CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — It began with a flash as the sky lit up with an orange hue.
In a matter of seconds, the source of the hue became clear as a SpaceX rocket launched high into the sky, setting course for Earth’s atmosphere Friday.
During my vacation to Florida last week, I got to see something rare for most Hoosiers: a rocket launch. The Falcon 9 rocket was on its way to deliver StarLink satellites, which are used to provide internet access.
The aptly named “Space Coast” in Brevard County offers plenty of viewing areas, including beaches, which is where I got to see the launch while enjoying the Atlantic waves. This wasn’t without challenges though, as the launch was delayed a few times due to a storm passing through the area.
My anticipation was already at a fever pitch at this point. I’d missed the first launch that week because I’d just woken up when Boeing sent its Starliner to the sky.
I wouldn’t miss it again, and no delay — nor the fact the launch was at about 10 p.m. and I had a 6 a.m. flight the next morning — would stop me.
I was distracted by the waves when the orange hue suddenly appeared. I, along with my family and friends, turned toward the orange hue with joy as the light grew brighter.
Then the rocket appeared above the tree line, curving upward toward space. Everyone grew quiet. All you could hear was the waves.
It was only a few seconds later — when the rocket was thousands of miles into the atmosphere — did we hear its roar. It was almost like the sound you’d hear when planes land at Indianapolis International Airport or at Camp Atterbury.
In those few moments, my party was all wowed by modern science. It is truly incredible how humanity can traverse beyond the realm of Earth to the stars.
Thinking back about those moments, I can’t help but acknowledge the current space travel reality.
More companies than ever are working on going into space, bringing “space tourists” along for the ride. NASA is also working to send astronauts to the moon for the first time this century through the agency’s Artemis program.
Right now, space travel is only accessible to those with the experience, or the millions to pay for it. Eventually, this won’t be the case as technology improves and things eventually become more accessible. Of course, there is a decent chance that this may not happen in my lifetime, and I’ll probably never be able to experience it.
But for those few moments on that beach in Cape Canaveral, a man could dream. Maybe in another life, I could be up in the stars too.
In the meantime though, I’ll be looking at the stars and waiting for the chance to see it again.
Noah Crenshaw is the Daily Journal’s news editor and a Franklin native. Send comments to [email protected].
