Whether the Weather

February 07, 2008

You would think that by the time you watched your 95th shuttle launch, they would tend to get routine. Not true.

For starters, there’s the suspense: will there be a launch or not? Like quantum physics, the possibilities sidle up into the present neck-and-neck. First, there is the weather conundrum, always a mystery in Florida, even 45 minutes in advance. Then there is the point 31 seconds before liftoff when the shuttle’s computers take over control of the launch process -- or not. At 6.6 seconds before liftoff the ship’s three main engines roar to life, but truly it is not until the countdown clock reaches zero and the twin booster rockets ignite that you know the shuttle is going somewhere. Then you pray madly that it keeps on going.

Atlantis launch on Thursday was classic. Delayed since December by a minor but pressing technical problem, the shuttle had only a slight chance of launch due to expected bad weather. Yet somehow, almost by magic, the rain and clouds never materialized. It’s almost six hours after launch, and it’s still clear outside. With all our technology and science, it’s humbling to realize that Mother Nature is still calling the shots. And she sure played nice with NASA today.