Day 56 - Final Rocket Booster Test at ATK

feb 25

Today was the end of an era for the space program in Northern Utah. It was historical. It was sad. It was exciting! Eldest daughter, grandkids, the Mr. and I started out to Thiokol to witness the final rocket booster test. We had to go only 20 miles west of Bear River and left in plenty of time, so we thought! Everyone else had the same idea! Three miles from the testing site, we ran into a dead stop.... we could see only a long line of cars in front of us for miles. We crept only a mile more before the launch took place.


We were lucky enough to get a glimpse of the massive grayish-white smoke rising from the test site. The rumble of the rocket booster blast was very loud... like a freight train, and the ground shook violently... like an earthquake. It was quite an experience!


On the way back, it started raining on us.... or so we thought! Kelsey turned on the windshield wipers. Grayish-black streaks stretched across the windshield with each wipe of the blade. It couldn't be, but it was.... residue from the rocket booster blast! Just like a volcano had erupted, just on a much smaller scale.

On a side note -- closing (or downsizing, which ever way you want to look at it) has adversely affected so many of our neighbors and friends in the community. Lost jobs, uncertainty in the future. It is sad to see the space program go. Seems like this is just another one of Obama's bad decisions.