MK5 Golf GTI

General => Photography Section => Topic started by: cmdrfire on February 27, 2011, 11:47:15 pm

Title: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on February 27, 2011, 11:47:15 pm: Just got back from Florida and gone through some of the photos from the launch on the 24th. It was an emotional day, I'll write more about it tomorrow. But for now, some pictures...
If you're interested I strongly recommend clicking through and looking at the large ones!

Main engine start
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5295%2F5482164211_f4fba85ce7_z.jpg&hash=ab16e06479b8e688ed00bbd7e1be6dd12158a18c) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5482164211/)
Main engine start (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5482164211/) by CmdrFire (http://www.flickr.com/people/cmdrfire/), on Flickr

Tower cleared
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5174%2F5482247691_f8dcc9a1a3_z.jpg&hash=2d7aa1810875bbea2af35a0f48452fdacab26b99) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5482247691/)
Tower cleared! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5482247691/) by CmdrFire (http://www.flickr.com/people/cmdrfire/), on Flickr

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5091%2F5482847326_4df79266d9_z.jpg&hash=d192f15c5436b937b30e52b242b5a7b881d1945d) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5482847326/)
Powering away (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5482847326/) by CmdrFire (http://www.flickr.com/people/cmdrfire/), on Flickr

Beginning roll program
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5251%2F5482111457_d5418d0866_z.jpg&hash=66a91523795a7a72aabc4920e2e9737888b407fc) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5482111457/)
Roll program (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5482111457/) by CmdrFire (http://www.flickr.com/people/cmdrfire/), on Flickr

Flickr Slideshow (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/sets/72157626030874509/show/) of what I've got up there so far. I'll get more stuff up tomorrow evening.
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: Top Cat on February 27, 2011, 11:50:08 pm: Amazing. :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:

It's hard to believe that they have been in service for over 20 years. :congrats:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on February 27, 2011, 11:57:30 pm: It's a breathtaking machine, and it's so sad that they're being taken out of service. As the mission commander said - Discovery is still like a new ship, with many missions left in her.

Couple more.

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5178%2F5483383975_ec0b0ca4c8_z.jpg&hash=0deaa6fb73120f433884deaccc4ad27eaf5ced6b) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5483383975/)
ascent1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5483383975/) by CmdrFire (http://www.flickr.com/people/cmdrfire/), on Flickr

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5058%2F5483978036_bdec71d138_z.jpg&hash=62874143bec1fcf8e0699ddc176e3b44cd878de2) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5483978036/)
ascent2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5483978036/) by CmdrFire (http://www.flickr.com/people/cmdrfire/), on Flickr
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: Janner_Sy on February 28, 2011, 12:30:22 am: thats pretty cool. Weird question, what was the sound of it like? id imagine it was pretty biblical
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on February 28, 2011, 11:58:43 am: Not a weird question at all, and the sound is awesome, in every sense of the word. Large booming rumble first, and then as the Shuttle banks away and the exhausts point towards the causeway, a powerful crackling roar which makes your ribcage vibrate. Seriously cool - biblical is the word.
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: Poppa Dom on February 28, 2011, 12:16:55 pm: Very envious - sounds like a great trip, one that will leave lifelong memories. :happy2:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: rich83 on February 28, 2011, 12:36:52 pm: Amazing... once in a lifetime opportunity. :notworthy:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: VC on February 28, 2011, 01:36:51 pm: so envious! i'm desperate to see a shuttle lift :ashamed:

only 2 left now and doubtful i'll get to either.... orsum shots though dude :congrats:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on February 28, 2011, 03:17:23 pm: Seriously, I'm saying this to everyone, if you get a chance to go to one of the last two, go.

Causeway tickets are the best way (that's where I was), you enter a lottery to be allowed to purchase them but if you get selected in the lottery they're not that expensive ($50/each). I was only about 6 miles from the launch site (Launch Pad 39A if anyone is interested), and it's the closest the public can get to see a launch. Apparently there's good views from the Space Center itself (about 10 miles away) and then again from Titusville (12 miles away) and Cocoa beach.

Forget being an impressive sight (which it is) or even an educational day out (the Space Center is fantastic and worth visiting by itself). It's a genuinely perspective-changing event, to see that ship rise. Really like nothing else on earth.

Some interesting numbers for the speed freaks amongst us. By the time the Shuttle clears the tower (see my photo labelled "Tower Cleared!") it's already doing 200mph. At 2 minutes in, it's doing close to three thousand mph. By the time the ship reaches escape velocity, about seven minutes in, it's doing close to seventeen thousand miles per hour. Bit faster than the fastest toy on this forum; faster even than Hedge's Vulcan.
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: apollo13 on February 28, 2011, 03:34:53 pm: I got back this morning from Florida

I've been wanting to go for ages and I'm so glad I did, It was an amazing experience.

It lifts off in silence as the NASA causeway is around 6 miles away fron the launch site (I'm lead to believe its the nearest public viewing site) about 25-30 secs in you hear the rumble and then as it banks the sound turns to an awesome crackle.

Even Mrs Apollo was speechless :grin:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: MPS on February 28, 2011, 04:06:26 pm: If ever there was an appropriate moment to say the word, after seeing them photos, now is the time to use it - EPIC! :congrats:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on February 28, 2011, 04:28:16 pm: Quote from: apollo13 on February 28, 2011, 03:34:53 pm
I got back this morning from Florida

I've been wanting to go for ages and I'm so glad I did, It was an amazing experience.

It lifts off in silence as the NASA causeway is around 6 miles away fron the launch site (I'm lead to believe its the nearest public viewing site) about 25-30 secs in you hear the rumble and then as it banks the sound turns to an awesome crackle.

Even Mrs Apollo was speechless :grin:

Crikey, were you at the Causeway as well?! We should have met up!

The causeway is indeed the closest public viewing area. There's a slightly closer viewing area north of the pad (3.5 miles) for NASA staff and VIPs but from pad 39A the Shuttle is hidden behind the gantry so the causeway was the best view (and will be for Endeavour and Atlantis as well, as Pad 39B is being converted for Ares).

Edit: on another note, did you take the tour to the Saturn V building? With your username I hope you did!
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: apollo13 on February 28, 2011, 04:36:23 pm: Yes I was at the causeway! It was a time like that, that I wish I had a decent camera. The point and shot doesn't do it any justice but the experience was the main thing for me really.

I have some photos and also a video, I'll post them up when I get a chance.

I certainly did go to see the Saturn V building :grin:

Out of interest did you drive there or where you on a dolphin/grayline tour? It took us 5hrs to get back to Lake Buena Vista!!
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on February 28, 2011, 04:46:26 pm: We drove, and it took four hours to get back to Orlando! Traffic afterwards was terrible.

I'd done a lot of reading on launch photography prior to going and all the advice more or less said "if this is likely to be your first and only time, don't take a camera, and view with your own eyes rather than through a viewfinder" which was an excellent point, but I couldn't not take photos... so I had all my equipment set up beforehand on tripods with a remote release for the stills and started filming as soon as we got a "go" from the Range (talk about leaving it to the last second! I got grey hairs because of that range safety officer!).

I've got some hd video shot with a 28mm lens which I'll try to get up later this evening.

I agree though, that the experience is the main thing, and the photos are incidental - we're never going to be able to take anything as good as the official NASA shots anyway!
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: 94Luke on February 28, 2011, 06:29:20 pm: Wow... just wow... that's all I can say really, bet it was a sight to behold. Pictures are fantastic too, didn't realise how much it banked so soon. When are the last 2 launches? Would love to see one :happy2:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on February 28, 2011, 06:47:52 pm: STS-134 (Endeavour) is scheduled for 19th April and STS-135 (Atlantis) is baselined for 28th June but pending confirmation.

Endeavour was taken out of the Orbiter Processing Facility earlier today to be taken to Vehicle Assembly Building to be mated with the orange external fuel tank and its solid rocket boosters in preparation for STS-134.
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: RedRobin on February 28, 2011, 11:07:14 pm: (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fcmdrfire%2F5482847326%2F&hash=4c182f3fee6054ac3a28bac953b3756049cd0437)

[Where's the pic gone?]

^ This is the money shot (as VC calls it) for me :notworthy:

Wow! As others have already said: A lifetime experience.

It's not the number of breaths we take that matter, but the number of moments which take our breath away.
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on February 28, 2011, 11:35:08 pm: Which pic is that Robin? I haven't changed any of the flickr links so you should still be able to get it.

A couple more.

SRB flameout. I was surprised I caught this, given how far away it was (T+00:01:50 into the flight, with Discovery approaching 2800mph). This is photo I've uploaded is a 100% crop and bigger than this one, click through and view to see more detail!
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.static.flickr.com%2F4092%2F5487358634_05555cc1d4_b.jpg&hash=a6fca6157d9fd3b810032f2b59dc770b3c8714cb) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5487358634/)
Flameout (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5487358634/) by CmdrFire (http://www.flickr.com/people/cmdrfire/), on Flickr

The contrail a few minutes after the launch
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5300%2F5486764133_0a381f11d1_b.jpg&hash=2a48f89612d663de07fe58ff727b0e7660465073) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5486764133/)
Contrail (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5486764133/) by CmdrFire (http://www.flickr.com/people/cmdrfire/), on Flickr
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: RedRobin on March 01, 2011, 12:02:33 am: Quote from: cmdrfire on February 28, 2011, 11:35:08 pm

Which pic is that Robin? I haven't changed any of the flickr links so you should still be able to get it.

....This one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5482847326/
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on March 01, 2011, 12:12:39 am: I think that's my favourite as well. I'm going to make a more desktop-friendly version of that tomorrow.
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: VC on March 01, 2011, 10:43:14 am: Quote from: cmdrfire on March 01, 2011, 12:12:39 am
I think that's my favourite as well. I'm going to make a more desktop-friendly version of that tomorrow.

nice and big please cos i want a copy for my desktop :innocent: :party:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: Greeners on March 01, 2011, 12:32:38 pm: A-mazing! :notworthy:

Awesome pics considering how far away you were! Can't wait for the vid! :party:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: RedRobin on March 01, 2011, 02:26:58 pm: ^^^^
I think that being at some distance adds to the drama by putting the launch more in context and perspective :happy2:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: Creatz on March 01, 2011, 06:54:22 pm: i go to florida most years,regrettably had to postpone for this year due to a wedding in vegas.

Last year when i was there,i went to watch a shuttle launch that i was really excited about, something my friend goes nuts about
more than i do, none the less we was both excited to see a shuttle launch.
We checked the website to find the launch had been postponed to the following day........typical the day we fly home,so all we got to
see from orlando intational was the smoke trail :sad1:

awesome pictures though mate, will be referring my friend to this forum to come and have a look at them
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: keith on March 01, 2011, 08:23:44 pm: Epic :smiley: loved the space centre when i was there. a few days after we visited one of the shuttles was coming back in to land the noise it makes when it comes thru the sound barrier was amazing. would love to see the launch.
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on March 02, 2011, 12:09:15 am: Anyone wanting a desktop background, go through and grab the original of this, it is sized appropriate for a monitor with resolution 1920x1200

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5176%2F5490479000_b3e7d92cd2_b.jpg&hash=769501315bb00cb79acdeb1322028c001af681aa) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5490479000/)
Discovery (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/5490479000/) by CmdrFire (http://www.flickr.com/people/cmdrfire/), on Flickr

Web browsers seem to display the image with a slightly blue cast, but should be OK once downloaded. Nevertheless I'll try to correct over the next couple of days. Was also thinking of making a background with the mission patch in the corner, thoughts anyone?

Quote from: Creatz on March 01, 2011, 06:54:22 pm
i go to florida most years,regrettably had to postpone for this year due to a wedding in vegas.

Last year when i was there,i went to watch a shuttle launch that i was really excited about, something my friend goes nuts about
more than i do, none the less we was both excited to see a shuttle launch.
We checked the website to find the launch had been postponed to the following day........typical the day we fly home,so all we got to
see from orlando intational was the smoke trail :sad1:

awesome pictures though mate, will be referring my friend to this forum to come and have a look at them

Even this launch was down to the last few seconds, Discovery launched 3 seconds before the window closed and the launch was nearly scrubbed because of a malfunction on the display on the Range Safety Officer's computer... I was only in Florida for like four days, specifically to see the launch, so a 48-hour scrub would have meant I missed it!
I had a good feeling that this was "the one" though since STS-133 has been postponed since November, so if they're rolling out to the pad they must've been confident.

If your friend clicks through to this set all of the pictures I've uploaded so far are there (including a couple of launch ones I haven't uploaded yet)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/sets/72157626030874509/with/5490479000/
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: RedRobin on March 02, 2011, 11:16:11 am: Quote from: cmdrfire on March 02, 2011, 12:09:15 am

Anyone wanting a desktop background, go through and grab the original of this, it is sized appropriate for a monitor with resolution 1920x1200

Web browsers seem to display the image with a slightly blue cast, but should be OK once downloaded. Nevertheless I'll try to correct over the next couple of days. Was also thinking of making a background with the mission patch in the corner, thoughts anyone?

....Offer a mission patch version as an additional option so that folks have a choice :happy2: (Perhaps that's what you were going to do anyway)

I can almost hear the noise when I look at that shot, Neo :notworthy:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: VC on March 02, 2011, 11:21:10 am: cheers dude :drinking:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on March 02, 2011, 09:32:07 pm: Quote from: RedRobin on March 02, 2011, 11:16:11 am
Quote from: cmdrfire on March 02, 2011, 12:09:15 am

Anyone wanting a desktop background, go through and grab the original of this, it is sized appropriate for a monitor with resolution 1920x1200

Web browsers seem to display the image with a slightly blue cast, but should be OK once downloaded. Nevertheless I'll try to correct over the next couple of days. Was also thinking of making a background with the mission patch in the corner, thoughts anyone?

....Offer a mission patch version as an additional option so that folks have a choice :happy2: (Perhaps that's what you were going to do anyway)

I can almost hear the noise when I look at that shot, Neo :notworthy:

I'll make another one with the STS-133 mission patch and the NASA meatball, and try to eliminate that blue cast.

Incidentally, everyone - registration for viewing of STS-134 (last flight of Endeavour) opened today!
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on March 08, 2011, 10:41:39 pm: The fine people at NASA's systems engineering teams made this superb video of the ascent highlights on STS-133. Strongly recommend you watch in HD fullscreen...

Slightly higher res version here. It's about twelve minutes long, worth watching though.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=69829481

No video from me still, though I'm going to get on that now.

Just a reminder to everyone still interested in seeing a launch. Registration for STS-134 is only open until tomorrow. Google "Kennedy Space Center" and you can find the registration page there.
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on March 09, 2011, 12:39:19 pm: And my video is up.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=20811909&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

Linky for iThing viewers:
http://vimeo.com/20811909
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: VC on March 09, 2011, 12:55:56 pm: FCUKIN. AMAZIN. :congrats: :congrats: :notworthy: :notworthy:

...so very very jealous
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on March 09, 2011, 04:08:05 pm: Cheers VC :happy2:

Discovery has just finished her deorbit burn, and will be landing at 1657 UK time. Live video here:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ustream.html
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: VC on March 09, 2011, 04:43:39 pm: tuned in :popcornsoda:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on March 09, 2011, 05:13:44 pm: Quote from: Very Cherry on March 09, 2011, 04:43:39 pm
tuned in :popcornsoda:

...and she's down safely. You registered for STS-134 VC?
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: VC on March 09, 2011, 05:32:11 pm: unfortunately no :ashamed:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on March 09, 2011, 06:08:54 pm: Well you got a couple of hours left to do it!
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: VC on March 09, 2011, 06:11:53 pm: its a no go for that mission for me, just dont have the time to get over there :fighting2:

...wish i could though, proper do :sad1:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: VC on March 09, 2011, 06:17:14 pm: for anyone interested though: http://ww2.venue365.com/ksc/
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on March 09, 2011, 06:31:31 pm: Quote from: Very Cherry on March 09, 2011, 06:11:53 pm
its a no go for that mission for me, just dont have the time to get over there :fighting2:

...wish i could though, proper do :sad1:

:sad1:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: Deedub on March 16, 2011, 12:21:45 am: when i was in Florida last May on the last day on the holiday Atlantis went up as i was getting to the airport to go home, you can probably imagine how miffed i was to have to miss it when at the time it was going to be the last flight for Atlantis.

still makes me sad :(
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: TagnuT on March 20, 2011, 11:31:19 am: Brilliant photos and Vids. Loved the NASA one too. :happy2: :happy2:

We visited the Space Centre last summer. Brilliant in a word. The Saturn V hall was just amazing, my son can't get enough of Space stuff since then.
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on March 20, 2011, 03:22:24 pm: Cheers Tagnut :happy2:
The Saturn V is just something else, absolutely incredible. The entire experience that KSC have created around it is awesome, I loved the firing room simulation.
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: QD MBE on March 20, 2011, 05:26:14 pm: I did the KSC tour in '08, and the whole experience is fantastic. Am I right in saying that the Flight shed is the tallest single storey building in the world? Originally built for the Apollo program?

Oh and the wildlife around the area :scared: :scared:
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: cmdrfire on March 20, 2011, 07:17:50 pm: The Vehicle Assembly Building? Yep, it's the tallest single storey building in the world, and when it was built it was the largest building by volume (and today is still the fourth largest building by volume).

It could hold four assembled Saturn V/Apollo stacks in there simultaneously :surprised:

Lots of alligators as well :P

Out on the causeway looking across the banana river we saw porpoises and dolphins and all sorts of birds flying around...
Title: Re: STS-133: Last launch of the Shuttle Discovery
Post by: TagnuT on March 20, 2011, 07:19:56 pm: Just bet me to it :signLOL: :-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_Assembly_Building