Photo History: Covering the Space Shuttle, From the Very First Launch

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Can it really be 30 years, since the first Space Shuttle launch?  Can it really be 30  years, since I covered it live from the Kennedy Space Center? It might be hard for some to believe what a big deal it was back then, when now, the shuttle program seems to many, to be irrelevant. The shuttles may not have achieved everything they promised; but I remember one aerospace colleague saying, "complaining about  the shuttles not doing everything they're advertised to do, is a bit like complaining about the talking dog, because it speaks with an accent." A space ship, that carries 7 astronauts into space, orbits the earth, then lands like a plane for reuse another time is pretty amazing. Especially, when you remember it was built with 70's technology.

 

I think out of about 270 launches and landing, I've covered around 175 live -- either there at KSC, or in a studio somewhere. I should have kept a tally. In person, launches were more spectacular. But I was glad I was in-studio for the Challenger explosion. I had access to more information. Although 6 hours later,  I was on a flight to Florida for the follow-up.