Just got done watching the shuttle land for the final time.
Some random thoughts:
Double sonic boom was both louder and quieter than I expected. I know that doesn’t make a lot of sense, but keep in mind I’m running on about 4 hours sleep.

Rolled by fast!

Bigger than I expected.

Wow, lots of media there, and more people than I expected.

Took no pictures or videos of actual landing – happened fast and I’m glad I just experienced it.

Bittersweet that the USA has a period where we don’t have the ability to get men into space.

Can’t believe how much money we’ll gladly spend to blow shit up, and how little in comparison we spend for amazing things like the space program. Space is the future of our race, we are getting there way too slowly.

So a few weeks back, before the launch of the final space shuttle flight, I registered to “win” a chance to see the launch at NASA, as part of a “tweetup”. This was an opportunity given to anyone following NASA Tweetup on Twitter.
Out of thousands of registrations, they chose 150 to attend. I was not one of those 150. I did get placed on the 150-person wait list. So close!

It doesn’t end there though. Last week they announced that they were going to select 50 people from the 150-person wait list and invite them to watch the shuttle landing. My odds were 1 in 3! Friday, the day of the invitation emails, came and went. No invitation.

Cut to Sunday morning, when what do I find in my email inbox but an invitation to see the landing! My assumption is that although I missed the first 50, I was invited to fill the spot of someone who declined the invitation.

After much hesitation, and encouragement from friends and family, On Sunday afternoon I decided I was going!

This Thursday morning at 5:58 will find me, tired but excited, in Florida watching the final space shuttle land.