NASA nostalgia / Pluto launch

[Rocky Raab]

I'm watching the launch of the probe to Pluto on live NASA TV, and it sure brings back memories.

From 1976 until 1985, I was a launch commentator at the Cape. That's the guy you hear describing the mission, the vehicle and what's happening. On netwrok TV, all you'll hear is the netwrok's own moronic reporters spouting drivel and errors, then they finally cut to the NASA commentator at about T minus ten seconds. All you hear of the real expert is "10...9...8..."

But the whole commentary is a script that runs up to eight hours. Not constant talking, but there'll be some kind of commentator briefing every few minutes, and almost constant for the final half hour or so.

I was (and still am) proud to have done that. Just another fun corner of a lifelong adventure!

Oh, if you'd like to watch, it's on Direct TV Ch#376. Liftoff set for 1:24 EST.