On Friday, January 9, STS-119 was given a green light for it’s scheduled launch on February 12.  Tickets for launch viewing at Kennedy Space Center went on sale Monday morning at 8 a.m.

I logged on at 8 a.m. and missed my chance to get just a viewing ticket.  Instead I had to purchase the additional Lunch with an Astronaut package.  Not a bad deal.  The launch is scheduled for 7:30 a.m., so “lunch” is at 12:30 a.m. – there’s a second at 3:30 a.m..  At some point in the dark of the morning, I board a bus to the closest viewing area to the launch – just 6 miles from the launch pad with an unobstructed view!!!  I can’t wait…