We Have Lift Off!
Image above: Lift off of Discovery STS-121 from Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on July 4th, 2006. Photo taken from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center. Photo credit: atch.net/Phideux

Surreal! That is the best word I can use to describe the Space Shuttle Launch.
Image above: Discovery STS-121 continues to pick up serious speed. Photo taken from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center. Photo credit: atch.net/Phideux

Unforgettable! The sound of the launch alone was absolutely unforgettable.
Image above: Discovery STS-121 reappears after briefly being hidden by a small cloud. Photo taken from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center. Photo credit: atch.net/Phideux

Thrilling! Actually witnessing the launch in person was the most thrilling thing I have ever experienced.
Image above: Discovery STS-121 Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) seperation. Photo taken from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center. Photo credit: atch.net/Phideux
Image above: Discovery STS-121 Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) seperation magnified. Photo taken from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center. Photo credit: atch.net/Phideux

Amazing! This was an amazing trip and one which we will never forget.
Image above: Leave a Legacy Sculpture, Monorail, and Spaceship Earth at Epcot in Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch

Read all the trip details and see more photos here.

Day 1:Thursday June 29th
Departed at home at about 4:30 pm and drove all night.

Day 2:Friday June 30th
Arrived in Palm Coast Florida Friday morning and ate breakfast at Cracker Barrel. We continued to drive south to Cocoa Beach and found our Hotel and verified our reservations. Then we drove over the Kennedy Space Center to take the bus tour since the bus tours do not run on launch days. We also watched the new 3D IMAX film, Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D. Presented and narrated by Tom Hanks, Magnificent Desolation features rarely seen NASA footage with live-action renditions of the lunar landscape to propel audiences nearly a quarter-million miles above the Earth’s surface.
Image above: Discovery on Launch Pad 39B. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Saturn V Launch Control Center in the Saturn V rocket center complex at Kennedy Space Center. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch

After taking in some other sites at the Kennedy Space Center including the International Space Station processing facility we had made our way to the exits. I had taken my camera out to take a picture of the Launch Status board and to my shock and horror, I found my telephoto lens in about 8 pieces! No joke! This was THE lens which I would be using to take photos of the launch with in less than 24 hours. I was fairly stunned, but not completely surprised given my luck. We returned to our hotel, the Ramada Inn in Cocoa Beach and I began repairs to the lens. It appeared that the end of the lens had caught the edge of the camcorder which is also carried in my camera bag. My camera bag fell off my shoulder and hit the ground earlier in the day but I didn’t think much of it because I’ve had other incidents with no such problems. The end of the lens assembly had been popped out from the impact. Nothing appeared to be broken, but the number of pieces my bag was frightening. After about 20 minutes of delicate repair I was able to get the lens back together and fully functional. Possibly one of the biggest sighs of relief!

After getting cleaned up we drove over to Ron Jons Surf Shop. I had to show Phideux one of my traditions. He seemed to enjoy himself and picked up a nice Panama Jack hat and some state police mirror sunglasses. What a site!

After some shopping we drove down to the Texas Steakhouse for dinner. I had the best ribeye steak ever.

We watched the local news and the reports were not good for a launch. Though there were no technical issues which would restrict the launch, the weather reports were not the best. The NASA team responsible for tracking weather conditions were giving a 60% chance of no-go because of thunderstorms and/or anvil head clouds within the launch pad area.

Day 3:Saturday July 1st – Launch attempt, Day 1
We were scheduled to arrive at Kennedy Space Center between 9:30am and 10:30 am. We arrived at the gate about 10 minutes early so we pulled off to the side of the road to wait until 9:30am. The instructions from our ticket packet said that we could be denied access to the Visitors Center if we arrived before or after that time.
Image above: Kennedy Space Center launch viewing parking pass required for entry into the Visitor’s Center on the day of a launch. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Atch agrees to a rare photo opportunity in front of the Astronauts Memorial. Photo credit: atch.net/Phideux
Image above: Atch by the STS-121 Mission wall. Taken on July 1st, 2006. Photo credit: atch.net/Phideux
Image above: Phideux by the STS-121 Mission wall. Taken on July 1st, 2006. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Primary viewing location near the rocket garden at the Visitor Center at Kennedy Space Center. Notice the cloudy skies. Taken on July 1st, 2006. Photo credit: atch.net/Phideux

T-9 minutes and holding. This is the final scheduled hold where the final go, no-go directors check-in. As feared the weather conditions would not allow a launch today so they had no choice but to scrub the launch. We were very disappointed but not completely surprised either. Did I mention that I had my brother on the phone and we actually heard it from him before they made the announcement through the public address system at the Visitors Center. I’m not sure how many people were at the Vistors Center but I knew we had to get out as quickly as possible as there would be a massive traffic jam. We packed up the photo and video equipment very fast and hauled as quickly as possible out to the car. Unfortunately the normal 1 hour drive from Kennedy Space Center to Walt Disney World would turn into a slow 2 and 1/2 hour drive.

We arrived at Walt Disney World and checked into our All-Star Sports Resort at about 6:30. By about 7:30 we made it into our room. We had a very nice, but extraordinarily slow cast member check us in. He wasn’t listening to me repeat myself, “I’ve been here before.” And, “I was just here 2 months ago.”

We unloaded the car and then drove over to the Contemporary Resort for dinner at the Concourse Steakhouse. We had an awesome host who noticed our NASA shirts. He noticed our NASA shirts and mentioned he had seen a launch once from the Atlantic Ocean from about 5 1/2 miles away. His story of the launch sounds really peeked our excitement. We had to hear it launch!
Image above: Monorail track just north of the Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World. Take on July 1st, 2006. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch

After dinner we drove over to Downtown Disney to do some shopping and to get my Nephew his collectors pin from the Pin Trader Store.
Image above: Atch holds the three coupons required to get the special collectors pin from the Pin Traders located in Downtown Disney. Photo credit: atch.net/Phideux

Day 4:Sunday July 2nd – Launch attempt, Day 2
The weather reports were in and they were pretty bad. NASA was still saying a 60% chance that the launch would be scrubbed but it looked much worse. This was to be our first Disney day, but we decided that we would make the drive and hope that the launch would be scrubbed early if it wasn’t going to launch. We would not forgive ourselves if they launched and we weren’t there. Of course it was scrubbed and we rushed out of the Visitors Center again. It wasn’t nearly as busy as I’m sure most people decided it wasn’t going to launch. The next launch attempt would not be until Tuesday July 4th.
Image above: Phideux recreates a childhood photo. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch

After returning to Walt Disney World we drove over to Wilderness Lodge Resort for lunch at the Whispering Canyon restaurant. I had to get the Pan-seared Rainbow Trout with roasted Yukon gold potatoes, smoked bacon, onions, spinach, and fresh cucumber relish drizzled with chili oil. Phideux ordered the Smoke House Stack Sandwich with turkey, ham, bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, with shallot mayonnaise, on asiago focaccia bread, served with potato chips

After lunch we drove back to our resort and then took a bus over to the Animal Kingdom. Phideux was able to ride Expedition Everest again while I hunted down one of those great turkey legs. We walked around the park for a while then decided to take a bus over to the Contemporary Resort to board a monorail to the Magic Kingdom.
Image above: Main Street USA, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Wishes Fireworks Presentation as seen from Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Spectromagic Parade as seen in Frontierland, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Old fashion double decker street car, Main Street USA, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch

Day 5:Monday July 3rd
Since the launch was now delayed until July 4th, we were able to finally get up and go right the the theme parks. We decided to head over to MGM-Studios. After running over to grab a fast pass for Twilight Tower of Terror and the Rock and Rollercoaster, both for Phideux, we had breakfast at the ABC Commissary.
Image above: Phideux with Jennifer Garner from Alias, ABC Commissary, MGM Studios at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch

While Phideux was taking in the thrill rides on the other side of the park I decided to ride Star Tours.
Image above: C3PO appearing at Star Tours, MGM Studios at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch

While at MGM we walked through Walt Disney- One Mans Dream exhibit. It covers Walt Disney’s whole life and achievements. I always find it very interesting to read and see all the things which Walt thought up and invented.

We had a late lunch at the Sci Fi Dine In Theater. Then it was time to catch a speed cruiser over to Epcot.
Image above: Phideux hops aboard a speed cruiser near Star Tours, MGM Studios at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch

We hopped a boat from MGM Studios over to the Beach and Yacht club and then we walked over to Epcot. Phideux sampled beer from a few of the nations around World Showcase including United Kingdom, Germany, and Norway.
Image above: Phideux by Canada in the World Showcase, Epcot at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Phideux near the American Adventure in the World Showcase with Spaceship Earth and the Earth Globe in the background, Epcot at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Atch near the American Adventure in the World Showcase with Spaceship Earth and the Earth Globe in the background, Epcot at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Phideux

After touring World Showcase for a while we were getting ready to leave to go over to Magic Kingdom for the rest of the evening. While approaching the American Adventure we heard a Billy Joel song being played live from the American Adventure outdoor theater. In fact, it sounded remarkably like Billy Joel. We decided to sit down and enjoy the concert from the 52nd Street band, a tribute to the music of Billy Joel. They were very good. I have most of the concert on video. Some songs included, Movin’ Out ,Piano Man, She’s Got A Way, Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, and All About Soul.

After the concert we hopped the monorail over to the Transportation and Ticket Center. We requested to ride up front in the engine room. Phideux basically interviewed the monorail operator and he was very happy to oblige. He discussed who gets to drive monorail, rules of the rail, and how they are serviced. This is of course all on video as well. We were given our Monorail Co-pilots licenses at the end of the trip.

We arrived at the Magic Kingdom at about 10:30 at night so the crowds were almost impossible to navigate. As usual there were plenty of Cast Members with those flashing red light wands directing traffic. But something was strange tonight. Instead of everyone having to squeeze down the sidewalk of Main Street USA, there was a large gate which had been opened to the right as you enter the park. This gate was between Tony’s Restaurant and the stores on Main Street USA. We asked a Cast Member what was going on. She said that when the park is extremely busy they can open up this optional path into the park. This was another one of those once in a lifetime opportunities so we took it.
Image above: Backstage at the Magic Kingdom as seen behind Main Street USA, Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Backstage at the Magic Kingdom as seen at the special entrance to Tomorrowland, Walt Disney World. Text reads: “7 Guest Service Guidelines: Be Happy…make eye contact and smile! Be like Sneezy…greet and welcome each and every Guest. Spread the spirit of hospitality…it’s contagious! Don’t be Bashful…seek out Guest contact! Be like Doc…provide immediate service recovery! Don’t be Grumpy…always display appropriate body language at all times! Be like Sleepy…create DREAMS and preserve the “MAGICAL” Guest experience! Don’t be Dopey…thank each and every Guest!” Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant on the bridge to Main Street USA, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch

Extra Magic Hours are one of the best ideas in the Disney Theme Park history. On certain days one or more parks will have Extra Magic Hours. The extra hours consist of either an extra hour in the morning, or 3 extra hours at night, before or after the normal park hours, respectively. On July 3rd the Magic Kingdom had evening Extra Magic Hours. Since the normal park operation was until 1:00am, this meant that the park would be open until 4:00am! Another once in a lifetime experience so of course we stayed! Things do tend to get a little strange after you’ve been up that long and that late.
Image above: Phideux gives directions to Agent Wendy Pleakley from the movie and television series Lilo and Stitch, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Happy July 4th on Main Street USA, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Phideux and Atch get photographic proof of their late night visit to the Magic Kingdom. Taken at the steps to the Main Street USA train station entrance with the clock in the background which reads 4:02am. Main Street USA train station, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Phideux assumes the fetal position after an 18 hour Marathon Magical Disney day. The clock on the train station reads 4:07am. Magic Kingdom entrance, Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch

Day 6:Tuesday July 4th – Launch attempt, Day 3
After returning to our room at about 5:30 am after a very late night at the parks a caught a live report from the Kennedy Space Center. Shortly after 5:00am the launch team gave the go for launch despite a crack found in the foam around the external tank. The weather was also at 80% go, which in NASA speak is about 99.8% a go, but they like to keep their options open. Our early plans had us checking out on July 3rd but we decided to stay another day to catch the July 4th fireworks on Disney property. Do that work out or what? However, because of this late day add I could not extend our stay at the All-Star Sports resort. At 5:30am we were packing up and getting ready for a quick load and dash in the morning. We needed to get a quick two hour nap before the alarm was set to get up and head out. We were slow getting up be we got on the road in time.

The combination of 2 hours of sleep and not using the GPS navigation system proved a dangerous combination. I had driven back over to the Kennedy Space Center from Walt Disney World just a couple days before, without the navigation software I didn’t think I would have any problem doing that again, however I was mistaken. We missed the sign for the Beachline (previously the Bee-line) expressway east to the Kennedy Space Center. I got a sense something was wrong after we went past downtown Orlando and decided to pull off and fire up the laptop. We had driven nearly 40 miles north of our desired location. It was already 9:35 am and we were seriously in danger of missing our 9:30-10:30 entry window. Quickly routing to Kennedy Space Center showed us a route due Southeast with an anticipated arrival of 10:50am. We had to make up ground and do it quickly! The route started out very rural and very slow but after a few minutes the route opened up to 65 mph. I was able to regain some lost time. We looked to be on target to arrive at about 10:40. Was it too late? Would they let us in?

As I pulled up in line to enter the complex I watched in fear as both vehicles in front of me were delayed as the security officer had a discussion with each driver. Finally it was my turn. I pulled forward and very much to my relief I was waived in without any discussion. With the parking pass clearly visible in the front window there was no problem even though I could have been denied access. Whew!
Image above: Lift off of Discovery STS-121 from Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on July 4th, 2006. Photo zoomed to show detail. Photo taken from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center. Photo credit: atch.net/Phideux

If you have never experienced a Space Shuttle launch I would highly encourage you to make the trip! It was the most surreal and amazing thing I have ever witnessed! Once the clock was at T-9 and counting I feel like the whole world just changed and everything was just so weird. I couldn’t believe I was going to witness a Space Shuttle launch! I don’t know why, but I was thinking to myself, “Are they really ready to Launch? Is this really happening?” It still feels very strange.

Then to hear the crowd of thousands count down 10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… was so amazing! I could hear the sound of the launch through the public address system but we could not yet see the Shuttle clearing the trees. There was a very long 5 second delay and then I caught a glimpse of it through the trees. I exclaimed, “Oh my God!” As I zoomed in with the camcorder a Father with his young daughter on his shoulders briefly blocked my view.

As the Space Shuttle cleared the tree line in our site, it appears to be moving extremely slow. Slower than I imagined it would be moving. However the acceleration was apparent as it quickly picked up speed and began its roll. The cheers of the crowd were like listening to a Superbowl touchdown, or a game winning goal in the Stanly Cup Hockey Playoffs. The strange things was the lack of any noticeable sound emanating from the spacecraft. I was thinking, “I wish the crowd would quite down a bit so I can here the boosters.” As I think back that sounds ridiculous. At about 30-35 seconds into the launch I began to hear the tell tail sounds beginning to build. It was real, no doubt I was hearing my first Space Shuttle launch!

I don’t think I was prepared or could have imagined how the sound would continue to build and grow in strength and power. Withing about 10 seconds of my first indication of sound from the spacecraft the true power of the Space Shuttle was being experienced! Yes, you could hear it, but you could also feel it, and you could also sense the pressure of sound in the air. As the sound continued to build I began to feel as though I was experiencing an earthquake! The sound was so loud and so low that the ground and in fact my body felt as though it was shaken. The pressure in the air was so loud that the crowd noise was muted and even my own voice when I spoke sounded muffled. I dare say the sound was more impressive than the visual in my personal opinion.

I have always felt that the Space Shuttle launch, and frankly any launch which carries humans into space is a historical event. I know this was a history making event! It was the very first launch on a United States holiday and I don’t think that it could have been more appropriate than a July 4th launch!

“I can’t think of a better place to be here on the Fourth of July,” radioed Lindsey. “For all the folks on the Florida east coast, we hope to very soon get you an up-close and personal look at the rocket’s red glare.”
Image above: STS-121 Commander Steve Lindsey. Credit: NASA
Image above: STS121-S-002 (5 April 2006) — These seven astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-121 crew portrait. From the left are astronauts Stephanie D. Wilson, Michael E. Fossum, both mission specialists; Steven W. Lindsey, commander; Piers J. Sellers, mission specialist; Mark E. Kelly, pilot; European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter of Germany; and Lisa M. Nowak, both mission specialists. Image credit: NASA

Phideux and I have been replaying the launch over and over in our heads. We still cannot believe it. It is certainly one of those things in life that you must experience to appreciate it.

After an amazing launch we watched some replays on the large TV screen truck which was set up in near the rocket garden and then started back to Walt Disney World for our last night.

It was time to check-in to the All-Stars Music Resort and then get right over to Epcot for what would be our first time at Disney on our Independence Day, July 4th. It was absolutely packed! I have never seen crowds like this in all my trips to the parks. We claimed our spot for the special presentation of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth near Norway in World Showcase.
Image above: Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, July 4th 2006, near Norway in the World Showcase, Epcot, Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, July 4th 2006, near Norway in the World Showcase, Epcot, Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: Illuminations: Reflections of Earth ends and the special July 4th 2006 fireworks celebration begins, near Norway in the World Showcase, Epcot, Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: July 4th 2006 fireworks celebration in Red, White, and Blue, near Norway in the World Showcase, Epcot, Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: July 4th 2006 fireworks celebration with the most extreme finale I have every experienced. This is only a 1 second exposure but it was completely washed out because of the thousands of shells which were exploding. Near Norway in the World Showcase, Epcot, Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch
Image above: July 4th 2006 fireworks celebration finishes up. Near Norway in the World Showcase, Epcot, Walt Disney World. Photo credit: atch.net/Atch

The entire vacation was absolutely amazing. Phideux and I have talked about taking this vacation since we met in college many years ago, but I don’t think either of us could have imagined just how incredible it turned out to be. It was a historical day for the nation and for both of us personally, a vacation neither of us will ever forget!