Rocket Launches and Space Related Photos

This is my first rocket launch. And I don't mean to photograph - I built and launched this rocket.

It is a Patriot - not to be confused with the product of the same name built by Raytheon - this is an Estes product. It was the rocket that came with my launch kit, and was either the first or second rocket I built and flew.

See - I built and flew rockets long before my friends who now work at the cape ever did. Probably before Cherly was ever born!

The first (and a half) stage is powered by the Rocketdyne MA-5 system, generating 692,000 lbs of thrust at sea level. The upper stage is a Pratt and Whitney RL10-B.....no...wait....that's not right. It was probably an Estes "B" motor.

The rocket was launched from the Frick Park Test Range in Pittsburgh, PA at the corner of Braddock Avenue and Forbes Avenue.

This is the launch of the Atlas 2AS AC152 carrying the JCSAT 6 satellite on Monday, 15 February 1999. This is my first successful attempt at a time exposure launch photograph.

The climb through the clouds made this launch particularly spectacular. If I were to do it again, I would close the iris another f-stop. The exhaust trail is actually overexposed.

The red lights at the far right of the picture are launch complex 17, from which the Deltas are launched. The lone bright white light between the Atlas pad and complex 17 is the Cape Canaveral lighthouse.

The picture is taken from KARS park across the Banana River lagoon, west of the launch pad. This is probably the closest one can get to complex 37 without access to the cape.

I don't know why the lagoons are named "River."

Some have questioned the bright trail to the right of the exhaust trail. That is a reflection in the camera or lens. I have been told since to take the protection filter off the lens the next time I try such a photo.

This is a time exposure of the launch pad before the launch. I tried time exposures of 5, 10, 15, and 20 seconds, but they all look about the same. Perhaps the film was saturated. (210mm lens, f/4, 200ASA film). I always wondered if I could capture the spotlights, and apparently, I can. However, to get enough of an exposure to see the scattering of the lights in the air, the rocket itself is completely washed out.

If you live in this area, you can always tell if a launch is about to occur because of the spotlights that are easily seen 15+ miles away.

This is the launch of STS-83, the first attempt at launching the Micorgravity Science Laboratory. This was the flight that returned early due to a fuel cell failure.

This was taken shortly after I moved to Florida. I took off work to see the launch. I meant to drive to Patrick Air Force Base to watch the launch, but didn't anticipate the traffic and the time it would take, so I ended up going almost nowhere. This picture was taken from Indiatlantic, perhaps 35 miles to the south of the launch site.

It never fails to happen - you have your camera all set up, and just at main engine ignition, someone wanders into your field of view to start picking up seashells.

This was the launch of STS-94 Columbia on 1 July 1997. This was the reflight of the Microgravity Science Laboratory from STS-83.

This picture is taken from along side the Banana River lagoon at the Port Canaveral north cruise terminals. (Discussed more below.) You have a direct view of the pads from here (although you may still be as far as 10 miles away.)

This is the launch of STS-89, which was the 8th Shuttle-Mir docking.

I was able to get a pass to the NASA causeway. This viewing site is actually on the space center, and the passes are made available to the public, but you must request them far in advance. Since John Glenn's second launch, passes have been distributed two or three launches ahead. At this site, you are still perhaps 7 miles from the pad.

This was the second night launch I had attended, the other also being from this site. At your first night launch, you will be absolutely floored at how bright the SRM's are. The shuttle is like the sun, and turns the darkest night into day.

This was my first attempt at a night launch picture. I was using my "toy" camera. As you can see, there is not much that is visible besides a bright orange spot. This is why I have concluded that for night launches, you must be very close to the pad to get a few shots just as the rocket clears the tower and is lit by the reflected light and/or take a time exposure shot.

Disney Magic and Atlas 2AS with Hotbird 5.

This high speed film was really grainy. I have actual launch pictures, but they are not at all impressive.

This was taken from Cocoa Beach pier.

Launch of STS-95 over Harris Aerospace Systems in Palm Bay (about 40 miles away). 29 October 1998.

Delta II 7326 lofting Deep Space 1 and SEDSAT 1.

The second digit in the series number (7326) is the number of solid rocket boosters strapped onto the rocket - in this case, 3. A Delta II can have up to 9 SRB's.

These pictures were taken from the jetty on the south side of Port Canaveral inlet, at Jetty Park (clever name, no?). This is as close as one can get to the Delta pads (launch complex 17) without being on the air station. All of the land on the other side of the inlet is the Cape Canaveral Air Station.

This is the best place to watch Delta launches. In viewing guides for space shuttle launches, Jetty Park is often listed as a good viewing site. I don't know why - you can't see the shuttle pads from there as the land on the north side of the inlet blocks your view to the north. If you can't get a causeway pass to a shuttle launch, you're better off pulling off the side of the road along the Banana River lagoon at the north cruise terminals - the road that enters CCAS. Either there, or maybe along the Indian River lagoon in Titusville.

William won a pass in an office pool to the turning basin viewing site for the launch of STS-88, which was the first US launch of the International Space Station. STS-88 carried aloft Node 1, named Unity. This is the closest one can get to the pads. We are standing on the 3 mile safety line, and are actually in front of the launch control center, and about 1/4 mile in front of the press site.

The main downside to this site is the power line that runs across the field in front of us.

I needed to open the iris after lift-off to light the shuttle better.

4 December 1998

As seen in this shot from a few seconds earlier, just after ignition, enough light is reflected from the group to light the shuttle. As it climbs, there is less reflected light, so the shuttle is darker unless you compensate the exposure.

Well, next time I'll know -- if there is a next time. Getting this close may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

This is the launch of the Stardust probe on 7 February 1999 on a Delta II. It was about a 4PM launch. I had never seen so many people come out for an unmanned launch. I assumed because it was a Sunday afternoon launch.

Stardust is on its way to catch the tail of comet Wild-2.

I intended to view this launch from the jetty, but traffic was backed up into Jetty Park. It was clear that I wasn't even going to be in the park by launch time, so I turned around and went to the roadside by the north terminals to take this picture. It's not a bad viewing area either, but somewhat farther from the pads than the Jetty.

I was rather remiss keeping up with this launch. I am ashamed to say that I don't know the series of the launch vehicle. I think it was a 7400 series.