>Back around 1977 I saw Viking 2 launch for Mars. That launch was delayed, but I was so set on it that I stayed around. I think it was 1 day but may have been 2.
>It was 'only' (compared to a moon shot Saturn) a Titan IIIB, but it still blew me away.
>
>I've since seen 3 Shuttle launches and each was equally impressive. Only equally because we were so much further away at those launches, making the physical aspects very similar.
>
>My last visit to the Cape was about 1988 and I hear that lots of displays have been added since then.
>
>


The shuttle's solid rocket booster are built by Thiokol, about 30 miles west of where I grew up in Logan, Utah. They have a test pad where they horizontally bolt down the SRB. Even 30 miles away, you can feel and hear it. Note there is a large mountain range between Logan and Thiokol. I can only imagine what it's like when two SRBs ignite.