If you’ve been following me for a while (and subscribed to my TeeMail newsletters like the loyal legend you are), you probably know I live in Florida. But here’s something you might not know about me: I’ve always been a sucker for space.
Not the sci-fi kind with green aliens and laser swords (though I’ll admit I’ve got a soft spot for Star Wars). I’m talking real space. Rockets, astronauts, launch pads, the whole shebang.
Lucky for me, just a few hours from home sits one of the coolest places on Earth: Kennedy Space Center. Last month, my family and I made the road trip for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, watching SpaceX Crew-10 blast off into the cosmos.
We arrived early to snag a decent view of the rocket. And yeah, it was hours of waiting, but totally worth it. I mean, how often do you get to say you saw a rocket launch with your own two eyes?
And buddy, let me tell you…it was glorious.
This wasn’t just another routine ISS mission. This was a sweet history being made in real time, and I had a front-row seat (okay, technically, a far-field grass patch, but who’s counting?).
Here’s the quick lowdown:
Look, I grew up watching the Space Race. Watched archived footage of Neil and Buzz hopping around on lunar soil while eating cereal in footie pajamas. I had a model Saturn V on my dresser and dreams of becoming an astronaut before I realized I get carsick on roller coasters.
But Crew-10? Watching that rocket launch unfold felt like a rock concert for science nerds. NASA and SpaceX are the new supergroup, like Bowie meets Queen with a splash of Pink Floyd. Scientific brilliance with a flair for the dramatic.
So yeah, maybe we’re not strapping ourselves into rockets anytime soon. But for a brief moment, as the engines roared and the sky lit up, the crowd went wild, and it felt like we all went up there together.
If you’re in Florida, keep an eye out for upcoming NASA launches (and yes, snag the tee while you’re at it).
To Crew-10: rock on, fly safe, and send us a postcard from space. See you back on Earth this fall.
Stay cool,
Sam
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