The Final Flight

Skies cleared Friday morning, and what seemed an impossible challenge unfolded before those lining the shores of Titusville, Florida — Atlantis began the last shuttle mission in NASA history.

Thousands of spectators experienced less than 30 glorious seconds of the launch  at 11:29 a.m. before the shuttle disappeared into the low-lying cloud cover. 

NASA officials gave only a 30 percent chance that stormy weather would subside and allow for lift-off. Yet at 4 a.m., the weather began to clear and good luck held through out the morning, allowing for the event.

Myself, my husband and my three children took part in the simplistic and beautiful send off.

The process of reaching the launch city and finding a place to see the fleeting moment, however, was far from simple for most viewers. Many endured hours of travel from across the United States and abroad,  sleeping in folding chairs and vehicles and wearing clothing made damp by a relentless drizzling rain.

A man ventured from a small city near Amsterdam to be among those camping along the shores. He carried a backpack with the bare essentials from a dollar store, spare clothes and a laptop which he used to speak with his wife in their native Dutch.

Accents among the anxious who blanketed the ground told they had come from near and far for the event.

NASA estimated that 750,000 to one million people flocked to the coastal town of Titusville, and the surge could be felt — from the order line running alongside a fast food restaurant to the 45 minute wait for any restroom.

Precious viewing spots were snatched up early, with some camping for days while others ventured out closer to 2 a.m. to set up tents and chairs and wait.

The dreaded negative weather reports stirred talk as to whether the next night also would be spent camping along the shores. Some fantasized of hotels, warm baths and soft beds, but agreed a successful first shot at a launch was not likely.

Clear skies would prevail though, and Atlantis could uphold her track record of being the shuttle most likely to launch as scheduled.

A bitter sweet, beautiful 30 seconds of joy followed by the sadness of viewers knowing they had just witnessed the end of an era.

Rayanne Schmid is a 1992 graduate of Seguin High School who got her start at the Seguin Gazette. She is now the editor and publisher of the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel.