Atlantis Launch

September 9, 2006 by Dad.

A combination of bad weather and a bad sensor delayed the launch to today which allowed us to take a spur of the moment trip up the Florida coast to witness one of the worlds most amazing events - the launch of the Space Shuttle.

We were also delayed by a very serious traffic accident but then I put my foot down trying to make up lost time. We were also thrown off by a 40 minute hold pattern in the launch sequence, but made it to within about 60 miles of the launch site. We drove out to the beach in the town of Sebastian and joined a small group of spectators with about 5 minutes to launch.

Cezanne slept through much of the trip but did wake up for photos of the smoke trails left by Atlantis.

Awesome ! Check another thing off the life list.

Photos above showing official NASA photo and our own and then Mom & Dad and the smoke trails left behind after lift off.

Here is the last snip from the NASA Launch Blog :

11:23 a.m. - Main Engine Cut-Off and jettison of the external tank! Atlantis has reached orbit. Commander Brent Jett confirms a good separation. As the ET falls away it will be photographed.

11:22 a.m. - 7 minutes and 20 seconds into the flight.

11:21 a.m. - A little less than two and a half minutes of powered flight remaining. Atlantis has been told to “press to MECO” which means Atlantis could reach a safe orbit on two engines but all three are working fine.

11:20 a.m. - Atlantis is 65 statute miles downrange from the Kennedy Space Center.

11:16 a.m. - Mission-elapsed time two minutes, five seconds and Atlantis’ twin solid rocket boosters have separated successfully.

Atlantis has rolled back to a heads-up position now as it soars toward orbit.

11:14:55 a.m. - LIFTOFF!!! 3…2…1…and liftoff of Space Shuttle Atlantis…opening a new chapter in the completion of the International Space Station…for the future of collaboration of nations in space.

11:13 a.m. - T- 2 minutes The Shuttle Atlantis crew has been advised to close and lock the visors on their launch-and-entry helmets.

T-16 seconds The launch pad’s Water Sound Suppression System begins flooding the Mobile Launcher Platform with 300,000 gallons of water. The system protects the shuttle and its payloads from any damage cause by energy generated during launch.

T- 10 seconds Flares ignite under Atlantis’ three main engines and burn away any residual hydrogen that may have collected near the main engine nozzles.

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