Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Skydivers Get Up Close View of Shuttle Endeavour
Aired April 20, 2001 - 11:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, some people -- some people -- will do anything to get a good view of a shuttle launch. Now when the Shuttle Endeavour went up from Florida's Kennedy Space Center yesterday, believe it or not, some skydivers came down and what a sight it was.
Here is David Waters from our affiliate Central Florida News 13.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID WATERS, CENTRAL FLORIDA NEWS 13 REPORTER (voice-over): If you are able to see this in person, don't take it for granted. The Kennedy Space Center is one of only two places in the world where people launch into space. So, many want to get a good view.
But some people want to make watching a launch even more unique by seeing it in free-fall. For this launch, skydiver Dean O'Flaherty videotaped a skydiving buddy and his girlfriend in front of Space Shuttle Endeavour. The cameraman is no stranger to space shuttle skydives. Usually, he is the one in front of the camera. As Space Station Columbia and its seven astronauts go up behind him, skydiver Dean O'Flaherty, dressed as an astronaut, it going down around 120 miles an hour.
DEAN O'FLAHERTY, SKYDIVER: We're going down pretty fast and that's going up even faster.
WATERS: Dean O'Flaherty and Brian Erler have jumped from Skydive Space Center in Titusville during space shuttle launches since 1997. On launch day, the two are 10,000 feet up and just eight miles away.
O'FLAHERTY: You can seat the entire launch pad, the two launch pads and usually we know beforehand which one it's on. You'll hear the countdown -- five,, three, two, one. The engines ignite. You can see the smoke billowing out from around the tower, and then we open the door.
WATERS: Every time that the ski duo of Dean and Brian jump during a shuttle launch, they try to dress in something that will make an interesting picture. This is Dean during John Glenn's 1998 launch.
O'FLAHERTY: John Glenn, we just decided to be a little bit more patriotic and we dressed up as Uncle Sam. WATERS: You may think it's a little strange to see a guy in a shirt and a tie, skydiving, but that's Dean, dressed as a businessman. No, you're not seeing things. This is Santa Claus. Here is proof that he flies at night. He even has a little reindeer on the board. Actually, it's Dean dressed up for Space Shuttle Endeavour's launch several years ago. To get the perfect images, Dean and Brian have to fall side by side.
BRIAN ERLER, SKYDIVER: We have about probably 50 working seconds to get the shots.
WATERS: Brian has the best view. This is what he sees as he snaps pictures of his friend Dean in front of the passing space shuttle. Meanwhile, all Dean sees during the same time is Brian.
ERLER: You're always looking away from the shuttle launch, you never get to see it.
O'FLAHERTY: No, it's always behind me. It's pretty funny, but sometimes you have to sacrifice for the art.
WATERS: After the pictures are over, Dean spins around to take a look. It's breathtaking. Everything is silent, except for the sound of the space shuttle.
ERLER: Every time I'm out and I mention that I'm a skydiver, it seems like someone says, hey, you know, I saw these crazy guys jumping in front of the space shuttle. And as it turns out, it's usually me or Dean.
WATERS: In Titusville, David Waters, Central Florida News 13.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we have one of those crazy guys with us on the phone with us. Dean O'Flaherty is joining us on the phone from Titusville, Florida.
Dean, good morning.
O'FLAHERTY: Good morning, how are you?
KAGAN: I am doing fine. The question is, how are you doing?
O'FLAHERTY: I'm doing just fine. The weather is good and we're busy jumping right now.
KAGAN: You are. Now, the space shuttle thing, I guess the biggest question is why? Did you think about, like, being on a nice beach, people pull up their RVs, they get a great view. Why jump out of the plane?
O'FLAHERTY: Well, that's what I do every day. I do it for a living and because we're so close to the Kennedy Space Center, whenever there's a shuttle launch, we would be crazy to miss an opportunity with one blasting off into space in the background. KAGAN: The next question is how? How do you do it? How do you time it, and what about airspace? Doesn't NASA say that you can't fly so close to where the shuttle's taking off?
O'FLAHERTY: Yes, there are restricted areas, but we're outside of the restricted zones, and we're at the regular place where we jump here every day. So, our pilots know where all the zones are. They're in constant contacts with the traffic control, and we're restricted to a certain a certain altitude, though.
KAGAN: Do you worry about it being dangerous? I notice you guys aren't even wearing helmets when you do this.
O'FLAHERTY: For regular skydives, we do wear our helmets, yes. But on special skydives when we doing it for photography reasons or video, we set up with certain costumes. We won't wear a helmet for some of these, but on most jumps, we would wear the helmet.
KAGAN: Because I'm thinking that the ground is just as hard, even on the special skydives.
O'FLAHERTY: Yes, the ground is hard.
KAGAN: What's next are for you guys?
O'FLAHERTY: We haven't really decided yet. I actually don't even know when the next launch is, but usually it's the last-minute decision and we end up running around deciding what to do.
KAGAN: And you guys have a Web site, too, if people want more information.
O'FLAHERTY: Yes, that's at skydivespacecenter.com.
KAGAN: Well, how about this, next time you figure out when the next launch is and your next project, why don't we have you back on and maybe get an advance look.
O'FLAHERTY: Sure, we'd love to do that.
KAGAN: Very good, Dean O'Flaherty joining us from Titusville, Florida. You be safe out there, OK. He's already off.
HARRIS: Safety's not an issue with those guys, I don't think.
KAGAN: Great pictures, though.
HARRIS: Great pictures.
KAGAN: Santa Claus going down.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
