I was the TV camera videographer chosen for this particular assignment by the GM of the TV station for which I was working at that time...
when the very first Space Shuttle was to launch.
Many local officials (along with the GM of our TV station... and me) flew down to Florida on a full-size commercial jetliner that had been chartered by a local "millionaire philanthropist."
I carried with me a very large and heavy shoulder-mount "Mini-Cam" (video camera) and an even heavier 3/4" tape cassette video recorder (camcorders had not been invented yet,) microphones, a gaggle of necessary cables, and very, very heavy pile of "portable" battery belts to power it all.
We all stayed overnight at a FL hotel, then got up VERY early the next the morning and were charter bussed to the launch with a Highway Patrol escort.
We all waited for a several hours, then... YUP, the launch was cancelled.
We all bussed back to the airport (the jet had to go back into regular service...) and we all flew home.
No shuttle launch seen.
Ah, well.