My journey to the Kennedy Space Center began a few months ago when I received an official-looking envelope that bore the NASA logo. I found an invitation I never expected: “The crew of STS-118 cordially invites you to the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour.”
I was honored. During my years on campus with Public Affairs, I had written several articles about this remarkable young woman, who as a teenager dreamed of becoming an astronaut and flying into space.
Prophetically, when she graduated from Beaumont High School, she wrote in a friend’s yearbook, “I'll wave to you on my way to the moon.”
I first met Tracy at a summer reception at the campus Garden Cafe in the mid-1990s. I followed her career and arranged for her to speak at a special convocation ceremony as a newly minted astronaut to mark the kick-off of the university's 40th anniversary celebration.
Her eloquent remarks about the education she received at CSUF and the gratitude she expressed for her mentor, Dr. John Olmsted, other professors and staff members made a powerful impression on the audience.
Fast forward to the week of Aug. 6, 2007. I boarded a United Airlines flight to Orlando on Monday, Aug. 6. I sat next to Brad and Tammy Hitchcock, who were married two days before and were on their honeymoon trip to Orlando. Brad, a diesel mechanic, and Tammy, a brand new pediatric nurse, were married in ceremonies in Beaumont — Tracy's hometown. I naturally told them all about Tracy.
NASA has a policy of warning shuttle launch guests to be flexible, as launch arrangements are subject to change. This was the case for Mission STS-118. The launch, originally scheduled for Aug. 9, was moved up to Tuesday, Aug. 7. A few days before Aug. 7, the date was changed to Wednesday, Aug. 8.
Finally launch day arrived.
I headed out to the Kennedy Space Center in plenty of time to look around, have lunch and board a bus for the 6:36 p.m. launch.
It turned out that the visitor center attracted nearly 12,000 people that day. The place was absolutely jammed in a 107-degree environment.
The restaurants were packed, and I finally I was able to get a cheeseburger. At the table next to me were twin three-year-old girls, Zoey and Katie, from St. Petersburg. I couldn't help wondering if these girls might follow Tracy into space in the next generation.
Then it was time to board a bus to the launch-viewing site, about 15 minutes from the visitor center. Hundreds of people were in lines that snaked back and forth like the lines at Disneyland.
As I boarded my bus — one of 50 official NASA buses — I noticed that many people had ribbons on their chests that carried the name of an astronaut. A group boarding my bus had blue ribbons that said, “Tracy Caldwell.” It turned out that Tina, Alyssa, Lichar, Jake, Jessica, Kira, Andrew, Sarah, Sue, Steve and Deanna were all friends of Tracy’s from Houston.
It was a short ride to the causeway viewing area down a narrow paved road. In addition to the 50 NASA buses, there must have been at least another 50-75 buses from private tour groups.
Across the water about six miles away you could barely see the shuttle launch vehicle surrounded by a hazy sky. Then came launch time.
At precisely 6:36 p.m., thousands of pair of eyes and cameras were focused on the launch site as a white-hot glow flashed followed by a resounding boom. The shuttle vehicle soared skyward at 9,000 miles per hour and was followed by a huge stream of white smoke.
We could feel a perceptible rumble as the launch vehicle took off. As a Florida highway patrolman told me, “It makes you proud to be an American watching the launch.”
The crowds cheered wildly and applauded as the spacecraft disappeared from view. Seven-and-a-half minutes into the flight, the spacecraft was traveling at 12,000 miles per hour on its way to 15,000. In another few minutes it had reached orbit and was to dock with the International Space Station the next day.
On the way back to the visitor center, I sat next to an Air Force colonel, who had been invited by Mission Specialist Alvin Drew Jr. We talked about our astronaut acquaintances and agreed that we both witnessed a dream come true for both of them.
And some day, maybe dreams of space flight may come true for Mission Specialist Zoey and Commander Katie.
