Space Shuttle Discovery Launch STS-131 4-05-10 from seancook on Vimeo.
One of the greatest joys I have as a parent are the moments when I can share experiences with my children that allow them to see the power of potential and to experience the wonder and mysteries of the universe. This week, my family shared a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We saw the Space Shuttle Discovery take off from Kennedy Space Center.
We didn’t manage to get the best vantage point, because those sell out so quickly, but we did have a great view of a monitor and then once the shuttle went up we quickly saw plenty. It lit up the early morning sky, and glowed in the distance as it rose. In a few minutes, they updated us and it was already 500 miles away.
Before the launch, we also got to see the International Space Station cross the sky. It was clear and we could see it moving quickly, like a star across the blue expanse above us.
Though it can’t compare to being there, I thought I’d share our home movie. You can hear the elation in Sarah’s voice as she films the launch, and tells my son to let Daddy hold him up. And though the scene is surely dark, you can see the quiet wonder in my son Brendan’s expression, and mine as well.
There are only a few launches left before the fleet is retired and several years beyond that until the next generation launch vehicle will be introduced. So if you ever wanted to experience something like this up close, you should start researching your options. Tickets sell out quicker than the recent REM 30-year concert recently held in Athens. So don’t wait if you want to do it.
And, if you’ve got some, don’t forget to take the kids.
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Sean Cook has 15 years of experience working in Higher Education, as a Student Affairs Professional. He is a Certified Life and Career Coach through the Life Purpose Institute, a program accredited by the International Coach Federation. Sean also writes about career issues in higher education for our companion site, HigherEdCareerCoach.com and is a periodic contributor to the Student Affairs Collaborative Blog.
