Back in the UK

We arrived home at just after 12 GMT today.

I'm gutted because the shuttle launched while we were on the tarmac at Orlando airport, just a minute or two before we took off.

We had been assigned seats in the centre section of the aircraft, despite trying to get window seats, and the captain said that if we looked out of the windows on the right of the aircraft we'd see the shuttle launch. We were taxiing at the time and despite desperately attempting to see out of the windows from our seats we could only see the orange glow from the Solid Rocket Boosters, not the actual rocket exhaust - while others got a clear view.

It was the last ever shuttle night launch, but there will be more shuttle flights until 2010 so I guess I'll have to go back again ;-)

The 7 3/4 hour flight back was quite bumpy most of the way and, being in cattle class, it was as much fun as eating sawdust.

Coming Home

Very sad - now going to the gate to get our flight home. Neither of us wants to go :-(

Ho Ho Ho

Well, no going back now - we've checked in for our return flight at Downtown Disney. So, assuming Endeavour flies tonight, I won't be there to see it :-(

We're currently having lunch by the pool in 87F sunshine - so it's not all bad.

Endeavour (Decisions, decisions)

It's hard to see the shuttle in this picture taken with the iPhone - but it is there.

On the way back to Orlando we stopped off at the Virgin desk at the airport to see if we could change our flights to Saturday - so we could the shuttle launch tomorrow night.

Unfortunately, there's only one seat available so I'm faced with the option of letting Sal go home without me. As there is only a 70% chance of the weather being ok for the launch - and the extra cost and reorganization of everything - I've decided (for now) to stick to our original plan (although... It is the last ever shuttle night launch... Mmm)

Back to the Cape

On out last full day in Florida we went back to Kennedy Space Center to see space shuttle Endeavour on the pad.

We took the tour and got a pretty good view of the shuttle on Pad 39A before moving on to see the Saturn V exhibit and then the ISS Processing Facility - where we saw components of the International Space Station being assembled.

Rocking Roller Coaster

I forgot how fast it was! But I really enjoyed it and the Hollywood Tower of Terror.

Tower of Terror

I'm about to go on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Sally's nowhere to be seen. I wish Emma was here to come on with me ;-)