Space Shuttle Discovery Returns Home

My congratulations to all at NASA for a safe and successful mission!

Well done to all in the Shuttle and ISS programs. You are all true Rocket Boys and Rocket Girls and I'm proud of you.

H3

I was at KSC Visitor's Center Saturn-V facility hoping to see Discovery as the Shuttle usually passes over the runway center before making the final descent loop. If she had come in on the first try she would have gone right over the center from south to north and would have been visible, very high, but visible none the less. But it was not to be. The second window however was open and she came home, this time from the west over Tampa. This track made a sighting from the center unlikely, but that loss was tempered by the distinctive double sonic boom that literally shakes the sky as she comes thru the sound barrier on final approach. It sounds like a double shotgun blast going off right over your head. We knew she was touching down when we could see the gulfstream chase plane approaching and then peeling up and away from the runway. That was satisfaction enough but then we got the unexpected pleasure of hearing her APU's wind up as she went by us on the runway, which was on the other side of the trees of the wildlife refuge. All in all - time well spent at the visitor's center. Welcome home Discovery.