Space shuttle Endeavor a spectacular sight for hundreds on the beach in New Smyrna Beach and countless others across Volusia County

 
Courtesy video NASA / The space shuttle Endeavor lifts of from Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral this morning, the second-to-last launch for NASA's manned space flights with the shuttle vehicles. Below, residents and tourists in New Smyrna Beach take to the beach by the hundreds to watch Endeavor's final flight as shown in this courtesy photo by Catharine Roberts Hoehn. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Like several thousand locals and visitors alike, Catharine Roberts Hoehn watched the historic liftoff of the space shuttle Endeavor on its final mission into space and NASSA's second-to last-launch of manned flights. At least for the forseeable future.

"All I can think of is who's responsible?" Hoehn said after watching the liftoff from the Flagler Avenue Beach approach. "When I was growing up, it was instilled in us about America vs. the Russians in the Space Race. I feel like all the other countries will get a jump on us now."

Photo by Barbara Trapp Vazquez / At left, Volusia County lifeguards watch the shuttle Endeavor from a tower on New Smyrna Beach.

Nostalgia was the theme of this morning's liftoff from Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. Volusia County residents are fortunate that they can see and hear the shuttle rocketing into the heavens without leaving the county because of the close proximity of the launch site -- about an hour's drive south -- even if the naked eye only picks up the orange glow of the rocket fuel. It's a sight they'll likely see one last time in June with the final liftoff of shuttle Atlantis.

NSBNews.net sought out local voices like Hoehn's through Facebook. With the comments of those selected for this story, NSBNews.net also downloaded some of their photos for publication here.

Photo by Pat Northey / Volusia County Councilwoman Pat Northey dubbed this shot "Streaking past the sun."

Volusia County Councilwoman Pat Northey of Deltona, took a photo of the shuttle describing it as "Streaking past the Sun. God speed Endeavor. I could hear the thrust here 25 miles away. The impact to our Florida psyche is big and as we wind this program down it makes me very sad and melancholy."

Sandy Hall, who watched the shuttle take off through the pine trees in the backyard of her Ormond Beach-area home, said she believes space flights will resume at some point: "NASA will need their people back, they are so highly specialized, a space program even better than the shuttle will appear. The hole has been made, now it will be filled."

James Harper, who watched Endeavor's climb from the back yard of his Daytona Beach, said, "It's sad to think that there is only one more shuttle lift off... and after that who knows when."

 
Photo by Kim Rhodes / Space shuttle Endeavor streaks across the morning sky.

Kim Rhodes took a photo of the shuttle on the beach in New Smyrna Beach and posted it for all to see, explaining, "I think it's important to document moments like these, since things are constantly evolving. 

Barb Chaon Clark, who lives on New Smyrna Beach's beachside, watched it from the beach: "Our neighborhood goes to view these and it is such a wonderful gathering of people that this launch as the others make history and we are/were a part of it."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Photo by Sherri Fleming / The photo at right was taken through the trees of the photographer's backyard in Edgewater.

Edgewater resident Kevin Graybeal took the liftoff in stride: "It didn't rattle my windows so bad this time. It's a shame they waited until the last launch to put a muffler on it. Seriously, I'll miss getting to watch the Endeavor launch again. God's speed and a safe return to her crew."

Osteen resident Wanda Sarles said she could not spot the shuttle through the clouds from her yard, but added, she "sure did hear it. Come back safely."

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