Shuttle Launch
 

I was lucky enough to view a night-time shuttle launch this month. Wish I had thought to bring Tt's camera so I could get some better photos. Maybe he'll come along for the next launch.

Getting ready for the launch, my view from the visitor's center:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/...75c07a5fcf.jpg

A time series:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/...c78fd8d2fd.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/...65bf0cd802.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/...1aa8f33fdc.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/...52c1762621.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/...1d4e0c17cf.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/...682eabc56e.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/...a31ea2d92b.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/...8dbdd34243.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/...03220616b4.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/...826614e755.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/...20d9dcdae9.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/...d62fbb6c71.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/...6099b75641.jpg

STS-130 disappeared off into the darkness, racing to drop a few items off at the International Space Station.

Very very cool to watch! Hope those items make it quickly and safely :)

They did! Though I'm personally interested in some items that will be on the next shuttle (STS-131).

I'm so glad that the weather cleared up for you guys to be able to thorougly enjoy the launch. I haven't ever seen one from Kennedy, but I did stand on a rooftop in Orlando to watch John Glenn take off back in 2000. Or 1999, can't remember. Are they going to launch the next one from Kennedy or Houston?

It's going to be 70 degrees today. So they say.

I'm pretty sure the remaining 4 shuttle launches are all scheduled for Kennedy. Landings are another matter.

It's like a titantic brilliant exploding spore-gasm!

Thanks!

Whoa, that's certainly something you don't see everyday. Thanks for sharing, gg.

You are a witness to the end of an era, and share in the transition to a new one with your science riding up on one of the last shuttles, generating information to last beyond our lifetimes.

Revel in it!

I was there too. :) But my seat was in the mass of people at the Spaceview Park.

Thanks! That was very cool.

Photos of the Shuttles will become a part of history when they stop running them. I was sorry I never got a photo of Concorde for the same reason.

Awesome, GG!