The only two people I could get to attend were my brother Ted (WAEC#003) and my friend Jani (WAEC#013). I had invited several other people, but they didn't come for various reasons.

After Jani showed up, we departed to the park carrying six rockets, the means to launch them, and our digital video camera. Once we got all set up, we were ready to launch the first rocket: a 1/72 model of the V-2.

After an initial countdown, I pushed the launch button, and nothing happened. In my excitement to get ready, I had forgotten to arm the launcher. When I fixed this, I performed a hasty countdown, and launched the rocket. This confused Ted (who was filming the launch), and made him miss the first part of the liftoff. The flight was fine, and the V-2 returned unscathed.

The second of six was my Mercury-Redstone, which I converted from a paper kit I found for free online. This was its second flight. However, I put an engine in it that was too large, and thus the rocket was unstable on boost. It wooshed around, before coming back. Fortunately, it suffered minor damage. But, I must be sure to always balance rockets properly before flying them on a larger engine.

After Jani had found the engine, I made ready to launch Roswell or Bust!, a favorite with spectators, since it resembles a UFO. But, the first four tries were unsuccessful at getting the engine to ignite. Eventually, the igniter burned through, and I had to replace it. Once I did this, it went off fine.

However, at a lower than normal altitude, it pitched over and head towards the ground under power! Once it reached the ground, it bounced over and fired the ejection charge into the air. Usually, Roswell or Bust! flies well. What was its problem today? I still have no clue.

The second three rockets to fly were all untested. The first of these was a 1/72 Little Joe II, which is essentially a clone of the old Estes design. On a B6-4 engine, it flew powerfully, arcing over and deploying its parachute at apogee. It came down slowly enough that I was able to catch it. After its first flight, it was completely unharmed.

Orbital Transport was the second to last rocket to fly. It was also a clone of an old Estes design, this one based on the then-current designs for the space shuttle. On its first flight, it flew remarkably well. However, the orbiter (glider) was a little too tail-heavy. I will have to fix that before the next flight.

The final flight of the day was the memorial flight to Columbia, a vivid, dynamic reminder of the sacrifice made. On a C6-3 engine, it powered into the sky. Separation of the two parts were perfect. The orbiter tumbled a little bit once free, but it eventually recovered and settled into a long, sweeping glide. I ran over to it, as it was about to land, and made to catch it. But it flew right over my head, buzzing me. Jani, who was assigned to track the booster, caught it right before it hit the ground.

The launch of March 2, 2003, I believe, will go down in the annals of WAEC history as a monumental launch, which will positively affect all those that come after it.