Friends Cheer Astronaut Tracy Caldwell As She Blasts Into Space

A Group from Cal State Fullerton Attend the Launch at Cape Canaveral

August 8, 2007

When Cal State Fullerton graduate Tracy Caldwell blasted into space on Wednesday as a mission specialist on the space shuttle Endeavor, many of her closest friends and family members were on hand to witness the launch.

Sue Fisher, the campus’s radiation officer and one of Tracy’s friends was in Cape Canaveral, and described the event.

How did you and Tracy become friends?
When I first started at Cal State Fullerton in 1991, working in research and instructional safety, I was assigned a student assistant. That student assistant happened to be Tracy. I think at first our relationship was me serving as a mentor. But as we stayed in touch over the years, we became close friends.

Were you surprised to be invited to the launch?
Not really — Tracy always told me she’d make sure I could see the launch when she went into space. She always said, “If I’m going, I want all my friends and family there.” I think what was surprising was how long it took. You know, originally, it was scheduled for June, then Tuesday, then Wednesday — this, of course, was after years and years of training.

What was the launch like? Had you ever been to one before?
I’d never seen a launch in person before. It was an unbelievable thrill. The family section, where we were located, was actually about six miles away from the shuttle but it looks much closer than it really is. You’re all sitting outside on bleachers watching this incredibly large shuttle. You feel the vibrations. You hear the sound — and it’s really loud.

And anticipation of the crowd was incredible. As they start the countdown, you feel the emotion. People are counting down, too. Some are laughing. Some are crying. And you’re RIGHT THERE. It was incredible…and as the shuttle begins to move, the crowd starts cheering. There was such a range of emotions.

What were you thinking as it started to ascend?
I just kept thinking, “Tracy’s in there. Tracy’s in there.” There’s just this tremendous explosion when the rockets fire. Then there’s steam and the shuttle starts to move. It seemed to move slowly from our point of view but then you hear that it’s actually going very fast—five to 10 miles a second. It was phenomenal.

Then everyone is just looking up at the sky. When the booster rockets separated, we could sort of see it. And then all of a sudden you see nothing but smoke. There’s no other word to describe it but thrilling. Even when you can’t see anything anymore — everyone is still looking up.

It was also very hot. The locals kept telling us that it hadn’t been this hot in quite awhile. But really, that heat is better for launches because apparently it reduces the likelihood of thunder showers which can create havoc with launch schedules.

Were there any other folks from Cal State Fullerton there?
Yes, John Olmstead, one of Tracy’s former professors and his wife were there. Also Barbara Finlayson-Pitts (a former faculty member) and her husband, Jim, were there. Dave Reid who used to write about Tracy for Public Affairs was there. There were former classmates. People all over the U.S. came to see the launch.

Were there other activities going on around the launch site or space center?
Yes. In fact, the night before, there was a huge reception and everyone who knew Tracy could get together and visit. Of course, Tracy wasn’t there. The shuttle crew are sequestered away several weeks before launch. She did manage to call her mother on a cell phone and her mother relayed this message: Tracy is stoked and ready to go.

I remember looking around the reception and thinking, “All of these people have touched Tracy’s life, and, in turn, she has touched them. What an incredible person. I have known Tracy for so many years and it is just wonderful to see someone like her with such an incredible dream be able to fulfill it. It’s a testament to her hard work and I am just thrilled for her.”

When you see the shuttle and hear it, it’s unbelievable. We were also able to view videos of the astronauts in the visitor center. When they are launching, you see how much they are really being shaken. And at the same time, you know they are absolutely loving it.