The next few photos show our view of the hangars and buildings of Dryden Research Center and Edwards A.F.B.......WAY off in the distance - across the lake bed. In the first of these, you can barely make out the mirage-distorted 747 mothership, the mate / demate unit and the giant NASA hangar [which can be seen in my photos from the Columbia adventure two months prior].

The photos below show the small gathered group of people that witnessed the brief, silent overhead passage of this amazing machine that cool March morning. This was Susie's first shuttle viewing experience. It was Jessica's 4th viewing of an orbiter arrival. For Ed it was his 5th, and for me, it would be my 6th, and my last. Ed would see one more, in May. The last of the photos below show Susie & Ed.

These next photos were shot as the space shuttle orbiter Atlantis passed directly overhead and then glided down to the dry lake bed in the distance and out of sight. As always, it was a tremendous thrill to hear and then SEE it come so close to us - especially since the public wasn't invited to witness its return to earth. These were shot using a Nikon EM camera and Soligar 85-310mm zoom-telephoto (fully zoomed to 310mm). I also have this sight on video and 8mm film.

WHAT A KEEPSAKE!!

Near where we were, we spotted the sign seen in the photos below. We never actually saw this sign before today. We certainly didn't see it before going to Dryden (a few months prior). Had I seen this previously, I would have been MUCH more inhibited in my photography, and would likely have NOT shot the amazing photos that I got during the morning of January 25. The last three photos were shot with Ed's camera.

The photos below show the various test stands and other facilities associated with the incredible work that goes on in this unique area of the world. Once the shuttle had landed, they re-opened the roads and we traversed the road that rings the dry lake bed. We were hoping to find a spot where I could get a photo of the shuttle out there. We stopped a few times when we could spot it in between rises, and I snapped a couple of photos each time.

These next photos chronicle the real "adventure" portion of this trip. As we found ourselves on a stretch of road that temporarily aimed its way towards the base [across the giant, bright lake bed], we noticed that the view to the right was about as good as it was going to get. The entrance to the lake bed public viewing area was near here. A small rise was all that lay between us and a very nice view of the shuttle being safed on the desert runway. I grabbed the Nikon and tripod and quickly hoofed a few hundred feet to give myself a better angle, and a better, closer view of the shuttle. I was not disappointed, and I found myself with the best view of the day through the fully zoomed camera lens. I saw the shuttle, the safing gear, and the security helicopters buzzing all around the area. Then, one of these copters saw ME, and started coming my way. I continued shooting, then realized how this must look to THEM. I high-tailed it back to the car and got there just in time to see the Huey come overhead, LOW & SLOW, with the gunner giving me a very obvious hand signal. I was to "get the hell out of there..right NOW!!"

....and that's exactly what we did.

We drove away from the area, following the ring road back to the Desert Market and then home to San Diego. The choppers went back to watching over the shuttle. I stopped a few more times [much farther away now] and captured these last four images of the shuttle out there on the desert lake bed.

These last two shots show Susie and Jessica in the Subaru for this little adventure, and heading into the Desert Market. This is the only sign of commercial civilization for miles and miles.