By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

 After sending his thoughts about the final shuttle launch across the Internet for days, Brent Danley was speechless when Atlantis rocketed toward space.

“There are no words,” Danley said in his first Twitter message after the launch.

Danley, a Web developer and social media strategist who lives with his girlfriend and their three daughters in Saco, was one of 150 people chosen from 5,500 applicants for NASA’s “Tweetup” of the final shuttle launch. The Twitter users traveled to Cape Canaveral for behind-the-scenes tours, talks by astronauts and NASA scientists and a front row view of the launch.

For Danley, the trip was not only a chance to see an historic launch, but an opportunity to promote science literacy and get people excited about science.

“It’s important for people to have a level of understanding about science. We need to improve science literacy,” he said. “You can through the space program get people excited without them knowing it.”

During his time in Florida, Danley Tweeted facts about the space program, descriptions of talks he listened to and answered questions. Many of his followers re-Tweeted his messages to share with their friends, he said.

“I wanted to use this opportunity to get people at least in Maine to pay attention to the final launch and gain an interest in how we do it and why we do it,” he said.

Danley said many astronauts say they became interested in science after they see a shuttle launch.

“It inspired them to take math and science so they could one day be an astronaut,” he said. “We need to inspire the next generation.”

Danley witnessed his first shuttle launch in 1986, shortly after moving to Florida with his family. At age 12, he watched with his family near the launch site as the Challenger exploded after takeoff. He said most people didn’t realize they had witnessed a tragedy until they saw reactions of NASA employees. 

Danley, who is interested in all aspects of science, said he found learning more about the space program as an adult fascinating. He was able to tour the vehicle assembly building where the orbiter is hoisted from a horizontal to vertical position.

“It’s quite an amazing process. It’s one of the most phenomenal feats of engineering I’ve ever seen,” he said.

In the hours before the shuttle launched July 8, Danley kept a close eye on both the countdown clock and weather forecast. There was a chance the launch would be delayed because of bad weather.

Danley and other Tweeters were in the media tent 3.1 miles from the launch pad. The only people closer were the astronauts aboard the shuttle and a few firefighters stationed nearby.

“The countdown clock just kept getting lower and lower. We just waited,” he said. “There was a lot of energy and excitement.”

Ten minutes before the launch, he headed out of the media tent to get a clearer view of the action.

“I got a little emotional thinking about the historic significance,” he said. “I couldn’t hold my camera still. The adrenaline was coursing through me. There was such a tremendous amount of energy.”

When the shuttle finally lifted from its pad, Danley could see smoke and steam pour out, but there was a delay in the sound.

“Then all of a sudden it was like everything started shaking. The sound waves moved everything, including the cameras,” he said. “You could feel it in your chest. It was a low rumble with crackling, but I felt it more than I heard it.”

He said the crowd of spectators continued to scream in excitement as the shuttle rocketed toward space, leaving behind a trail of smoke.

“It was pretty overwhelming,” Danley said. “I don’t have the language sufficient to describe what I was feeling. It was amazing, but amazing isn’t a powerful enough word.”

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.