Bringing Atlantis Home

Last Friday, I had an unbelievable experience. I had the absolute pleasure to assist with PR efforts during the Atlantis Roll Over at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Not only was my experience enjoyable, but it was an amazing event to add to my resume. I mean, it's not every day that you get to be apart of American history.

 For those of you who don't know, the space shuttle Atlantis made her final moving journey on Friday, November 2, 2012 when she was rolled over from the VAB at Kennedy Space Center to her new home at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The 10 mile journey took all day, and the public was granted rare, up-close access to the orbiter when she stopped at Exploration Park at KSCVC during her trip.

Most of my day was spent on a bus shuttling media to and from KSC, Exploration Park and KSCVC. At one point I had the not-so-glamorous task of running through KSCVC with a tray full of food for the bus drivers to eat. However, after my bus rounds, I was able to assist with media efforts in the exclusive media viewing zone, which gave members of the media a fantastic view of Atlantis as she rolled down 405 and into her new home.

Beyond this, I was about 5 feet away from Atlantis at one point and got to see Buzz Aldrin and other astronauts walk in front of her as they escorted her to her new home. It was a pretty powerful site.

Astronaut Jon McBride posed for a pic with me in front of Atlantis

 At dusk, as Atlantis stayed parked outside the new 100 million dollar building that will house her from now on, fireworks exploded in the sky directly above the orbiter. I couldn't help but be in awe of the image. It was absolutely the perfect ending to a wonderful day.

Working an event that size with so much national and international media coverage is an experience I will never forget. It was definitely a magical day and I was once again reminded how lucky I am to have the job that I have.

Welcome home, Atlantis! The journey continues.