I was on a flight from Portland to San Diego and enjoying a cup of coffee after my inflight service this morning at approximately 08:30am when our captain made the following announcement:
"Ladies and gentlemen, in approximately 3-4 minutes we will be passing just to the west of Edwards Air Force Base...it will be on our left hand side. We have been speaking with air traffic control and they have informed us that within just a few minutes after we have passed it, the Space Shuttle Atlantis will be passing just behind our aircraft and land at Edwards AFB. This is a once in a lifetime moment for most of us."
I couldn't believe it. I stared out the window through the morning haze over at the dry lake beds that comprise the landing strip at Edwards. I've seen it a hundred times. But knowing that the very Space Shuttle that I've been watching all week work 350 miles above the earth's surface on the Hubble Space Telescope is going to be passing directly behind the aircraft I was on was something I won't soon forget. What a job. What a life!
14 comments:
This is so cool. I just watched the touchdown on CNN. So close! It would have been cool to have flown over the landing site just as it touched down.
Wish I was flying with you!
Now that is wicked cool!
Oh, sooo cool!
that's kinda James Bond of you. Now you just need to jump out of the plane in your tux and shoot to kill!!
Did you see it????
What an experience! Something memorable for the 'Memoirs of A Lewis'
That's pretty cool. I've always wanted to see one launch. My Mom tells me it's quite amazing.
Wow, that's so awesome. I saw it on TV here, but didn't pay much attention to it! You're a part of it!! he he...
Grego
HOW COOL!!! I want your job just
for a day...Just to see something
that freakin cool...
LUCKY!
TACKLE YOU HUGS!!!!!!!
Laurie
Oh wow, that's exciting man! Would've been better had the shuttle hit your plane and stuff! THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MONUMENTALLY AWESOME!
Oh wait. NO! NOOOOOOO! Then people could've been hurt and killed! SCRATCH THAT! SORRY! AHEM!
Hey, I hope u do make it out to L.A. soon though...
Glad you got to see it. I have seen many go up (living so close), but never come down. I've heard the sonic boom, sounds like a bomb. Night launches are the best.
Very awesome!!!
WOW!!! How cool is that?? Did you snap it? Or better yet... just soaked in the mental pic. I bet.
ive seen it take off and land living in fla not far to jump in the car drive over. besides there nudie beaches on that side of the state!
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