My first installment of Saturday sky should have contained the space shuttle STS-121 Discovery with a contrail in its wake. Unfortunately this did not come to pass due to poor weather conditions, anvil clouds and thunderstorms within 20 miles of Kennedy Space Center. Today doesn’t look much better. 
Our town of 40,000 is entwined with the activities across the Indian River. Driving along US 1, which runs smack through our fair city and parallel to the river offers a pretty good view of the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) ,a constant reminder of the source of our prosperity. There are many nervous engineers, techs, administrators and worker bees losing sleep and hoping that this flight goes well. The news is mixed with a slightly negative slant towards the possible abandonment of the shuttle once it reaches the space station. Feelings run deep here. The current generation remembers the tragedy of Challenger and Columbia, the loss of lives and the resulting loss of how we view every launch with bated breath. Or collective fingers remain crossed that all goes well and the astronauts arrive safely and also will have a safe return.
