Well, since I've seen reports from everybody on the Eastern seaboard in several different mailing lists I subscribe to mention their observations of the STS-86 launch, I suppose I should include my 5 cents worth. I was at the KSC VIP site, fairly close to NASA Administrator Dan Goldin, Russian Phase 1 head Valeri Ryumin, and some really important folks. ;-) It was my 73rd shuttle launch from KSC - and just as exciting as any other. It's *amazing* how quiet the viewing site gets at 2 minutes before launch -- and how many folks are applauding and cheering when the launch takes place. About 10 minutes after launch I saw Dan Goldin hug Dottie Wolf, astronaut Dave Wolf's mother. Unfortunately the skies were fairly cloudy and I didn't see much beyond SRB separation. On Saturday moring there was a fairly good pass of the shuttle and Mir over my area, but I was clouded out. *#!#&! Sunday morning at 6 am EDT (10:00 UT) I saw the Shuttle-Mir docked pair go overhead with an excellent -2 magnitude pass. FANTASTIC! Philip Chien [M1959.05.31/31.145//KC4YER@amsat.org]