Proving That the World Literally Revolves Around Me, Space Shuttle Lands in California

Soon after my re-entry into Florida in 2005, I was assigned to help cover the launch of space shuttle Discovery.

You could say I wasn’t really “into” space exploration at the time. As a matter of fact, I was unaware that space shuttles were still launching.

What can I say? I’d been up to my ass covering crap here on Earth.

My new paper, The Tampa Tribune, took the launches very seriously. The higher-ups didn’t think it was very funny when I accidentally said out loud, “Those things are still going up?”

Well, the Space Coast changed me.

I was lucky enough to see Discovery launch in July 2005. As the shuttle zoomed up in a neat arc and disappeared into the atmosphere, it finally clicked.

I was watching human beings go into... space.

So I was tickled this morning to learn that Atlantis had landed in California, just a couple hundred miles away at Edwards Air Force Base. Turns out Florida was too rainy. (And as we’ve discussed – it never, ever rains in Southern California.)

I was glad to have the company. Welcome home, Atlantis.

 

[Image LINK: AP]

Technorati Tags: Space Shuttle Atlantis,Edwards Air Force Base,Space Coast,Cape Canaveral,Space Shuttle Discovery,The Tampa Tribune,Titusville,NASA

Comments

[Catherine D.]

You crack me up. :)
Matter of fact, I saw this shuttle take off, albeit from a distance -- sitting on a balcony in St. Augustine, margarita in hand. Not as dramatic as watching from the Space Coast, but definitely a worthwhile alternative.