Coming from near and far, they bring their kids, their babies, their girlfriends, their grannies, even their dogs. They are the space shuttle launch watchers. They come to watch at a location some 12 miles away from the launch pad. In the early hours of April 5, 2010 launch pad 39A is just a cluster of orange lights on the horizon with some rays of white light shooting skywards.
We thought we had arrived at the viewing site early getting here before midnight but the crowds had already arrived. They camp here, yes camping that involves the erection of tents but the folding camp chair is the most popular form of off the ground seating for the 6 hour wait. They sleep, they play cards, they listen to music, they stare at their laptops, and some read books or kindles (she has just ordered a book on her kindle as I got an email on my BlackBerry telling me my account had been charged). Earlier on Sunday morning we had stopped by on a reconnaissance mission to find a dozen or so folding chairs bicycle chained to the safety chains in the front row. But now some 12hrs latter it’s a relatively crowded scene with many rows of chairs lined up ten or more deep from the water’s edge. It is a pleasant early morning, with a steady breeze keeping the temperature in the low 70s. There is a sense of apprehension, that waiting feeling for something that is going to happen at a scheduled time but with a caveat that it could at the last minute end up being delayed for day or weeks. No one talks about that possibility; they have come for the scheduled time of 6:21 am (EST).As our days in the lower 48 come to an end we have started to do things that we think will be beyond our reach come early June 2010. On such thing will be the last three space shuttle launches and thus why we are here tonight. I have seen a number of shuttle launches live on television over the years, but this morning I saw it for the first ever live with my own eyes.
As a child the space program fascinated me; in those days it was the Apollo program and I remember having posters of Apollo space craft and launches on my bedroom wall. Apollo was a program that came to an end but then there was the space shuttle program that not only continued our superiority but the taxpaying public’s curiosity in space. We are now approaching the end of, or a pause in US dominated manned space travel. When the space shuttle program ends in late 2010 there is no new program planned and it will be down to private companies and individuals to continue our conquest of space. That’s the end of a 50 year run. Talking of 50 years, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary yesterday and for all those years of their marriage the US has been sending men and women into space.
As I sit here in Space View Park I wonder what will become of this beautiful park when there are no more space shuttle launches to watch. Will the grass grow tall, the monuments to our great achievements in space crumble and a developer fight to build a high rise here? Will those who pass through here in 50 years from now only know of space travel from history books, wondering why we abandoned a noble cause of exploring our universe up close and personal?
In November 2008 a majority of Americans voted for the creation of a different America, they were enchanted by the novelty of a different kind of president but they never envisaged that many of the things they saw as the core of American life would vanish. We can only hope that this different America will be short lived, the greatness of America will return and in 50 years time kids passing through here will note that this was the place where many watched as a few brave man and women paved the way for space exploration of the future and the continual habitation of places far from planet Earth. It will be sad if the comment of a gentleman who had seen all of the shuttle launches and was there for STS-131 comes true - “In the future all that I might have to remind me of America’s greatness is my collection of mission caps”.
...........although the harbor is quaint......
..........the Exit glacier would be better on a clear day..........
...............old ice is blue?
...........the dark blog in this out of focus pic is a BLACK BEAR...........
....................a ski resort in summer is just not the same........
.......when the sun sets at 10:30pm in August.........
.....entrance of the one way tunnel for cars and trains......
..............south of Talkeetna....................
.................best shots of the trip..........................
........this might be a prize winner?...... 
................moose and below a baby Musk Ox..................
.................C Ray should take note on how to pave trails 
............earlier in summer this would be after midnight....