Hello again,

Well what an amazing day ... seems much longer than just a day.

Talking to many people around Orlando it seems we have been very lucky to
see the launch ... many have said they've been out to view launches and
they've always been postponed. Last night we were following the news and
weather ... was looking good, fuel tanks were filled at 9pm, just a hint
of fog that might delay things. Then up at 3.30am, put on the TV to find
the astronauts were being strapped in. Vans arrived at 4.15am, all the
kids ready and eager. It took me by surprise but it seemed that half of
Orlando was on their way to the coast, freeways full of cars, toll booths
slowing them down, but our vans have electronic automatic toll payment and
we sailed through.

Crossing the causeways and big bridges near the coast there were cars
parked everywhere, with police allowing the shoulder on the bridges to be
occupied. We drove on to Jetty Park a campground where loads of RVs had
set up for the night. We settled down on the rocky bank of the ship-way
into Port Canaveral, looking over the water towards Kennedy Space Centre a
few miles away. Big search lights across the sky, presumably at the base
of the launch pad. We watch a succession of small yachts and luxury
cruisers go past as we sat with hundreds of others in the dark. Then, with
2 minutes to launch a huge Cruise ship came into port, slowly passing
infront of us ... would we come all this way to have our view blocked
literally at the last moment? Twenty seconds to launch the end of the ship
passed, then bang on 6.21am the sky lit up like an instant sunrise. The
intensity of light took everyone by surprise, as did the silence. Then as
the fire ball climbed into the night sky the deep, powerful rumble of
sound hit us ... heard and felt. The shuttle curved away, leaving a
perfect column of exhaust in a beautiful arc lit up by the blazing
engines. We were able to follow the shuttle for several minutes as the sky
was completely clear, even just making out the SRBs detach and fall away.
As the space ship climbed into the upper atmosphere a weird corona or
shock wave appeared all around it. Then as the sun rose, the floating
vapour trail again lit up in a display of changing colours and finally
dispersed.
Check out the blog for a link to a great video of the launch.

Everyone was impressed with the power and fury ... there are actually
people on top of that machine! Especially as the kids have been living the
shuttle for the last week. Jono could tell me how long it would be until
main engine shut-down. James commented that about now was when he broke
his legs in the EDM ... tried to stand up during take off!

So we travelled more slowly back to Orlando with the streams of traffic,
getting back to the hostel at 8.15am. Off to Disney on the no. 56 public
bus at 9.45 and then most of us spent the day at Epcot ... did the Mission
to Mars ride first! Temps in the mid-80s by the afternoon and the
pavements pumping out the heat. Epcot is looking fantastic, with the
spring flower festival, all clean and shiny ... most had a very good day
... some a little disappointed with the lack of super-scary rides ... but
impressed with the Disneyness of it all!

Haven't got time to mention Gatorland yesterday, save to say there were
kids holding alligators and snakes, sitting on alligators, feeding
alligators and watching hundreds of alligators!

Off to bed now ... up at 6am to head to Disney YES programme tomorrow.

Cheers


David