Final Endeavor Launch Captured by Plane Passenger

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

05/16/2011 04:25:23 PM · #1

Some of you may have already seen the photograph and/or news article. A woman flying from New York to Florida was lucky enough to view and capture the final launch of Endeavor outside her window using her iPhone 3G. She didn't have her Canon P&S with her, but was able to get a few stills and a 12 second video.

I've been an astronomy and space buff since I was a little boy watching all the Apollo missions etc. My mom used to left me stay home from school every time there was a launch of a "splash down" upon return. It never gets old for me. Very envious of those who have seen it first hand.

Final launch of Endeavor as seen from passenger plane

This would have been a potential ribbon winner for the phone challenge going on right now. Especially if it was an advanced editing challenge where it could have been cleaned up a bit etc.

Dave

Message edited by author 2011-05-16 16:26:51.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

05/16/2011 04:36:17 PM · #2

Wow, that would have been a sight to see out the window! How lucky was she to have been flying past during the launch!
My luck, I would have been seated on the other side of the aircraft :-P

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/16/2011 04:41:59 PM · #3

What was the FAA doing allowing a passenger plane to fly that close during the launch? Seems like NASA would want more clear airspace, as paranoid as they are ...

05/16/2011 05:20:38 PM · #4

Knowing the magnitude of that smoke trail, and seeing the lens angle, I expect that they were well outside the air exclusion zone.
Here's what it looked like on the other side of that cloud cover.

05/16/2011 05:32:32 PM · #5

Originally posted by GeneralE:

What was the FAA doing allowing a passenger plane to fly that close during the launch? Seems like NASA would want more clear airspace, as paranoid as they are ...

On average for General Aviation and VFR flights the restriction zone is roughly 30 nautical miles and 18,000 feet. Melbourne International has some exceptions.

Commercial airlines are obviously under extra air traffic control rules, but can get clearance from the tower when appropriate.

According to the article I linked to the plane was still 30 minutes out from landing so they were probably well outside the restriction zone to begin with. Also, looking at the shot the shuttle was actually in the air for some time, and any threat to it had passed.

I'm not sure I would have used the word paranoid to describe NASA. More like precautionary measures which I personally feel are warranted post 9/11. It's also a matter of protecting the safety of passengers on other flights in case something goes terribly wrong during launch as was the case with Challenger.

Dave

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/16/2011 05:36:15 PM · #6

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

Knowing the magnitude of that smoke trail, and seeing the lens angle, I expect that they were well outside the air exclusion zone.
Here's what it looked like on the other side of that cloud cover.

Cool! Which I was there. What kind of Meade telescope do you have? I only have a small and older one right now (Meade ETX70AT. I need another 10 inch scope at least. LOL.

Dave

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

05/16/2011 09:11:07 PM · #7

Originally posted by DCNUTTER:

I'm not sure I would have used the word paranoid to describe NASA. More like precautionary measures which I personally feel are warranted post 9/11.

I think they are precautionary measures warranted since Apollo I and Challenger ... I was being hyperbolic -- I am actually a big fan of NASA, and just wish the Congress would give them the money they need (about triptle what they get) and then butt out ...

PGerst

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/16/2011 10:10:41 PM · #8

Here is another link from a forum I'm on.

Orbiter

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/16/2011 10:56:43 PM · #9

Here's a gov link that allows you to find out when and where to look to see them passing overhead in orbit. It looks like a bright star in motion. The times that you can see it are just after dark or just before dawn, when you are in the shadow of the earth and the orbiter is in the sunlight overhead.
nasa.gov/realtime

kenskid

Nikon D700

05/16/2011 10:58:20 PM · #10

LUCKY to have been at the right place at the right time.

I've been a space fan since the first moonwalk...I was 8. I always wanted to see a shuttle launch...even from a distance. However, as I grew and got more responsibilities, the chances to see one dwindled. We are big Disney fans and have taken the kids 6 or 7 times in 17 years. I ALWAYS check the launches just on the odd chance we will be in Orlando at the same time....it never worked out.

A few years back, we went again. We stayed at the Contemporary Hotel. I don't remember if it was morning or afternoon but after breakfast/lunch, we were walking out to go catch a boat. As we walked out we saw what appeared to be a small crowd breaking up. Most had cameras...not unusual for Disney. In the distance I could see what looked like a thin cloud...thinner at the "top" than at the bottom. In fact, it was fat at the bottom and kind of lit up red from the sun. I thought something was on fire. I asked someone what everyone was out her for and someone said, "the space shuttle just lifted off". I'm still sick.

05/17/2011 12:16:02 AM · #11

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by DCNUTTER:
I'm not sure I would have used the word paranoid to describe NASA. More like precautionary measures which I personally feel are warranted post 9/11.

I think they are precautionary measures warranted since Apollo I and Challenger ... I was being hyperbolic -- I am actually a big fan of NASA, and just wish the Congress would give them the money they need (about triptle what they get) and then butt out ...

Couldn't have said it better myself Paul. Glad you're a fan as well.

05/17/2011 12:39:08 PM · #12

Originally posted by DCNUTTER:

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:
Knowing the magnitude of that smoke trail, and seeing the lens angle, I expect that they were well outside the air exclusion zone.
Here's what it looked like on the other side of that cloud cover.

Cool! Which I was there. What kind of Meade telescope do you have? I only have a small and older one right now (Meade ETX70AT. I need another 10 inch scope at least. LOL.

Dave

It was a little Meade 90mm diameter f11, 1,000 mm mirror scope. There are a couple just like it on eBay right now if you search for Meade 1000 mm there. I also had my larger 10" , 2,500 mm f10 Meade there and set up for viewing the shuttle on the pad. The angle of view at 14 miles with the 2,500 is so narrow that it just covers the shuttle and launch tower, so I chose to use the 1,000 for the launch to get a full frame that would include the flame and smoke of the launch. Here's a night shot with the 2,500. The amount of heat waves in the atmosphere across the water's surface is unreal when it's viewed through the big scope. It looked like the shuttle was dancing on the pad.

This was the night before the launch scrub, at about 3:30 AM.