When our niece Natalie, who works for NASA, invited us to a VIP viewing of the last of the United States NASA space shuttles missions, Atlantis, rolling out of the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) at Cape Canaveral’s Kennedy Space Center to the launch pad, we screamed YES! We were very excited as this was an event of a lifetime! Just getting the chance to see a space shuttle up close that is getting ready to transport equipment to …
Rolling Out of Last U.S. Space Shuttle, Atlantis STS-135
When our niece Natalie, who works for NASA, invited us to a VIP viewing of the last of the United States NASA space shuttles missions, Atlantis, rolling out of the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) at Cape Canaveral’s Kennedy Space Center to the launch pad, we screamed YES! We were very excited as this was an event of a lifetime! Just getting the chance to see a space shuttle up close that is getting ready to transport equipment to the International Space Station was a big deal for us! This private viewing was for NASA employees & VIPs only. It was thank you to all NASA workers and families. This is the end of a generation of growing up in the 30 year space shuttle race program. We were just feet away from the river rock road that Atlantis would travel down 9 miles going out to the launch pad. The whole event took on a tailgate party atmosphere, only much classier. Invitees were encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets and bug spray! Arriving at 6 p.m., the party kicked off with great food. Hoagies were the meal of choice. Around 7P p.m. the astronauts arrived for a meet and greet. We met two of the Atlantis Astronauts crew and had to have our photo taken with Astronaut Tom Walheim! Around 8:45 the Atlantis started to make it’s way out of the VAB. During the next hour we were struck by two incredible things — First, the shuttle looked small in the building and as it came closer and closer it got bigger and BIGGER until OMG! The second thing was how very slow it was moving. Each of the giant transport cleats weigh in at one ton each! Slowly, but sensory-leveled and moving at about 1/2 – 1 mile a hour. As Atlantis came closer and closer, the faster and FASTER she seemed to be moving. As she passed by everyone cheered for the last space shuttle Atlantis on its history journey. The whole experience was bittersweet as this was the very last time any planned scheduled shuttle would roll out the VAB. Pride in the USA was everywhere! The scheduled Atlantis launch date is July 8th. God Speed to Atlantis!
People are Talking
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence had their benefit Chili Cook Off at City Side and there were some blazing mouths. Congratulations to Dakota for her spicy winning recipe. The GaYBOR District has the taste of Cuban Coffee & Art for the month of June. Artist and local flavor David Audett has put together a Tampa art event called “Cuban Coffee!”
