My NASA rep took me down to meet her clients @ KSC last week- she finagled us being on site for Atlantis' final landing.  It took quite a bit of extra permission, which my rep handled without telling me.  She rightfully thought I wouldn't be tracking Atlantis, and that it'd make a great surprise.  I was a little overwhelmed with the significance at the time.   We were with NASA execs, some of whom had been with the program since the 1970's.  It was the closest all but one had ever been to a working machine.  Nobody had been this close to a shuttle prior to post-mission processing.

The event was open for badged KSC employees/contractors and a few press.   I took this pic from a crappy Blackberry camera, no zoom.  Security was friendly but high.  As I took this picture I had someone in my ear next to me say in a congenial but very serious voice that one more step and I'd receive a lot of attention, starting from him.  We did get closer, but had to surrender all electronics first.

The main down-side to the surprise was that I wasn't ready to be in 103 degree Florida sun-- I was wearing a suit.  If you want to see more pics, go to my facebook page-- but when you see me just know that those pics started AFTER over 90 minutes baking in the sun. Pls let me know if this link doesn't work: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1053632624&v=info

The event was a little bittersweet.  NASA treats Landing Day like a big Welcome Home for Astronauts.  So Thursday was like a big family homecoming.  Although we were flying out that Thurs night, we knew that over 3500 NASA employees were losing their job the next day as the program was terminated.  Made for an emotional event.