Anyone who has watched a shuttle launch knows its power is incredibly fierce. The Earth, if you are close enough, literally shakes. The flame under the rocket looks like an enormous plume of molten lava. The roar is an assault on the ears.

Now, imagine how the astronauts that are about to ride that bronco feel. It’s teeth-grinding, stomach churning stuff, and by anyone’s standards, the astronauts are incredibly brave, dedicated souls.

The people that created the technology that allows a machine to blast into space – space! -- are likewise amazing, able to imagine and create in ways that are beyond me.

It is for these reasons that I find shuttle launches incredibly moving, because they seem like such an impossible victory; like a celebration of the human spirit. It is for these reasons that I would urge everyone to watch at least one launch in their lifetime.

Yes, there’s one coming up. I’ll see you there! (I’ll be the hopeless sap standing in the sand with tears running down my face and cheering.)

What: The night launch of STS-125 Space Shuttle Atlantis. This historic flight marks the fifth and final space shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, the most significant telescope ever made. This launch is unique in many ways as days prior to launch visitors on the Kennedy Space Center Tour can witness the rare sight of two fully-assembled space shuttles on both launch pads. Tickets will give visitors access to the closest public viewing site to the launch pad.