Watching History in the Making
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128824)
Gainesville, Florida
December 21, 2015 10:15pm CST
As many of you may have seen on the news reports by now, the private aerospace company SpaceX successfully launched their Falcon 9 rocket into space tonight, and then in an historic feat landed the booster rocket back on the earth after reaching space orbit.
This amazing feat took place at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, and provided a spectacular view in the night sky, of both the launch and the landing at the Air Force base.
Although I live about 120 miles west/northwest of the launch site, I was able to catch a glimpse of the rocket as it launched into the night sky. Unfortunately, because of the distance I wasn't able to see the rocket return to earth for its unprecedented landing. But, it still was a beautiful site to behold!
There was quite a large crowd on hand in and around Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Merritt Island and surrounding locals to witness the historic launch. From watching the crowds on the news reports, it reminded of all the days I used to go and watch space shuttle launches!
Have any of you ever watched a rocket launch? Or even a space shuttle launch?
7 people like this
6 responses
@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
4 Apr 17
@moffittjc This really doesn't count much but it's the best I have. In primary school, we all made little rockets for the teacher to launch into the air. It was so much fun. The top of our rockets all had clay stuffed into it to add some weight. I remember one rocket was coming down and was headed towards all of us. It was such a thrill running to avoid it. ( I know I'm weird ). I really enjoyed watching it all.
As for real rockets, no. Only on YouTube. The one that is most memorable to me was watching The Challenger. Really tragic what happened with that one.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
6 Apr 17
@moffittjc Goodness. I'm sorry Jeff. :( I didn't mean to bring up awful memories. I'm so sorry.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
6 Apr 17
@VivaLaDani13 It was. We were mourning for months after that. Everything was fine. Only this happened on their way back. They were only a few seconds or something away from landing. People were waiting at the space centre for the shuttle as well as we were watching it in her hometown.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
22 Dec 15
@moffittjc When I look around at some of the people these days, I sometimes wonder whether the UFOs are here to investigate or simply to visit family.
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec 15
@Asylum I think they are here to drop off the riffraff from their galaxy. They get tired of dealing with idiots on their home planets, so they send them all to us!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec 15
That is so funny what you said in your comment. As I read your first line, the first thing that popped into my head was "well at least you have lots of UFO sightings in England," and then I read your second line about alien abduction, and I realized that you and I think a lot alike! haha
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
2 Jan 16
I've seen rocket launches from Cape Canaveral before. My husbands' aunt and uncle both worked at Cape Canaveral several years ago. We have visited them there several times and they treated us to a "tour" of the area and we watched a couple launches from Cocoa Beach.
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 16
That is so nice to have someone who lives so close that can show you around. My best friend from college lives right there as well, and he can sit on his patio at his house and watch the launches. I haven't been there at his place when a launch took place, but he's close enough where you can see the various launch pads are right across the water.
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Dec 15
Vince was telling me about this successful event a few minutes before I started reading your post. They'll be doing joyrides very shortly I would think.
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec 15
They still have a long ways to go to get everything perfected, but they're off to a good start! You are correct that they will be doing joyrides pretty soon! I just hope it reinvigorates interest in the space program, because after NASA retired the space shuttle fleet, there haven't been as many launches from Cape Canaveral. Hopefully, private companies like SpaceX and Blue Dragon will find a way to make space travel safe and profitable.
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
22 Dec 15
I would love to see a rocket get launched. You live close enough to go and see it.
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec 15
It's about a 2-drive from where I live to Cape Canaveral, where all the rockets are launched. I agree, it's not that bad of a drive, but it has been years since I've driven the distance to see a rocket launch. The problem is that half the time the rockets never go up as planned, there is always one malfunction or another that ends up scrubbing the launch. It can get pretty frustrating driving all that way only to have to turn around empty-handed and head back home because a launch was scrubbed! But I have promised my kids that I would take them someday to see a live launch of a rocket! Personally, I'm hoping someday I can go see a massive Delta V rocket launch, the biggest rocket in the history of rockets!
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
22 Dec 15
@moffittjc Jeff that is so cool I know your kids will love it. I hope everything goes well so they can see it when you take them.
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec 15
@whiteream I just need to pay attention to launch schedules. So often, I find out about them so late that I don't have time to make the 2-hour drive before the launch takes place! One of these days I'll get it right!
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Dec 15
On tv I have but never in person. I bet it was spectacular.
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec 15
Night launches are always the best, because the rockets always light up the dark sky and you can follow and watch them for a long period of time. Launches are also interesting in that the rockets shake the ground so much that you literally feel like you are in an earthquake! That's how powerful those things are. I think the closest you can get to a launch site is about 2-3 miles, but even at that distance the ground shakes tremendously, and then a few seconds later the sound catches up to you and you hear the roar of the rocket. It is truly an amazing experience!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec 15
@fishtiger58 It's worth seeing, even if only you get a chance to do it once!
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Dec 15
@moffittjc That is on my bucket list, would just love that.
