These images were taken over a two-day period, on October 2 & 3, 1988. This was our first trip to Edwards Air Force Base to watch a space shuttle return to earth. We had been going to a plethora of air shows over the previous few years, and this was to be the pinnacle of such spectator events. We would not be disappointed.

Jessica and I traveled in my car (the little tan Subaru), Ed drove his car (the large white 4-door), and we picked up Monte in Newport. We arrived the day before the scheduled landing, as that is what the good folks at the Edwards Public Affairs recommended. They were absolutely correct. They also recommended bringing bikes, which we did, and which was also an excellent idea. We got there at the perfect time, in mid-afternoon. There were already hundreds of vehicles parked on the lake bed designated "Public Viewing Area" when we got there. However, we were still early enough to score a front row, "50-yard line" location. The parking lot quickly filled in behind us as we set up our cars in a "base camp" configuration, unloaded the bikes, and prepared to just "hang out" for about 20 hours.

Below is a 14-photo "G Scott Panorama" of the scene at the low "flight line" fence. This is a very large file (when viewed full screen), but it is worth a look at it's highest resolution. If the image doesn't appear when you click the image below, then it may also NOT appear when you select "view full screen". I've noticed this quirk of IE6. I found that if I reboot, and then go to this high resolution image first, then it displays fine. Probably a cache or buffer anomaly. Sorry if this is an inconvenience. The large pics ARE worth it, though.

Jessica, Ed, Monte, and I relaxed in the late afternoon warmth of early October on Rogers dry lake bed at Edwards AFB. There wasn't a whole lot to do there, so we rode our bikes up and down the length of the several-mile-long parking area and generally chatted it up with dozens of new-found friends. The last of the four photos below is one of my all-time favorites.

It was easy to strike up conversations with our new "neighbors", and I was quickly granted permission to stand atop the RV next to us to take some terrific photos of the crowd on the lake bed (several times over the next 20 hours).

Late in the afternoon, we arranged to have our prime parking spot watched and I drove up to the entrance to the Public Viewing Area. Cars, trucks, campers and RVs continued to arrive all afternoon, and well into the night. I shot a few photos of the constant stream of arrivals, the sunset, and a couple of long-exposure shots of the distant air base from this location.

The photos below show our little campsite on the desert floor. I set Jessica up with a little sleeping bag cocoon in the back of the Subaru, and then Ed, Monte and I stayed up all night. We monitored the scanner traffic (security) and took turns traveling up and down the "flight line" on the bikes and chatting with the growing festive and patriotic crowd. It was an all night party that never got out of control, and continued on until dawn. In the last photo below, Monte can be seen with the one of the lighting units that Ed and I each brought. They wore like glasses and looked goofy, but they provided great illumination everywhere you looked. They were perfect for riding the bikes during the night, as there was NO other illumination.

The early morning light brought an increase in the security patrols, as well as a slow exodus to the fence from the gathered throng. We staked out a spot on the fence line with lawn chairs and a bamboo mat. The army jeeps and helicopters constantly patrolled the perimeter of the crowd. While they were obviously taking this job VERY seriously, they were also extraordinarily cordial and friendly at the same time. They were perfect representatives of our professional fighting forces.

Meanwhile, overhead the STA (Shuttle Training Aircraft) kept flying approaches to the appropriate runway that the shuttle would use, which allowed us to prepare for the flight path on which the shuttle would be coming in. This, at least, told us where to look in the sky when the time came.

Below is another multi-shot "G Scott Panorama". These images were each shot fully zoomed (310mm) across the lake bed of the facilities of Edwards AFB and Dryden Flight Research Center.

Below is another panoramic montage using the Sigma fisheye lens from atop our "neighbor's" RV. It is easy to see the DEPTH of the parking rows, which were over mile long. There were 400,000 people on the lake bed floor with us that day. A record that I don't think has ever been repeated.

When the chatter on the scanners indicated that Discovery had made its "de-orbit burn" and was committed to earthbound return, we assumed a position at the fence line and waited anxiously, not really knowing what we would see (or HEAR). When the orbiter was almost 60,000 feet directly overhead (according to the telemetry, but invisible to us), we heard (and FELT) the rapid twin sonic booms that are uniquely identifiable as the shuttle returning through the transonic barrier. IT WAS AWESOME!! The crowd cheered and then everyone looked UP. The shuttle was soon spotted, actually leaving a contrail is it made it's final turn in the northern sky, to approach Runway 17. I shot 15 images of the approach and landing.

Below is yet another "G Scott Panorama", shot from the roof of the RV next to us in the parking lot of the Rogers Dry Lake Public Viewing Area. The shuttle can bee seen in the distance, way out there on the lake bed. For anyone without binoculars or a zoom lens, the whole event was a long way off. This series of photos was taken just minutes after the touchdown, just before the MASS exodus.

We whiled away the hours like we did the afternoon before. Jessica easily found new friends to play with, Monte was content to read and soak up the sun, and Ed and I cruised around on bikes - absorbing the whole incredible scene.

We finally left the lake bed around mid-afternoon. There was still a steady stream of departures, four hours after they began. We left the high desert of Edwards AFB tired, but completely thrilled about the way it all played out. Ed and I vowed never to miss another landing, unless dire circumstances prevented it.

We would move from the state in just 16 months, but we would honor the vow we made this day. We would be privileged to witness every arrival, of every orbiter (except the classified, non-public ones) until we physically left the state in April of 1990.

I recommend this sight (or a launch) to everyone on earth. This fantastic machine, and the courageous, intelligent, and passionate people within NASA, JPL, and the armed forces, are worthy of our unending praise. It is THEY who will illuminate us ALL with their incredible discoveries, as they have in the last 40 years. Take a look at what we knew of the cosmos back in 1960, and compare it to what we know [and have seen] now - and be certain that without NASA, we wouldn't know a fraction of it. The spin-off technologies of the space program are everywhere in life now, and are taken for granted. I grew up in the 60's and remember staying up all night to watch the grainy black & white broadcast of Neil Armstrong stepping foot on the moon. The pride we ALL felt as Americans during those heady years, should not be forgotten, nor should the space program be taken for granted. It will never be ordinary, it's missions will never be completely predictable, and the environment of space is extraordinarily hostile and unforgiving. The men and women that work within its purview know this, and they willingly accept the risk, while continually striving to achieve the impossible - to make it safe, and to try plan for all contingencies - all while operating on the most stringent of budgets. I believe there are no better skilled people on earth at this job than those here in this country. It was my extreme honor to witness the culmination of our achievements....................out there on the desert floor of Edwards AFB. And I shall never forget it.