Well… the second time was a charm! Nancy Holleran, Pillar’s President and COO, and I traveled out to Cape Canaveral to see STS-122 blast off (I love that term – I guess people are too sophisticated to say it anymore, but it’s fun).

Nancy and I decided it wasn’t optional – we both were recovering from the flu but how many chances does one get to see the dang Shuttle blast off anyway? I wrote about my first visit to the Kennedy Space Center in an earlier post. That launch was postponed, but it was still an emotional visit. This one was for REAL. Take a look at the attached pictures; I am sure you’ve seen similar ones before, so I suppose the whole point is you have to be there to fully appreciate them.

At liftoff, I suppose I stopped breathing for a while – I am not sure. At first it is dead silent because it takes about 20 seconds for the sound to hit you, but when it hits, it really hits you. Watching on TV or even IMAX can’t replicate the experience. There are two technology related reasons why.

The first reason you have to be there is that the experience has a huge sub-sonic component. I would imagine the sound pressure spectrum extends down to 3 or 4 hertz. This means that you feel it; you don’t just hear it. Much like a serious fireworks display – if you feel the concussion, ground shake, and heat on your face from a Cremora bomb – you are only then really experiencing the full fireworks experience.

The second reason you have to be there is because today’s technology and simulated experiences are just too damn good. Digital special effects like those of Industrial Light and Magic and other Hollywood studios are so damn good that we are treated to this kind of spectacle and drama all the time.

The difference is, when you are there watching in person, the experience hits you. This is real. This is very, very real. People are really risking their lives on this thing. The Earth is shaking, my chest is pounding and I am four miles away from it!

My God, this is real! I know I am a softy – but my eyes filled with tears once again. I guess I can’t help it. I love engineering and the human spirit that causes people to rise to this kind of challenge.

Thanks NASA. Thanks for the experience… and for 40 wonderful heart-pounding, inspiring years.

More photos of the blast off...