Space Shuttle Launch Plans

We are heading back to Florida to hopefully watch the next space shuttle launch.

Our return to our favorite state is somewhat sooner than we expected. We have been invited by the family of the mission’s pilot, Tony Antonelli, to view the launch with some of his family and friends. It is scheduled for February 12, and I hadn’t anticipated contacting you regarding this as of yet, but as you can see by accessing the links on our blog, the countdown and final preparations are taking place.

It is a short story as to how we are invited. I worked with Virginia Steves, a teacher here in Puyallup, for several years. Phil and Virginia have owned RV’s for many years and they followed our US trip blog with interest. On arrival back to Puyallup, we learned that their son in law was selected as the pilot of STS-119. Two months ago we received, through the mail, an invitation to attend the launch. Virginia’s phone call to us came the next day.

You can imagine how excited Barb and I are to have this opportunity. To heck with hunkerin down because of the bad economy, we are going to Florida.

I will blog occasionally as the event nears, daily on our arrival at Cape Canaveral. Thank goodness we have enough air miles to fly roundtrip to Atlanta where we will spend some time with Ben and Penny and enjoy their wonderful lake setting again. As the launch time nears, we will drive down to Kennedy to meet up with the Antonelli family and friends as well as the friends and families of the other crew members.

I have included four links in the upper right corner of our blog. The first shuttle info, the second is the Smithsonian link that mentions Tony’s name as perhaps one of the next to fly to the moon. Another is the NASA link which gives generic information on a multitude of projects. The last link, STS-119 Mission, provides information for this particular launch. Each can be informative tools for any children who are interested in space flight.

I hope you enjoy. I know we will. Barb and I spent a week in the Canaveral area last January and we enjoyed the sites and the weather. And with our winter weather, we look forward to Georgia, then Florida in February!!!!