If you’re like me, you’ve watched space coast launches on television since the Apollo program and always wanted to see one up close. We got to do that today, but from 50 miles away. Hey…that beats television anytime.

We loaded up the truck this afternoon and drove about 20 miles down the beach to a local seaside park to watch the launch of the SpaceX rocket…the Falcon Heavy. This was a pretty historic launch, considering it is the world’s largest rocket currently in production….and considering Elon Musk and his team were attempting to land the two rocket booster engines and the main engine back on earth under their own power. Oh and did I mention they had to land on a pad about 100’ in diameter….one of which is a floating barge. And…they did it.

Watching the huge rocket take off (it was about 50 miles down the coast from us) was a thrill. You could not only see it plainly, but hear the sonic booms as well. I tried taking some pictures with my little 200mm lens, but it was a massive failure. I need a 1000mm lens….time to go shopping on Ebay.

About two minutes into the launch, the mission control people announced that the boosters had separated and BOOM…as if by magic…here they came back down looking like giant sparklers. Star Wars is a movie…this was the real thing.

We’re not sure when the next launch is scheduled….but we’re headed to Cape Canaveral to watch it. It’s a roll of the dice when you watch these launches. This one was postponed four times…so if you didn’t live nearby, you had to stay in a motel for four days waiting. Regardless…it’s one of those bucket list things. Time to scratch one off the list.

Cheers!

Wayne, Claudia & Tuck the wonder dog