It always starts the same for me. The alarm goes off, I grumble something totally insane like, “It’s only a shuttle launch!” and then realizing said insanity get out bed and get on the road. After the caffeine kicks in I get stoked – I’m going to Kennedy Space Center to work a shuttle launch. The drive over is a breeze and then as I near KSC I realize that I am not the only one that realizes that this will be space shuttle Atlantis’ final flight – the roads are packed, backed up due to a security check point near the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

This delay makes me about 5 minutes late meeting our first spectacular guest of the day – Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s Public Relations Manager, Andrea Farmer. This lady is the best, after knowing her for four years now – I still have no idea where she gets her energy from. She is a whirlwind of excited activity and she and her team have turned the Visitor Complex into one of the ‘must-see’ spots in Central Florida. The interview goes well, but being frazzled by the traffic jam and almost being late I forget to let our viewers know that whoever has asked the most questions in our chatroom – wins a four person general admission ticket to the Visitor Complex, (generously provided by Andrea and Delaware North the operator’s of the Visitor Complex). But Ben catches me before I let Andrea go and all ends well.

I had thought that I would maybe do one or two other interviews during the day – however tech issues cropped up that forced Ben behind the camera and except for Cariann’s interview of NASA PAO Allard Beutel I did the rest. Now here comes the little reveal that may surprise most folks – this was more than fine by me. You see, while a shuttle launch is incredible it is not the main draw for me. I go to participate, to contribute and to be a part of the moment. So the more I have to do, the better. The launch? That is just icing on the cake.

If you watched Spacevidcast’s launch day broadcast almost all of the people that I interviewed are either friends or acquaintances of mine. This makes it so much easier on both of us as we can just sit down and have a chat like we would any other day. Both Ben and Cariann seemed pleased with how this turned out and I will try to keep this formula going for the next two launches.

Within an hour of launch a ball bearing was discovered that could have potentially scrubbed the launch for the day. However, the mission team determined that it was not an issue and the countdown went ahead according to plan. There have been few times when I have not gone down past the countdown clock and watched the launch near the turn basin – with a nice cool tent over my head – this was one of those times. The launch was a spectacular affair that took place under blue skies. Those in attendance were treated to a spectacle that they will be tending their grandchildren about. As the SRBs slipped away and the people at watching the launch meandered back toward the press site it was evident on the faces and in the tears of those present that they had just witnessed history.