That is not to say that anymore people than usual will be watching or aware of it anyway. With troops in Afghanistan, and America still licking its wound from September, the nation has thoughts elsewhere. And rightfully so, but perhaps the best symbol of what our nation stands for besides old glory is the manned space program. Now, more than ever that symbol needs to be paraded into space.
Security is reportedly so tight at Spaceport USA that even the families of the astronauts being launched aboard Endeavor are not allowed on the government grounds. Instead, they must watch the liftoff from public viewing areas several miles away. Roads that lead to the launch center and subsequent buildings normally reserved for thousands of motorists and vendors have been restricted. Many viewing areas in and around Merritt Island, a national wildlife preserve around the complex have been closed. Security has always been visible during the days leading to liftoff, but now it appears to be omnipresent. From fighter jets creating a secure multi-mile perimeter (NASA won't say how large the perimeter is) around the area, to SWAT teams at key installations at high readiness, it would appear that NASA has thought of every possible scenario of terrorist sabotage or cowardice.
Only two weeks ago, the shuttle was rolled out of its massive Vehicle Assembly Building nest with no notice to the press. It has been alleged that top officials considered changing the actual launch time of 7:41 EST on Thursday evening to a secret time, but the idea was nixed.
This editor has many mixed emotions about this current state of affairs. I remember as a child roaming around the Merritt Island facility with my father with great wonder that very near was where Ed White was launched aboard Gemini 4 or where Armstrong began his journey to the moon. Today, I fear that the numerous landmarks and structures at Kennedy Space Center will be closed to public tours forever.
After reaching orbit and playing a few hours of catch up, Endeavor will dock with the International Space Station and deliver the new Expedition 4 crew to the station. Expedition 3, the current residents, have been onboard since August. The Expedition 4 crew, commanded by Yuir Onafrienko and including American astronauts Carl Walz and Dan Bursch, will remain onboard for 5 months. Despite delivering a few tons of supplies to the station, the Endeavor crew will also install the Raffaello science module built by Italy. However, the most poignant aspect of this shuttle mission appears to be that it is carrying onboard the original flags that were flown over the World Trade Center aftermath and the Pentagon. Also carried on Endeavor will be over 6,000 flags to be presented to September 11 victims after the Shuttle lands on December 10. The Shuttle mission will be commanded by Shuttle veteran Dom Gorie. Pilot Mark Kelly, and mission specialists Dan Tani and Linda Godwin will be making thier first spaceflights.
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