Astronaut Hall of Fame

Astronaut Hall of Fame in Kennedy Space Center.

Gemini Spacecraft.

Here I am in an autronaut suit, cool

Here is Ross trying on their helmet.

Final Space Shuttle Launch for Discovery 2011

Megan McKay (Right) and her friend Rita both from Jacksonville, FL have joined us in Titusville, FL to watch the last voyage of Discovery Space Shuttle on her last mission to the Space Station. (Go to the bottom of this post and see the video Megan made)



Rita and Megan

Happy Hour

Ross's friend Mike Sharp has also joined us he is from Bonita Springs, FL his hands were dirty from cleaning a fish.

Mike's hands were bloody from cleaning the fish for the crab trap.

Ross caught by surprise.

Ross and Mike

We are all waiting anxiously for the shuttle launch which is suppose to happen at 4:50 p.m. eastern time. Only 3 hours to go.

Two hours until lift off as Ross and Mike are looking across the marina as the crowds are gathering.

It looks like Mike is explaining something to Ross. Note the hand gesture.

The crowds are gathering along the banks and around the marina for the so awaited last launch of Shuttle Discovery.

Megan and Rita on Cool Change getting to the highest point for the best view.

Getting binoculars ready for the best possible view of the space shuttle.

We met some fine neighbors here at the marina Harry and Mary they are from Wisconsin have joined us since we are at the farthest point from the marina and easy viewing of the space shuttle.

Cape Canaveral - T - minus 10 seconds, Discovery and 6 astronauts are speeding toward the International Space Station, it begins with a flash of bright light as we see under the bridge as Discovery lifts off one final time. Massive crowds have come to witness her final journey.

Higher and faster she flies through the sky as hundreds and thousands of spectators cheer (I actually had a tear in my eye) Discovery's last mission the International Space Station.

No words can actually describe the scene as she flies through the air, Ross counted 1 minute 40 seconds has passed before the sound and vibrations have reached us. It is approx. 5 miles away from where we are in the marina. I guess they only let you observe 3 miles because the blast is so intense.

Simply to imagine 6 people being transported into space in a tiny confined area that anything is possible.

Notice the bridge where specators have stopped and are watching this great event unfolding.

Here is Cool Change in the background as the rocket soars on to new heights.

Now you can see the rocket as it slowlys arches through the atmosphere.

You couldn't of ask for a more beautiful day as today.

Notice the plume as it arches away a great sight to see.

And then it is over a spec in the sky and then nothing. Unbelieveable!!!!!!!!!!!

You can see Megan's head as we all look and pray that everything will turn out fine and the exploration will continue.

Merritt Island

Ross and I found a trail to hike about 2 miles long it is called the Palm Hammock which is on Merritt Island. It was very nice trails and in some areas had a boardwalk.

This was a dried up creek bed full of wet mud.

Ross continuing on the trail we found it also in the shady spots to be full of mosquitoes.

Palm fronds on the ground and new ones growing all the time. They had cabbage palms that were lower to the ground.

This palm tree didn't quite make it straight up, it had a curved trunk and was low to the ground

Here is the boardwalk, however most of the trail was dirt.

Here is another curved palm.

We ran across a wild orange tree and then we found out later that a couple had owned this land in the 1600's and had grown orange trees.

This was an unusual formation on the tree with knots on it but it looked like a man with a grissly beard or warts.

Here I captured a picture of a wild buzzard, there were many of them feeding on a dead fish.