Endeavour Launch - DPChallenge Forums

03/11/2008 01:48:26 AM · #1

40 minutes and counting until take off.

The Launch is going to be shown live on HDNet.

FireBird

03/11/2008 02:49:23 AM · #2

Launch went well, slight trouble with flash evap system, and anomalous readings on left RCS system, probably a bad circuit card that can be replaced or bypassed. Just went by Spain as I shut everything here down. Thanks to DST change Sunday I was up to watch. Now to sleep. Perhaps to dream....

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

03/11/2008 02:51:15 AM · #3

It was too cloudy to see it from here, about 130 miles S W of the cape. I did get a glimpse of the flame thru the clouds, but not a clear shot at it. Happy that it is up safely.

jrtodd

Nikon D850

03/11/2008 07:03:36 AM · #4

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

It was too cloudy to see it from here,

That was the problem here as well. Went to the perfect spot and don't have much to show for it......Glad I got up at 12:30 and drove over to Daytona. :-(
Luckily I took both cameras so I have 2 pictures of this.

Message edited by author 2008-03-11 07:05:03.

jrtodd

Nikon D850

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

03/11/2008 07:23:57 AM · #5

Well good news, I just checked the results off my D70 and with only a very few slight adjustment in photoshop I was able to get much better results.

Time to enter the Free Study.

Message edited by author 2008-03-11 07:25:23.

muckpond

Nikon D200

03/11/2008 09:40:48 AM · #6

Originally posted by jrtodd:

Well good news, I just checked the results off my D70 and with only a very few slight adjustment in photoshop I was able to get much better results.

Time to enter the Free Study.

i'm impressed that you were able to time the flash so well.

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

03/11/2008 09:46:14 AM · #7

Originally posted by jrtodd:

Well good news, I just checked the results off my D70 and with only a very few slight adjustment in photoshop I was able to get much better results.

Time to enter the Free Study.

I think the computers need to take a breathalyser test. That's some crazy piloting. lol

digitalpins

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

03/11/2008 09:47:40 AM · #8

Originally posted by jrtodd:

Well good news, I just checked the results off my D70 and with only a very few slight adjustment in photoshop I was able to get much better results.

Time to enter the Free Study.

lol I love the hi-resolution you got on the flames from the boosters on the shuttle

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

03/11/2008 09:47:48 AM · #9

How far away can you guys see a shuttle as it comes in to land? Endeavour is scheduled to land somewhere around 8:00 p.m. on the 26th, and we're going to be driving to FL at that time. If we're near Jacksonville, would we be able to see it as it flies over on approach? Just curious... I thought it was cool that we should be in the general vicinity when it comes home. I guess it can take a couple different approaches to land, too, which could obviously affect things.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

03/11/2008 10:00:12 AM · #10

John, Thanks for posting the shooting specs with your STS 122 launch.

Alan, I saw it one time on the way in from about 80 miles to the west of the cape. I am not sure what path they will take this time on the way down. I don't think that it has ever been over from north to south. It's hard to spot because there is no sound coming from it's location in the sky. The first sound is the sonic boom, and by then it may be 30 or 40 miles down range. It's a lot faster moving than an ordinary jet.
Here is a NASA site that has info on sighting possibilities while the shuttle is in orbit. Enter your zip code and it gives local time data.
Flyover Sighting Info

03/11/2008 10:16:53 AM · #11

I paid for it this morning but I am glad I stayed up to watch it lastnight. Even though the whole thing lasted about 20 seconds before the shuttle broke the clouds and vanished into the darkness. It was still worth it. I am definately going to go watch a live launch someday before the shuttle program closes.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

03/11/2008 10:19:51 AM · #12

Thanks for the info -- I kinda doubt we'll see it, but it would be cool to catch a glimpse of it while we're down that way. Nothing will ever beat seeing the launch from the press area -- STS-101 was one of the most exciting things I've ever seen in 2000.

I set my alarm last night so I could get up and see it. My 9-year-old daughter came over and we watched it together. Fun stuff.

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

Alan, I saw it one time on the way in from about 80 miles to the west of the cape. I am not sure what path they will take this time on the way down. I don't think that it has ever been over from north to south. It's hard to spot because there is no sound coming from it's location in the sky. The first sound is the sonic boom, and by then it may be 30 or 40 miles down range. It's a lot faster moving than an ordinary jet.
Here is a NASA site that has info on sighting possibilities while the shuttle is in orbit. Enter your zip code and it gives local time data.
Flyover Sighting Info

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

03/11/2008 10:21:54 AM · #13

Originally posted by Bugzeye:

I am definately going to go watch a live launch someday before the shuttle program closes.

This is something I would absolutely love to do. It's problematic though, because you never know if the launch will go off on the scheduled date, and it would be heck to travel all the way down there and have weather or equipment problems delay the launch beyond the travel window.

03/11/2008 10:27:21 AM · #14

Thats where having a sister in Orlando comes in handy, For me at least it wouldn't be a complete waste of a trip. But I would rather see the shuttle launch verses spending time with my sister. Especially if I drove down.

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by Bugzeye:
I am definately going to go watch a live launch someday before the shuttle program closes.

This is something I would absolutely love to do. It's problematic though, because you never know if the launch will go off on the scheduled date, and it would be heck to travel all the way down there and have weather or equipment problems delay the launch beyond the travel window.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

03/11/2008 10:34:36 AM · #15

Very true! The launch I attended had been delayed numerous times, and they had delayed it to a date where I was able to hop in the car and head down to see it, so I went for it.

I stayed at a motel in Cocoa Beach, and a sign at the neighboring Burger King indicated that the launch had already been delayed again by a day. They had delayed it to accommodate another launch that was supposed to take place for a different craft (which actually never got off the ground either).

Thankfully, it went off just before dawn the next morning without a hitch. I can't begin to tell you how amazing it was to see it. I also had a chance to go on a press tour, which gave us a chance to get amazingly close to the shuttle, and into the VAB. Hopefully I'll get to do it again someday.

Originally posted by kirbic:

It's problematic though, because you never know if the launch will go off on the scheduled date, and it would be heck to travel all the way down there and have weather or equipment problems delay the launch beyond the travel window.