SBIRS Satellite Launch-19 Jan 18

We took the truck on an outing to Florida with the main goal to witness a SBIRS (Space Based Infrared System) launch out of Cape Canaveral on January 18th. Tom worked on the receiving end of satellite launches (Launch + 15 minutes–once it’s basically in space, but needs to get to its final orbit, deploy its solar arrays, turn on batteries…you get the picture). It was quite an adventure that we will get to see our first launch! We also ran into former co-workers Trudy Gray and Scott Clanton.

We stayed with friends, Lou Ann and John Janes in Cocoa Beach. Lou Ann was the first person Tom met working for Lockheed in Sunnyvale, CA 32 years ago and then we reconnected with Lou Ann and met her husband, John, while we were in England and have stayed in touch over the years. They were able to join us for most of the activities as well as my sister, Dawn and brother in-law, Dan Wahle. The first night that the launch was planned was super cold and windy–but, the launch was delayed one night, which was much warmer and less crowded.