I woke up this morning (Downunder time) to the good news that the Discovery Space Shuttle landed safe and sound. That’s a relief. That’s Auzzie astronaut Andy Thomas’s last flight, but I bet he will have plenty of memories of it.
I ask your indulgence to share this little story that I told Ed.
One Early Friday Evening
It was only last Friday early evening, immediately after sundown - our time. The radio station had been telling everyone when we could see the space shuttle as it flies over us here in Brisbane, south east Queensland.
Due to the nature of the orbit’s pattern, we weren’t able to see it every night.
Last Friday was the last chance for south-east Queensland, I think, before Discovery landed.
I got home from work just in time. I called out to Mum and she joined me outside on the footpath (sidewalk) and we looked in the south west direction, very low in the sky, as instructed by the radio commentator.
I spotted a very very small star-like object moving relatively swiftly from the south west, away from the area where the sun had just set, across that corner of the sky towards the south (sort of cutting across the south west corner of the sky, if you will).
We could only just make it out - but, as the shuttle’s position changed in relation to us and the sun, that is, the angle becoming more acute, it grew in brightness, as we could see more and more reflected sunlight.
What really moved us was the fact that we weren’t just looking at a satellite, but a vehicle with 7 very brave people in it! We kept watching, not moving, or speaking much either, until it vanished from sight over the southern horizon.
We knew that would be our last chance here Downunder to see them go over before they landed, and, like many others, we willed them on for a safe landing.
Thankfully, that’s exactly what happened. [:)] [;)]
Dave