Discovery Launch.....

[Marauderjack]

I take Sunrise photos every AM and today Discovery flew just prior to dawn!! :beer:

The solid boosters dropped and then Discovery was visible (illuminated by the Sun) with a huge atmospheric shock wave around it.......this photo doesn't do it justice but it was the best I could do as it streaked into the daylight to the NE in less than TWO minutes!!!:eek:

An amazing experience!! :D

[Blackened300a]

Wasnt there a time when a shuttle launch was the biggest news story in the world? Now its so common that I had no idea that there was a launch.

[justbob]

Thats awesome! I was there for the first shuttle launch in '81 and will never forget that.

[CBT]

Sweet pic. Saw a nighttime launch all the way from Jax, Fla. once, friggin amazing the amount of light that thing puts off.

[Blown3.8]

Its definatly something you need to see once in your life! I saw it when I was in school in FL the thing I remember was when the shuttle twisted and the thrust was pointing straight at us... man the thunder from that was awesome!

[mrjones]

Did you know there's more women in space at this moment than ever before? 4 women are up there now. One of the female astronauts has the same karate instructor as my daughter.

[CBT]

Did you know there's more women in space at this moment than ever before? 4 women are up there now. One of the female astronauts has the same karate instructor as my daughter.

Space hotties.....

[Haggis]

Space hotties.....

Have you seen their pictures? Hotties....NOT!!!! :eek:

[CBT]

Have you seen their pictures? Hotties....NOT!!!! :eek:
Nope. That bad, huh?

[Haggis]

Nope. That bad, huh?

That bad......:puke:

[Bluerauder]

I take Sunrise photos every AM and today Discovery flew just prior to dawn!! :beer: :D

Great pic. I watched a launch from the hotel beach in Melbourne, FL several years ago and it was very impressive. We were close enough to see the liftoff some 25 miles to the northeast. It took nearly a full 2 minutes before the sound and the ground shaking rumble made it down to us. We watched it until it was out of sight and probably several hundred miles downrange. Absolutely awesome !! :up:

[Marauderjack]

BTW, at about 6:50 AM the sonic BOOM made it to Beaufort.....25 minutes at 700 MPH (speed of sound?) is about right....FASCINATING!!!:beer:

Oh yes....at the time of that photo it was going over 15,000 MPH!!!:eek:

Trying to find out the altitude and distance??:confused:

[CBT]

BTW, at about 6:50 AM the sonic BOOM made it to Beaufort.....25 minutes at 700 MPH (speed of sound?) is about right....FASCINATING!!!:beer:

Oh yes....at the time of that photo it was going over 15,000 MPH!!!:eek:

Trying to find out the altitude and distance??:confused:
I bet it's over 9000!

[Marauderjack]

9000 what??:confused:

If it's feet I'd say you're absolutely RIGHT!!!:D

[ImpalaSlayer]

i watched it on the news this morning, only a handful of shuttle launches left!

[Bluerauder]

BTW, at about 6:50 AM the sonic BOOM made it to Beaufort.....25 minutes at 700 MPH (speed of sound?) is about right....FASCINATING!!!:beer:

In dry air at 20 °C (68 °F), the speed of sound is 343 meters per second (1,125 ft/s). This equates to 1,236 kilometers per hour (768 mph), or about one kilometer in three seconds and about one mile in five seconds.

[Marauderjack]

I watched the ISS and Discovery pass overhead this AM......according to NASA they are about 1100 miles apart (4 minutes currently separate them) with Discovery closing the gap!!:beer:

The ISS appeared to the SW at 6:29 and Discovery at about 6:33 as the ISS disappeared into the golden sky to the NE!!! TOO COOL!!!:D

[CBT]

I watched the ISS and Discovery pass overhead this AM......according to NASA they are about 1100 miles apart (4 minutes currently separate them) with Discovery closing the gap!!:beer:

The ISS appeared to the SW at 6:29 and Discovery at about 6:33 as the ISS disappeared into the golden sky to the NE!!! TOO COOL!!!:D
You could actually see them?

[justbob]

Not to completely geek out here, but NASA provides info based on your location as to exactly when the ISS will pass by you, there are times you can see it clearly at night with no clouds, with your own eyes. I have software for my PC to link my telescope and record it live. Just never did get around to it.

[CBT]

Not to completely geek out here, but NASA provides info based on your location as to exactly when the ISS will pass by you, there are times you can see it clearly at night with no clouds, with your own eyes. I have software for my PC to link my telescope and record it live. Just never did get around to it.

I'd look for it, that stuff is fascinating. Hope I'm around when it comes down in a big ol' ball of fire.

[Marauderjack]

You could actually see them?

Yeppers...very bright with the Sun illuminating them!!!:beer:

Here's the visibility information for Beaufort....

http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/view.cgi?country=United_States&region=South_Carolina&city=Beaufort

[Paul T. Casey]

http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/skywatch.cgi?country=United+St ates

Gets you to your own location. I check this often, and try to see the stuff when I can.

[CBT]

http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/skywatch.cgi?country=United+St ates

Gets you to your own location. I check this often, and try to see the stuff when I can.
My computer used to be hooked into that gigantic listening device, forget what it's called.

[Paul T. Casey]

Have you seen their pictures? Hotties....NOT!!!! :eek:

I think someone needs a new glasses perscription. They're all better than passable, especially 23K miles from home.

[CBT]

I think someone needs a new glasses perscription. They're all better than passable, especially 23K miles from home.

space "relations", someone has to have done the dirty deed up there

[Paul T. Casey]

Three Americans

[Paul T. Casey]

One Russian

[CBT]

One Russian

3 gals 1 ruskie, isn't that a....nevermind.

[Haggis]

I think someone needs a new glasses perscription. They're all better than passable, especially 23K miles from home.

Yea you need a new perscription!!! Well maybe if I was lost in space with them they would be passable.