The Space Shuttle February 1, 2003
Well, last night I went and downloaded the Landing Ground Tracks and Automated DOL PAD for
the shuttle so I could be out this morning at the correct time and watch it go over on re-entry.
The site is great for space info: spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/groundtracs/
I live way up in the mountains of Central California and I knew its path was going to go over right
near us. The kids and I were out there at 5:53am and there it goes by - right on schedule - big
impressive bright fireball trailing a big plume of smoke - moving amazing fast - 7 precious souls
up there. I tell the kids in just 22 minutes it will have landed in Florida. Go back to bed - wake
up a little later and turn on the news - oh no! God bless the families...
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