![\"Rafeed](\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Rafeed_1.jpg\")
<\/a>Rafeed Hussain is a graduating environmental science major with a minor in EEB, and a passion for outer space.<\/div>
Rafeed Hussain '17 (CLAS)<\/div>
Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut? Have you ever dreamed of watching a NASA rocket blast into orbit? My name is Rafeed Hussain. and I\u2019m a graduating environmental science major with a minor in EEB, and a passion for outer space. Recently the NASA social media team selected me and several other individuals from around the country to use our social media channels to spend two days documenting NASA\u2019s facilities at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This included photographing a rocket launch to the International Space Station on April 18. If you need a break from crying over finals (because I definitely do) and want to see a \u201cbehind the scenes\u201d glimpse of NASA, follow along as I recount one of the most incredible experiences of my life.<\/div><\/div>![\"The](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
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<\/a>The group of people I was given the opportunity to share my experiences with at NASA.<\/div>
Group photo<\/div>
These are some of the remarkable individuals that I was given the opportunity to share my experiences with. I was surrounded by a diverse group of tech experts, producers, writers, business owners, engineers, and educators. Being a lowly college student, I was humbled in their presence. (Photo by: @valeriar1)<\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/a>Steven, a marketing expert who was also among those selected to cover the rocket taking off.<\/div>
Steven<\/div>
I was able to network with and befriend some of my fellow NASA social selectees. Featured in this photo is Steven (@smfies), taking in his first sight of Kennedy Space Center. Steven and I happened to share the same Airbnb in Florida. He\u2019s a marketing and branding expert, the best-selling author of three books, the owner of two businesses, a mentor in the field of emotional intelligence, and an all-around great guy. (Rafeed Hussain\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/a>NASA's the Vehicle Assembly Building \u2013 the world\u2019s largest one-story building. It is now being used to build the new SLS rocket that will hopefully send American astronauts to Mars by sometime in the 2030s.<\/div>
Vehicle Assembly Building exterior<\/div>
Everything\u2019s bigger in NASA. This is the Vehicle Assembly Building \u2013 the world\u2019s largest one-story building. It was used to construct the Apollo Saturn V rockets and space shuttles. It is now being used to build the new SLS rocket that will hopefully send American astronauts to Mars by sometime in the 2030s.<\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/a>The Vehicle Assembly Building from the inside.<\/div>
Vehicle Assembly Building from the inside<\/div>
The Vehicle Assembly Building from the inside.<\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/a>The Vehicle Assembly Building could house the Pentagon with room to spare, and was used to shoot scenes from the 'Transformers' movie.<\/div>
Vehicle Assembly Building<\/div>
The Vehicle Assembly Building could house the Pentagon with room to spare, and was used to shoot scenes from the 'Transformers' movie.<\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/a>The Space Shuttle Atlantis, at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, a public museum near NASA\u2019s private facilities.<\/div>
Kennedy Space Center<\/div>
During some downtime, I had the chance to visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, a public museum near NASA\u2019s private facilities. Featured here is the Space Shuttle Atlantis. On July 8, 2011, it was launched one final time to close out the Shuttle Program. If you\u2019re ever in the area, the Visitor Complex is a one-of-a-kind destination and a must-see. (Rafeed Hussain\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/a>The launchpad for the Cygnus spacecraft, which we visited the day before takeoff.<\/div>
At the launchpad<\/div>
On the day before the mission, we were able visit the launchpad. This was NASA Orbital ATK's seventh mission as part of the Commercial Resupply Services Program for the International Space Station. The Cygnus Spacecraft, which held supplies along with several experiments to be conducted on the Space Station, rested on an Atlas V 401 rocket. Cygnus docked onto the International Space Station, and will be there until July 17, 2017. After its time is up, the Cygnus spacecraft will perform a controlled destructive reentry back to Earth. (Rafeed Hussain\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/a>One of NASA\u2019s massive crawler-transporters \u2013 what they once used to move their Space Shuttles and what they currently use to move their rockets.<\/div>
Crawler-transporter<\/div>
This is one of NASA\u2019s crawler-transporters \u2013 what they once used to move their Space Shuttles and what they currently use to move their rockets. It's hard to grasp how massive it is, but pictured here are 20ish people standing underneath one. It\u2019s about as large as a baseball infield, it weighs about as much as 15 Statue of Liberties, it's as tall as a two- to three-story building, and it can carry the weight of over 20 Boeing 777 planes. When it\u2019s fully loaded, this crawler-transporter travels at a blistering top speed of 1 mile per hour. (Rafeed Hussain\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/a>The launch of the Atlas V 401 rocket at exactly 11:11 a.m. EST on April 18, 2017.<\/div>
Atlas V 401 rocket at takeoff<\/div>
The Atlas V 401 rocket was launched at exactly 11:11 a.m. EST on April 18, 2017. I would\u2019ve made a wish, but everything I could\u2019ve wished for was right in front of me. Just as the rocket launched, a pod of dolphins jumped by in the water in front of us. About 10-15 seconds after liftoff, I felt the aftershock of the blast blow through me and heard the thunderous rocket for the first time. As it ascended into the atmosphere, the blast seemed to get louder and louder until the spacecraft disappeared into the heavens. It was all over within a minute. (Rafeed Hussain\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/a>The Atlas V 401 rocket soon after takeoff.<\/div>