Space Shuttle Launch Always a Special Moment

At 6:21 am on April 5, Space Shuttle Discovery thundered off the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, lighting up the early morning sky and sailing effortlessly toward the International Space Station.

This spectacular sight has become something of a central Florida tradition for nearly 30 years since the first space shuttle launch in 1981. Yet it's also a tradition that is quickly drawing to a close. With the launch of STS-131 Discovery, only three additional shuttle flights remain scheduled before the amazing shuttle fleet is retired by NASA. Those final shuttle flights will truly mark the end of an era.

Discovery is carrying seven astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) as well as a multi-purpose logistics module that is designed to be used as a large storage unit filled with racks for the ISS laboratories. This 13-day mission also has three planned space walks, with work to include replacing an ammonia tank, retrieving a Japanese experiment from the station's exterior, and switching out a gyro.

The launch also marks the second to last mission for Space Shuttle Discovery which is slated to fly the final shuttle mission tentatively scheduled for a Sept. 16, 2010 launch.

The next shuttle flight is scheduled for a May 14 launch from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Mission STS-132 will send Space Shuttle Atlantis to the ISS carrying an integrated cargo carrier to deliver maintenance and assembly hardware, including spare parts for space station systems. In addition, a mini research module will be permanently attached to the bottom port of the Zarya module.

Space Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to make its farewell flight July 29 on Mission STS-134. The flight is designed to deliver an Express Logistics Carrier-3 and an Alph Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station.

The final shuttle mission on Sept. 16 has Discovery delivering the Express Logistics Carrier-4, a multi-purpose Logistics Module and critical spare components to the ISS.

While visitors to central Florida will still be able to see regular rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center in terms of satellites and other equipment being shot into space, these final few shuttle launches represent the last manned space flights for the immediate future.

Such manned flight is simulated at Disney's Epcot theme park, where guests can feel the forces of a launch for themselves about the ride Mission: Space. A similar shuttle launch simulation ride is also available at Kennedy Space Center. Yet few things are as exciting and memorable as watching, and feeling, a live shuttle launch up close. Feeling the power of the launch and witnessing the intense explosion as the shuttle rockets skyward is something that cannot be duplicated. Yet there are now only three more chances to watch and enjoy this amazing feat of technology.

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