The controlled chaos among we masses of shuttle-watchers was totally outweighed by the controlled grace and beauty of one solitary Discovery. The unspoken tension was palpable in the crowd as the epic 5-4-3-2-1 boomed out. No one breathed.
Discovery is my favourite. It was the first launched on August 30, 1984, 2 months after my mom passed away and I always think she's stowed away on it. First one up after both the Challenger and Columbia disasters. Delivered the Hubble Space Telescope. 39 times in space, more than any other craft ever. First and only shuttle to fly 4 times in ONE year. First female pilot. Took John Glenn back into space at age 77. First to dock with Mir. My only other launch in person, 1990. And more and more and more. Can you say "big white beautiful go-to workhorse" boys and girls?
You see it, then you hear it, then you feel it. The oxygen molecules in the air explode around it, trying to move aside. The ground grumbles, realizing this giant machine has slipped it's grasp. The cloud formed behind it can't keep up. The last view of the ship is a tiny speck lit up by the afternoon sun, like a diamond on blue velvet. Safe journey home Discovery, then you'll wow the crowds forever at the Smithsonian!
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