From: "Fran O'RourkeHartman" <hart1200@spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Pathfinder Launch
Date: Sat, 14 Dec 1996 15:34:06 -0600 (CST)
Hello everyone and happy Hoildays, Well we are back to earth, after no sleep and a breath taking view of=20 the launch. Because of the delays, there was very little sleep on the=20 trip. Then having students along, we had to do Disney World, Epcot etc,,=20 so It has taken me a whild to catch up. =09The launch was unreal. Ken Edgett is right do try and attend=20 one. We were treated like Kings and Queens. The tour of Kennedy space=20 center was great. We got to go onthe space shuttle run way, to the=20 launch pad and see many behind the scense things. Of course many=20 scientist and engineers were there to helop with explainations and talk=20 to students. =09Brian Cooper the rover driver spent the day at Disney World with=20 my students we all had great fun and learned about the new rover in the=20 works, it is about the size of a match box car. Dr. Joy Crisp and her=20 husband Dr. Dave crisp have agreeded to work on a childrens book with my=20 students. We sent to publishers in Jan. (it's cool). Howard Eisen (rover designer) brought a mock up of the rover and pulled=20 it out to play with the students. Great fun for everyone. Parents who=20 attened were in awe, kids were so excited and I will never forget the=20 whole thing. Oh we spent several evenings with Peter Smith,(IMP camera-lea= d) and got some inside news about whats next. =09My students were treated as equals and learned so much. We went=20 to the VIP viewing area the first night, it was actually north of the=20 rocket, then Brian, Ken and Peter talked us into Jetty Park, much better,= =20 not to mention that's were all the folks from JPL were. The rocket=20 seemed to go over our heads. As I look at photos, when the rocket took=20 off, it became so bright, my kids in class asked if it was day time.=20 Below is a newspaper artice the kids wrote, much more is being done in=20 Arizonia, by a former student, as I get copies I'll post them as well. Again, Happy Holidays all Fran To Infinity and Beyond By:=20 Jenny Morris, Katie Myers, Lindsey Johnson & Maggie Ryan 5th graders in Ms. O=D5Rourke=D5s Class Cedar Wood Elementary =09December 2nd was the official launch date of the Delta 2 rocket.=20 It was delayed (scrubbed) due to a hurricane passing through Texas. It=20 was going to hit Florida the same time as the rocket was to be launched. =09December 3rd the launch was scrubbed again for difficulties on=20 the ground computers. On the 4th it launched!=20 This is our point of view of what happened on launch night: =09It was pitch black and the only light at Jetty Park (where we=20 viewed the launch) was the rusty orange moon, the shooting stars and the=20 blue and white glowing rocket on the launchpad. Along with us, our=20 teacher Fran O=D5Rourke and our parents at Jetty Park were Brian Cooper=20 (the rover driver), Dr. Edgett (provides education for teachers) Dr. Joy= =20 Crisp (geologist), Dr. Dave Crisp (works with weather) and other=20 scientists and engineers from NASA=D5s JPL who were excitingly waiting for= =20 the launch. =09Suddenly a blinding light and a booming sound filled Jetty Park=20 while cheers filled the air as the Delta II curved and sailed towards the= =20 moon. Half way to the moon the rocket boosters were released and looked=20 like sparkling stars as they fell from the Delta rocket. The rocket=20 continued on and looked like it was going right over the middle of the=20 moon as it tore through the atmosphere. All you could see was a bright=20 dot fade into the darkness. The sight was to amazing to describe. When it= =20 was all said and done we all agreed it was an experience we will never=20 forget.=20 =09 ---------- Fran O'RourkeHartman Email:hart1200@spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov