to Melbourne to explore the region and had a fine lunch at "Applebees".... :) that's the "hard and exciting" life of two retirees...LOL...

Stay tuned with me and your kind comments are always very welcome :)
Susanne

Last sunlight on palm leafs

Last sunlight on palm leafs

Shapes and colors of a palm leaf

Sunlight plays

Hi my friends,

longtime friends know it already, I LOVE palm trees and I love to photograph them since many years now. Have a look in my old archives from Key West - going back to the year 2006, my very first beginning of blogging. I fell in love with this tropical trees and never lost the passion :)

Thank you so much for your comments yesterday. Yes, we are still sitting here at the Space Coast, waiting for the next Shuttle Launch coming up next Monday night at 01.58 AM. I hope I can do some snaps, if the weather is good. I'm excited already :)

Stay with me and enjoy your day!
Susanne

Life is good...

I thought I do show you some of my photos in a collage now. This one shows you a kaleidoscope of the RV Park's environment.

This is a collection and my impressions of "life is good" on a campground itself :)

On the shore of the Indian River Lagoon, this 26.45 acre campground is a well shaded and quiet hammock of pines, palms and foliage providing habitat to squirrels, birds, and tropical creatures. The river offers shoreline fishing and a perfect view of space shuttle launches at Kennedy Space Center. Campers also enjoy access to a recreation hall with a small swimming pool and reception grill area, a fire ring, a mid-sized pavilion, two shuffleboard courts, and a horse shoe pit.

Offering a secluded oasis with easy access to urban amenities, Manatee Hammock is a perfect launch pad to area attractions such as The Enchanted Forest, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Canaveral National Seashore, and Kennedy Space Center.

Read more about here

*******

Visit also my shop at Cafe-Press

Palmtrees at the Beach

I guess, I 'm back to my palm tree photography again here in Florida...LOL... The scene here is the view that we have at the waterfront of this campground. Isn't it beautiful here? Far back on the horizon is the NASA building of the Kennedy Space Center visible.

The park is a very nice area to relax, to take a bike ride or just having a walk for your daily exercise - or to watch the sunrise.
That's on my schedule for tomorrow morning - yes, I will get up that early - I hope :)

The wooden pier

A little bit of a "My Wordless Sunday" photography or maybe "I wish you were here" :)

And this is our "house" now for a while, a small "swarming bug" between all the big and expensive Motor homes and luxury buses. Camping in a RV like this is a lot of work people..and a lot of fun too....LOL...

F.L.O.R.I.D.A.

Hi my friends all over the world!

We have arrived in warm and sunny Florida! After driving more than 500 miles in 2 days - hubby is tired! - sleeping one night in a truck stop parking place and the night before on an icy and cold campground in Myrtle Beach, we made it down to the Space Coast.

And we have also WiFi here, so no problems... I'll be reporting as usual about all the pretty scenes here in Florida. Maybe there will be also some sunrises, IF I ever will make it to get up that early... LOL..

Stay with me and thanks for all the nice comments to my last post. I very much appreciate your words and compliment!

See ya...talk to you tomorrow!
Susanne