OH I missed it.

I haven't personally seen a launch or a landing but I have had a bunch of fun shuttle experiences.

I was in the mountains just south of Edwards AFB when a shuttle was coming in for a landing and broke the sound barrier.....the sonic boom that echoed thru the mountains was the scariest thing I have ever experienced in my life! It sounded like a bang and the arcing of a downed power line. It was so loud I couldn't hear the people at the picnic bench next to me! And it lasted for about 30 seconds!

I have seen the shuttle on the back of the 747 in flight. That was EFFING AWESOME! Check out what a 747 looks like then put the shuttle on it's back. The engines on the plane sound like they are redlining to stay aloft.

I have walked thru the same 747! It's completely stripped down to the bone on the inside! And that same day I got to handle some of the heat proof tiles from the orbiter and see the crane that lifts the shuttle onto the back of the 747!

http://www.strangemilitary.com/content/item/127309.html