IraqiGeek's Blog

Breath taking, absolutely amazing

I was just watching NASA TV online and enjoyed a life coverage of the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-116 to continue the construction of The International Space Station. This was the third shuttle launch I watched live on NASA TV, but the first night launch I had the chance to see.

This was the first night launch of a space shuttle in four years. The shuttle lit up the sky as it ascended from Kennedy Space Center and it was nothing short of breath taking. Even more beautiful was the external tank camera that provided life video of the shuttle’s belly where you could see the shuttle’s attitude control thrusters on the side of the nose firing in the pitch black night.

The 7 astronauts on board Discovery have been in orbit for about two hours now. NASA officials say this is the most complex mission in constructing the ISS. One can’t but wish success and a safe return to earth for the 7 men and women on board Discovery.