STS-135 Landing: Atlantis Pulls into Port One Final Time

NASA Tweetup to see final Space Shuttle landing at Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility July 21, 2011. Pictures taken 200 yards away from the runway.

I always knew that I would be able to see a Space Shuttle launch in person, because that's just what America is about, openess, which I realized on July 8, 2011.

But, never, ever, in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would see a Space Shuttle land in person! Yet, that happened thanks to @NASATweetup. Watching the landing on television doesn't do the Space Shuttle announcing her return to Earth justice with her twin sonic booms. On TV, it sounds like "BOOM! BOOM!"; in person, it sounds like "BANG! BANG!" As if there was a gunfight. I now understand why Florida residents and visitors sometimes call 911 when a Shuttle returns.

Film Camera: Canon A-1, lens: Promaster 80-205 f4.5, film: Kodak BW400CN (black & white, C-41 processing) pushed ISO 800.