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Atlas V Lifts NROL-101 to Orbit
NROL-101 is a top secret mission for the US Space Force. As such, not much is know about what Atlas V is carrying. But it sure is pretty!
SpaceX closes out the year for Florida launches with NROL-108; a classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Shortly after rain threatened to interfere with today’s launch, Falcon 9 lifts off with 60 more Starlink satellites, followed by a successful landing on JRTI!
The Power That Lifted Perseverance
On July 30, 2020, NASA's Perseverance Rover left Earth. Bound for Mars, this rover, as well as its helicopter sidekick, Ingenuity, got a lift from ULA's Atlas V rocket. Landing is set for February 18, 2021.
This was taken shortly after liftoff of Falcon 9 carrying the ANASIS-II satellite for the South Korean military. Taming the brightness of the nine Merlins isn't easy, but I'm very pleased with how this turned out.
Starlink Blasts into the Predawn Sky
SpaceX's 9th Starlink mission lifted off about an hour before sunrise at 5:21am on June 13, 2020. When this circumstance arises, rocket watchers get giddy, because we know what's going to happen. While it's still dark on the ground, the rocket will rise up into sunlight, causing the exhaust plume to be back-lit against the dark sky. Some call the the twilight effect, and IT. IS. INCREDIBLE! It's impossible to capture just how beautiful it is, or how large it appears in the sky. It's one of those things you really should see for yourself.
This cluster of palm trees at SLC-40 finds its way into many pad shots. It's sort of iconic in the world of launch photography. This was the 2nd time SpaceX launched one of the next-gen GPS satellites for the US Space Force on the afternoon of 6/30/20. The satellite was deployed about 1.5 hours after liftoff, and go into service once all checkouts are complete.
Atlas V and Starliner Soar in the Early Morning Sky
A ULA Atlas V launched at 6:36am EST on December 20, 2019 carrying Boeing's Starliner crew capsule for its orbital flight test. While the uncrewed Starliner did end up suffering an anomaly which prevented it from reaching its intended orbit, Atlas V performed admirably, and put on a great show for those who woke up early enough to see it.
Final Flight for Delta IV Medium
...and what a flight it was. This beautiful machine took to the skies one last time to deliver the GPS-III Magellan satellite to orbit. There's no other rocket flying today that's as photogenic as Delta. With its bright orange tank, and the combination of liquid hydrogen fuel and strap-on solid rocket motors, the contrast and beauty is unmatched. I only wish I could have photographed it more before its retirement. It gives way to the new ULA rocket, Vulcan, scheduled to begin flying in 2021.
Falcon 9 lifts off, carrying 60 Starlink satellites - the first operational batch. This was the fourth flight for this booster, which is why it looks so dang dirty. Over the coming months, SpaceX will continue launching more, until there are enough to offer global internet coverage through receivers the size of a pizza box, as they put it.
Building on the legacy of those who came before, Crew-2 is heading to the Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour! Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Akihiko Hoshide, and Thomas Pesquet are the 3rd crew to ride the Dragon. This mission featured the same booster that launched Crew-1 and the same capsule that launched Demo-2. This photo was taken at Space View Park in Titusville, and consists of two separate exposures.
B1059 Returns From Its 5th Mission
SpaceX closes out the year for Florida launches with NROL-108; a classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. This mission featured a RTLS (Return To Launch Site) landing. A nice treat to finish the year, and always a crowd pleaser.
Shortly after rain threatened to interfere with today’s launch, Falcon 9 lifts off with 60 more Starlink satellites, followed by a successful landing on JRTI!
On July 30, 2020, NASA's Perseverance Rover left Earth. Bound for Mars, this rover, as well as its helicopter sidekick, Ingenuity, got a lift from ULA's Atlas V rocket. Landing is set for February 18, 2021.
The 7th Batch of Starlinks Takes Off
SpaceX continues their mission to put an internet constellation in low Earth orbit. LC-39A is such a beautiful launch pad, and the next time it's used will be when NASA Astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, take the reigns of Crew Dragon!
5th-Time-Flown Falcon 9 Launches Starlink
This is the 6th launch of SpaceX's Starlink satellites. The best thing I can say about this shot is what fellow photographer, Adam Bernstein said about it - "That's a minefield of shrubbery!" And it's true. It took me a while to line up this shot, making sure Falcon 9 would rise right into the gap between these to palm trees.
Kennedy Space Center sit right on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, so opportunities to see wild animals sharing the space with rockets are frequent.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts the JCSAT-18/Kacific1 satellites to orbit while Starship awaits its time to light up the Florida sky. This shot might not be possible much longer, as SpaceX moves forward with Starship development. No one outside the company knows how much longer this build site will be used, so I took the opportunity to shoot from across the pond,
I chose this location because I recently realized that this dock is almost exactly due west from the launch pad, so I thought looking straight down the dock towards the pad would look cool. Also, with the trajectory being almost due east, the trail would stay in the center. Because, you know, symmetry. Turns out, it was so close the being perfectly up and away from me that it basically made a short straight line. I honestly didn’t expect it to be that close to perfect! The star trails were taken in the time leading up to the launch after the clouds cleared out, then blended together in post, of course.
The Most Powerful Atlas V Roars into Orbit
This launch of the Atlas V 551 was awesome. That thing leaped off the pad! I watched from the beach near my apartment in Cocoa Beach and got to meet some fellow Tennesseans from Chattanooga who had never seen a launch before. They were on their way to Miami to get on a cruise and heard there was a launch, so they got a room. That’s so cool to me. And as I often tell tourists who just happen to be here during a launch, they won the vacation lottery! Millions of people pass through here every year, and only a small percentage get to witness a launch. I love getting to see people’s excitement when they see a launch for the first time!
On May 18, 2021, Atlas V launched the SBIRS GEO-5 satellite for the US Space Force. The SBIRS satellites provide infrared surveillance to assist in missile warning.
Falcon 9 lifts off with the first newly upgraded Cargo Dragon to bring science equipment and supplies to the astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
Falcon 9 Flies with 60 Starlink Sats
After a string of scrubs, Falcon 9 flies from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center under the beautiful, golden sunlight.
X-37B Hitches a Ride on Atlas V
The super cool, and super secret X-37B space plane lifts off for its 6th mission atop an Atlas V in the 501 configuration. With no solid rocket motors, we get a great view of the powerful RD-180 engines.
Atlas V lifts off with the Advanced Extremely High Frequency 6 (AEHF-6) satellite. The first flight in service to the newly created US Space Force. She's a total beast.
The US Air Force AEHF-5 satellite begins its journey to space atop an Atlas V 551 (the most powerful configuration of an Atlas V). With an RD-180 core engine and 5 solid rocket boosters, it takes no time at all to get where it’s going.
Photo-bombing a Falcon's Flame
Sometimes your camera captures something you could never plan for. That was the case with this photo. A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off, carrying 60 Starlink satellites, telling this little bird it was time to leave.
Starlink Rides a Pillar of Fire!
Falcon 9 lifts off on a chilly Florida evening carrying 60 Starlink satellites to low earth orbit. This marks the fourth mission for this particular booster (B1049).
Falcon Heavy Flies (and Lands) for the First Time
So far, February 6th, 2018 has been my favorite day since moving to the Space Coast. There were so many people in town for the debut of Falcon Heavy, it was just pure insanity. Look at all those people on the pier at Jetty Park! I met a lot of space fans from around the US and the world. The launch went off without a hitch, carrying Elon Musk's personal Tesla Roadster with Starman in the driver seat out beyond Mars orbit. This photo shows the two side boosters coming down for a simultaneous landing on LZ-1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, just a few miles south of LC-39A, where it launched from. Photo taken from the beach about a mile south of Port Canaveral.
Atlas V Lifts NROL-101 to Orbit
NROL-101 is a top secret mission for the US Space Force. As such, not much is know about what Atlas V is carrying. But it sure is pretty!
The Delta IV Heavy stands, waiting for its time to shine. This photo was taken on the first launch attempt of the NROL-44 satellite, which would ultimately be scrubbed for another day.
Atlas V lifts off with the Advanced Extremely High Frequency 6 (AEHF-6) satellite. The first flight in service to the newly created US Space Force. Taken on March 26, 2020, this is a re-edit I did on Aug 19, 2021. I dig the noir look to it. Make sure you select one of the 2x3 aspect ratios (12x18, 16x24, 20x30, or 24x36) to avoid any cropping.
After several weather delays, the SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts off carrying another batch of 60 Starlink satellites intended to provide high speed internet around the world without running lines on the ground.
SpaceX Begins Building Starlink
Falcon 9 lifts off, carrying 60 Starlink satellites - the first operational batch. Over the coming months, SpaceX will continue launching more, until there are enough to offer global internet coverage through receivers the size of a pizza box, as they put it.
Falcon 9 Lofts Merah Putih Indonesian Satellite
Shortly after midnight on 8/7/18, the SpaceX Falcon 9 roared into the night, carrying Indonesia's Merah Putih communication satellite to geostationary transfer orbit. This photo consists of hundreds of captures. I started around 9:30pm, capturing repeated 30-second exposures of the stars for the ~3 hours leading up to launch. Then, in two 2.5- and 3.5-minute exposures, captured the first stage and second stage flight, respectively.
On this historic mission, Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Soichi Noguchi become the first full-rotation crew to fly on Dragon. They will spend 6 months aboard the International Space Station.
Falcon 9 Lifts GPSIII Space Vehicle 3
This was the 2nd time SpaceX launched one of the next-gen GPS satellites for the US Space Force on the afternoon of 6/30/20. The satellite was deployed about 1.5 hours after liftoff, and go into service once all checkouts are complete.
Perseverance Is Heading To Mars!
On July 30, 2020, NASA's Perseverance Rover left Earth. Bound for Mars, this rover, as well as its helicopter sidekick, Ingenuity, got a lift from ULA's Atlas V rocket. Landing is set for February 18, 2021.
Perseverance Begins Her Journey
On July 30, 2020, NASA's Perseverance Rover left Earth. Bound for Mars, this rover, as well as its helicopter sidekick, Ingenuity, got a lift from ULA's Atlas V rocket. Landing is set for February 18, 2021.
Falcon 9 Blasts Off With Starlink
SpaceX launched their second batch of 60 operational Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral. This shot comes from the very popular launch viewing spot, Max Brewer Bridge, in Titusville.
Atlas V lifts off with the Advanced Extremely High Frequency 6 (AEHF-6) satellite. The first flight in service to the newly created US Space Force. She's a total beast.
CRS-15 Lights Up the Predawn Sky
Just before dawn on 6/29/18, a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched Cargo Dragon, carrying supplies up to the International Space Station. The magic from this launch came as the rocket climbed up into sunlight, which lit up the exhaust plume in one of the most beautiful displays I've ever seen in the sky. Taken from the banks of Mosquito Lagoon, north of Kennedy Space Center.
Final Flight for Delta IV Medium
...and what a flight it was. This beautiful machine took to the skies one last time to deliver the GPS-III Magellan satellite to orbit. There's no other rocket flying today that's as photogenic as Delta. With its bright orange tank, and the combination of liquid hydrogen fuel and strap-on solid rocket motors, the contrast and beauty is unmatched. I only wish I could have photographed it more before its retirement. It gives way to the new ULA rocket, Vulcan, scheduled to begin flying in 2021.
