rcpilz@ablnc.ATT.COM (Robert C. Pilz) (09/29/88)
Less than 30 minutes ago, Discovery lifted off Cape Kennedy. Our
building is about 40 miles due West of the launch site. People went
on top of our building (4 stories) to see it. I went to the East-most
windo on the 4th floor and plugged in a portable TV to know when
to start looking. It was partly cloudy but after about 20 seconds
I could see the bright white flames and pure white exhaust. It went
up real fast! Then went behind some clouds and about 30 seconds
later, it appeared again, but really small. I listened on TV for
when the solid boosters were to leave, I could see a little white
flickering just at that moment. I could see the glow of the shuttle
engines as it went down range and then some more clouds got in the way.
I felt my hands tingling as the shuttle was going up. It was
beautiful! The people around Orlando and the coast have been up
for days waiting for this. Great!
R. C. Pilz
AT&T IMS
Orlando FL
P.S. Sorry for not being so "scientific," but right now,
it does not matter that much.