2:03 A.M.
Scrub!!! Because of a Computer Glitch to a Valve on the Delta Rocket We couldn’t Launch the Mars
Pathfinder Probe. And Because of such a Narrow Launch Window of about 1.5 Minutes, We had to wait
another 24 Hours..We had been in Florida since November 29th. This was supposed to be our Last opportunity
to View the Launch!..Frustrated and Feeling Let down we returned to our Rooms with feelings of despair. We
didn’t get to bed Before 4:00 that Morning Planing a way to expand Our Visit, and One more Chance to Watch
the Launch. Many People from all over the USA had Convened to Cape Canaveral and Many People went
home Frustrated, Never getting the chance to watch the Launch. And we weren’t sure that we were going to get
that chance either!
10:00 A.M.
Calling work to find no one is available for Authorization to allow us to stay another day..Our return flight is at
1:00 P.M. (Getting Desperate). We call the Airline to find out if we can Book another flight for December 5th.
The Airline says that it is not a Problem and it was going to cost a Minimal amount of Money. So we make
arrangements amongst ourselves to come up with the Extra money. By this time I’m running out of Expense
Money so I have to owe someone! Another Call to A Program Manager that took the trip with us, but, we
never did see . He Makes the Call that it was going to Cost too much to Keep us there for another night! In the
Meantime I’m on another Phone Line Talking to My Supervisor telling him What happened..( they already knew
about the Scrub) and that we couldn’t contact any Upper level Management to make the call for us!! He Made
up his Mind that we could Stay another night! Now...Most of this Money is coming out of His budget for us to
go in the first Place!! So We get the Chance to Chance another View of the Launch!!...Spirits were Extremely
High that day. Unfortunately 2 people did have to return to work on the Following day so there were only Two
of us to Represent Our Company that Night!
1:30 A.M.
Looking Around...We Noticed that the Crowd was Definately smaller. The Tension of another Scrub was in the
Air! All of the People were Hoping and Praying that We could get this Mission off the Ground. We had until the
end of December to get it off the Ground with each day the Launch time gettine earlier and earlier in the day. No
One wanted that! And I’m Positive that we couldn’t persuade Our Company to allow us to stay any
Longer..This was it for Us!! If we missed our window, meant that we’d have to wait another 26 Months for the
Two Planets to be in the Right alignment to get to Mars.
1:58 A.M.
First the Flash of light from the Main Engine and then the Roar...Soon you see the Rocket start to rise, The
Feeling of Pride Building up inside You, then the Crowd starts to Clap and Cheer, The Handshakes, the Hugs,
The Tears of Joy. The Popping and Crackling of the Rocket The Light in the sky!..All of this happening within
Seconds!! Watching the Rocket Rise and Begin it’s long Journey to another World.
All of this and Now the Mission is in the Hands of Fate!!!...What could go wrong? Will The Lander make it safely to the surface of Mars? Will we Miss the Planet Completely? Will the Antenna do what it was designed to do? All of these Questions haunt you continuously!
The Trip back to the Hotel was a Joyous one and Needless to say we Partied for a couple of Hours
More..Phone Calls Home and the Congratulations Were Being Handed out over the Phone Lines.
© 1997 dhms2519@idt.net
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