Since the lift off was minutes after the sun set at KSC, while STS 119 rose, it went from dark into day light. The different colors are actually because of the setting sun....so the higher part of the trail is bright white in full sun, then behind that is a cream color and then an orange - lower altitude vapor lit by a setting sun - and then the darker trail as the sun had already set. This is what made this launch even better.
His name is Tom Jones. He wrote a book about his times at NASA called "Sky Walking". It's a good read. He was tapped to do what was termed the most important mission in the shuttle history. He wrenched the space laboratory "Destiny" to the space station. As part of that mission there was a time he was at the end of the solar array and took the time to look at the earth with nothing between. He said he felt close to God then and realized how small we are. In the one photo of the launch, the trail is seen because even though the sun has set on earth,it is in the sunlight. It is that high. BT I think you are wrong about the trajectory. If you think about it, the sun sets in the west. So a shuttle going straight up will go west not east. Every shuttle goes over the ocean and the first foriegn abort site is an island in the Atlantic and then Africa. There must be a scientific reason. I'm not sure how a geostationary works that way either. Two interesting stories. 1) Tom was to have the record for the shortest turn around time between his first and second mission. On the second launch attempt, there was a MECO (main engine cut off) on the pad. The main engines develop 1.5 million pounds of thrust and are not on the centerline. They normally burn for three seconds before SRB ignition and during this time the asymetrical thrust yaws the shuttle over. You can see this. This morning the burn was for almost the entire three seconds. Then the shuttle will sway back and forth until it settles. This swaying can be felt up there. 2) On his last mission he got to fly with Story Mussgrave who has flown a lot. On re-entry Story stood up and videotaped the plasma etc. As the shuttle re-enters the gravity starts to get closer to one G. After some time in space you have to find your land legs. I've seen the video of Story doing this. Story "surfed" the space shuttle!!!
Thanks for the explanation. Pretty obvious when you lay it out that way. So much for my prowess in astronomy.
No worries.... last night, after I got home, one of my friends - part of the close out crew that straps the astronauts in - came over and we replayed the launch... the things I learned.... such as the shuttle, as mentioned in thread from Stan above, moves up about 18 inches at main engine ignition... this lifting of the shuttle trips some sensors... which starts "the fireworks" - the SRBs - solid rocket boosters and then lifts the orbiter into the air. as for the west to east flight.... the winds make it more economical, but I'll have to ask around for an official version..... meanwhile... they are waking up the crew with Lynyrd Skynyrd's Freebird now...
Ive witnessed 3 launches, 1 night, all witnessed on the the site, so I was very close, and the feeling and experience is nothing like I have ever seen or felt, ..of course I had to attend 7 launches just to see 3 actually go off! Cool pics...and if I feel someone should see at least one launch in their lifetime...
WOW! Awesome pics, thanks for sharing. You guys are so lucky! It was the greatest thing I have ever seen ( and heard! ) watching a shuttle launch. I was lucky to be over in Florida on holiday one year and got to witness it first hand on a beach just off a main highway. It was pretty close to the Space Centre, not sure where though. Hopefully I'll get to witness it again sometime before they end the space programme. Thanks again. Andy
Here are two more.... the first is of members of the Close Out Crew watching the show.... some have been doing this for years and they still get amped up. the second photo shows a vapor shadow, caused by a compressing of the vapor trail due to turbulence at that particular spot... the vapor there is dense enough to prevent sun rays from shining thru. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
the scientific reason is SPEED. The shuttle needs to reach a certain speed to reach orbit, so it heads in the direction of the earths rotation to use its relative speed as a boost. Launches nearest the equator make the most use of this boost. The earths rotational speed is not inconsequential in the equation.
I knew that !!! Ok, so I didn't .... thanks for the explanation ! I'm told about one of the many interesting things is that in space, since there is no gravity, heat doesn't rise and disperse well... so, if a lit match were removed, the heat it generated would stay in the area.... ankle deep in the ocean... nice vantage point !!
Thanks Wade... yes, it was fantastic ! Just sent you a link to all the photos.... They felt the rumble on the balcony here... Charlie and Doug came over.... good time !
I went to the very first shuttle launch with the first wife. We were within one mile of the launch pad. As it rose, I told her that this experience was better than sex. We were divorced within a year.
Very cool. I haven't read this one yet. I'll have to have my pick it up at the NASA shop on Center. The other shuttle book to get is "Riding Rockets". Freakin' hilarious.
Rene, #4 in the photo above next to the guy raising his arms, gave me "Riding Rockets" to take to sea with me.... can't wait to start it !
Launch today at 2:01 PM I am in New Smyrna Beach today which is just north of the launch area. Should be a good show to watch from the beach..
It's the closest I've been yet Pics taken with a Canon SD800 Sure Shot (pocket camera). Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I work in the HQ building at KSC, the pic was taken outside in front of it. http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/tour-destinations-map.aspx
Todays launch was pretty good...became cloud occluded very quickly off the pad but for a first timer it was perfect...we couldn't see the booster separation by a long shot but overall it was a great trip. We couldn't get tickets onto the grandstand at the Cape but a motel on us1 just n.of the causeway[the kids stumbled onto it awhile back] lets you park for 15$[w/pool and lobby and bathroom use] so the view is pretty good. Just wish it hadn't been this hazy...but we saw it and heard it and that made it great. cheers, RE Image Unavailable, Please Login
