Space Shuttle Photos (Reston: gated, rooftop, airport)

[HEATHER72]

Originally Posted by reebo

Can someone explain the fuss over this? I'm not being disrespectful, but I don't understand.

Hmm when else in your life time are you going to see this happen again? It's an end of an era.

[hilsmom]

Yeah, I thought people stopping on the road was a bit dangerous, too. BUT I saw it fly by my neighborhood when it made its first pass of Dulles, then hopped in my car and just started driving. It was so amazing to see all the people who had parked close to school, neighborhoods, parks, etc, just for a glimpse. I drove by Franklin and Carson Middle Schools where they had police vehicles out front for crowd control and finally wound up on the McLearen Rd. overpass of 28. Parked there and got to see it come by 2 more times (another flyby and then landed just to the west of me - could see the plane through the trees touching down).

Such a fun experience!

[sullyguy]

Originally Posted by reebo

Can someone explain the fuss over this?

It's simply a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - literally nothing more than that.

Many of us have been around sufficiently long (ahem...) that we were there for that first satellite, that first moon landing, that first space station, and that first space truck known as the Space Shuttle.

To see it in person "fly" for the last time is worth parking by the side of the road and posting about.

[tysonsengineer]

Yea come on, havent you ever wanted to be an astronaut? Its also very cool to see with these high def pictures the damage that entering and exiting the atmosphere takes.

Are we so jaded as a society that space travel is now mundane?

[reebo]

Thanks for explaining. I was wondering if I was missing something. I still don't see the fascination, especially when WTOP was reporting people were moved to tears, but different strokes...

[NC211]

The space shuttle program redefined a lot of things in our world. It gave strength to the US right when it needed it during the cold war, it opened the door for the space station, and represents what the collective minds of a country that believes in not just creating, but producing, things that others can't do. It's an end of an era, and for us who grew up in the 80's, it's an end of a symbol of that time. It's awesomeness chokes me up a little too, and makes me very proud of what this country can do inbetween all of the bickering and finger pointing of the daily grind. I'm sad to see it come to an end. But, also old enough and wise enough to know that when one door closes, another is usually already opened somewhere, and will reveal itself when ready.

[Caladium]

It's the end of an era, and I have strong memories of so many moments in this era. It's worth taking a moment to note, and nice to see it ending in a beautiful way. So many eras end badly. Although I'm sad to see it end, at least this is a nice way to end it.

[z28lt1]

From my front lawn

[JfromReston]

Originally Posted by sullyguy

All very cool - was the mall...ahem...busy?

The mall was full of people! Traffic getting to downtown this morning was very heavy. It was great to see everyone out on enjoying the nice morning.

[VRE332]

Originally Posted by z28lt1

From my front lawn

we were on 28, it was a dead stop. Like something out of a movie.