[134/365] STS-132: Atlantis Shuttle Launch

Friday, May 14, 2010 - 2:20 PM EST

Note: I still recommend Mission Control on SomaFM for your listening pleasure. Live STS-132 feed mixed with ambient music for the duration of the 12-day flight. So awesome.

Space shuttle Atlantis lifted off successfully from Kennedy Space Center this afternoon. This will likely be its final mission, and what a way to go! Perfect weather, beautiful blue sky, and relatively few snags during countdown. We drove down to Titusville for my first close viewing of a day launch.

Space View Park was packed when we arrived about 3.5 hours before liftoff, and the view from any available spots was obstructed by trees. We found room at the end of the adjacent tidal bay with a straight view to the launch pad. It looked like there was a bit of dry land a few feet down at the base of the wall along Indian River Avenue, and we figured I could walk a bit north to ensure that the covered dock didn't block my view of Launch Pad 39A. That didn't work out so well... and the process of discovering this served as entertainment for the crowd and left me with smelly mucky feet! Fortunately, some generous onlookers allowed me join them them on the wall in the coveted area. I sat next to a man and his son who came all the way from London, England to see Atlantis leave Earth for the last time. At least a hundred spectators waded out onto a sandbar in the water to get a similar view.

Needless to say, the launch was incredible!!! : )
______________

UPDATE: Featured in the 5/15/2010 Flickr Blog. Thank you!!!

Comments and faves

  1. ★

    althocks, usfdoug, Hamagonta, Jack Watkins, and 326 other people added this photo to their favorites.

  2. Lois_WA (37 months ago | reply)

    Historic moment... I'm glad you got to capture it!!!

  3. althocks (37 months ago | reply)

    Love how you captured the spirit of the event. Really tells the story. You can tell people understand the importance of the launch (nobody else willingly stand in that muck).

  4. Soyunangel (37 months ago | reply)

    This is beautiful! Thanks for sharing! I was on the tree covered side to the right of this area and I know I missed so much of this launch. I sat with people who came from Austin, TX, and Palm Beach, FL, and had a great time.

  5. Wayne-K (37 months ago | reply)

    Lindsay, great picture and background narrative. The focus is incredibly sharp. It's amazing, we've been flying shuttle missions for thirty years and each one is as exciting as the first.

  6. dame ags (37 months ago | reply)

    Such an excellent photo...the people in the crowd stand out so clearly, with wonderful colors...I am impressed...I never think of changing the ev....you a smartie!!!!

  7. shadows57 [deleted] (37 months ago | reply)

    agree with ^^^. the detail of the exhaust clouds is amazing!! wonderful shot!

  8. GwenWeber "Catching Up!" (37 months ago | reply)

    I agree with ^^^^ amazing clouds

  9. pennacook (37 months ago | reply)

    wow. I got to see one when I was young from somewhere in FL. Very cool that you got to see this one.

  10. -hedgey- (37 months ago | reply)

    love the whole scene Lidsay, really uniqure perspective of a launch, excellent !

  11. David's digits (37 months ago | reply)

    Supper shot

  12. rmtx (37 months ago | reply)

    Exceptional.

  13. Abdulrahman Almunayes (37 months ago | reply)

    This is great ..

  14. M. Smits (37 months ago | reply)

    I like the story + the picture,
    nice shot !

  15. Clicker ... (37 months ago | reply)

    I agree - great story on this picture - excellent shot.

  16. Wy@rt (37 months ago | reply)

    Great story, great shot!

    Wytze

  17. buttyboy101 (37 months ago | reply)

    It's amazing what we have achieved on this wonderful planet of ours. If we could only live in world peace.

  18. CURAL13 (37 months ago | reply)

    nice shot!

  19. Alpha Whiskey Photography (37 months ago | reply)

    "Not only did we plan to send a 122 foot aircraft 170 miles into space, we also planned to make it manoeuverable, and return it to Earth, landing 98 tons of exotic metals delicately on a remote dry lake bed. The Space Shuttle did more than prove our technological ability. It raised our expectations once more. It started us dreaming again."
    President Ronald Reagan, 1981.

  20. smiles7 (37 months ago | reply)

    My sister live in Rockledge and I told her to go and she said NO way for there will be too many people. Glad I can view this for sure. Nice.

  21. GlasgowPhotoMan (37 months ago | reply)

    Simply Superb....i am travelling from Scotland in September for the final Shuttle Launch.....I can't wait, it will be so spectacular.

  22. Harry -[ The Travel ]- Marmot (37 months ago | reply)

    Even if it were not for Atlantis, it's a cool cool shot!

  23. M Ayaz (37 months ago | reply)

    WooooooooooooooooooooooooW

  24. Gingeminge (37 months ago | reply)

    What's the noise like from that distance? Still impressive I guess?

  25. sunmallia (37 months ago | reply)

    How cool is that!!!!!!!! You are part of history right there.

  26. nurulqolbi (37 months ago | reply)

    This is great ! (:

  27. Meadaura (37 months ago | reply)

    You rock for making it there! Fantastic story.

  28. Louie, Lou (37 months ago | reply)

    Awesome shot, great moment indeed!

  29. Powder Hunter (37 months ago | reply)

    amazing capture

  30. B.l.u.e.S.k.y. (37 months ago | reply)

    sometimes we can see the first time... In other times, we can see the last time... Thanks!

  31. degrassifan [deleted] (37 months ago | reply)

    This is impressive! Yes, the lift-off is incredible but equally so is the reactions of the observers. Well done!

  32. Fergal Clohessy (37 months ago | reply)

    nice photo but too small to enjoy

  33. Michael Veronica (37 months ago | reply)

    their dedication is amazing. like they did really have to walk into the water to see it?

  34. ON EYES PHOTOGRAPHY (37 months ago | reply)

    cool pic!

  35. puszka (37 months ago | reply)

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Aggressive Photographers, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

  36. Room With A View (37 months ago | reply)

    Fabulous photo! You really show such a full story in this one shot.

  37. Eddy Blokhuis  (37 months ago | reply)

    WOW! Great image!

  38. hernan.seoane (37 months ago | reply)

    spotted this one in Explore, congrats!!

  39. andrealcubo19 (37 months ago | reply)

    muy buena ...saludOs¡¡¡¡¡

  40. Poor Kid One...... (37 months ago | reply)

    What are these people standing in?

  41. scott cromwell (37 months ago | reply)

    This is one of the best launch pictures that I've ever seen. Only way to view it is large. I would have been in front of the middle post of the dock in waist deep water to make sure I didn't get any people in the picture, but it wouldn't have turned out as good as this.

  42. battiboy aka Cath, the DiamondVA (37 months ago | reply)

    This is great - made greater by the people in the foreground. Puts it into perspective and scales it too. Nice of some of them to be wearing red against that stormy-coloured sky!

  43. Miguel A. Mejia (37 months ago | reply)

    Genial, una foto muy oportuna :)

  44. Dr. Ilia (37 months ago | reply)

    wonderful
    Artistic Treasure Chest award
    Please tag "Artistic Treasure Chest"

  45. bernat... (37 months ago | reply)

    Congratulations!!! your photo reach Explore Front Page
    You can download the capture in lab.bernatcasero.com/flickr/frontpagecapture? user=4151773...

  46. Angels GE (37 months ago | reply)

    Hey! Great image friend!! :O
    Here's my last one, could you comment it? (or fave, haha!) :D
    Hope you like it anyway! :)

  47. klazyo (37 months ago | reply)

    beautiful shot with water and people

  48. ρrakaz (Digital Monk) (37 months ago | reply)

    Awesome! Another one for the Front Page :) Congrats!
    The screenshot is here: clipyourphotos.com/FP/gramana/28216.

    Your all FP are listed here.

  49. pea g. (37 months ago | reply)

    Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone for your visits (to this and my other photos), comments, favorites, and galleries -- I've really enjoyed reading them! It's an honor to be featured in the Atlantis Flickr blog, as well. Witnessing a shuttle launch from any distance is a unique experience. I would love to obtain a press pass or causeway ticket in September and snap an awesome close-up of Discovery! At a minimum, I vow to get a teleconverter lens! : )

    This time, as I waited in my not-so-close spot, I spent a good deal of time watching the crowd gather in the water in front of me. It was really touching to see the people stretch out of every nook and cranny to get a view of the launch. As Atlantis lifted off, I wanted to capture that dedication as part of the event!

    : Yes, the noise is still fairly loud. A low frequency rumbling, popping and cracking sound began about 2 minutes after liftoff, and lasted no more than 30 seconds.

    : I agree with you -- hard core dedication OR recreational fun for the folks who walked out with their beach chairs and bathing suits and sunbathed while they waited! Space View Park is regarded as the best place to view the launch for free. The park offers a great view (especially if you're sitting up front) and nice shade (though the shady trees can block the view), but it fills up quick. Shortly before launch, crowds gathering on the street to watch but were quickly escorted to the sidewalks behind trees by police. So I wouldn't be surprised if some people went into the water just to get a decent view. How's that for a long-winded answer?! Guess I still had some story-telling left in me!

    : The people are standing in a small tidal bay that feeds into the Indian River. The map shows what appears to be a shallow sand bar. The water at the wall bordering Indian River Avenue where I sat was not the most pleasant-smelling, to put it lightly. I believe it wasn't quite so bad out there...

  50. Forps Kuawogai (37 months ago | reply)

    Brilliant indeed.

  51. razvanus (37 months ago | reply)

    mega shot!!!!!!

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