are these clouds shuttle launch related?

chelly-egg    says:

how did you do that? it looks like a bird!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Ape Lad    says:

I didn't do it! A combination of mother nature, fairies, and cloud bears did it.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

ahecht says:

Looks like it is Shuttle related. Scroll down on spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts117/070608launc h/
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Subspace    says:

That looks like launch flotsam to me. Rainbow patterns at high altitude are a characteristic of fuel in the air.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Ape Lad    says:

From a comment on mah blog:

For your answer, you should check out www.spaceweather.com.

That site has photos and explanations of both Noctilucent Clouds (NLCs) -- which these are probably not since you're a little too far south in Florida -- as well as Rocket Exhaust clouds, which were recently reported in California as NLCs.

Scroll down the page to see examples and a story about each.

Ape Lad    says:

Link to a study conducted by the Navy.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Onno Knuvers    says:

Looks like God to me
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

erikcturner    says:

These look very similar to the clouds about 15 minutes after launch. We were at Cape Canaveral for the launch.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

sandrino    says:

The invasion has started, seek shelter!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

dimockn1 says:

Icarus
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Ape Lad    says:

Awesome. I'm gonna go put some more fuel in the air right now!
You're right! Tagged!
Dumb question, but do you ever see signs (of the launch, not invasion) down where you are?
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

HeyScotE says:

Yes I think these clouds are from the shuttle launch as I used to see clouds like this after rocket launches from Vandenburg Airforce Base in Southern California. We would get these wonderful rainbow swirly clouds after a sunset launch......
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Ape Lad    says:

More in this set. Thanks anonymous blog commenter!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

sandrino    says:

I once saw a night launch from a University of Miami parking lot. I think it was one of the first night launches. It was too far away to see anything besides a bright smoke trail near the horizon.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Alley__cat says:

It looks like a flying angel, sort of.
A guardian angel.
Maybe.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

pnoeric says:

Is it too late to vote for "cloud bears"?
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Ape Lad    says:

I'm pretty sure NASA employs several dozen cloud bears. They don't like to advertise it though.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Spritzfellow    says:

Diving mer-man if you ask me.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

halcyonsnow    says:

Cloud bears is the only logical explanation.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

ummosirius says:

I've seen the same thing in California after shuttle launches here. You should see those clouds as the sun goes down--it's quite breathtaking.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

_sarchi    says:

wonderful theme

--
Seen on boingboing.net (?)
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

devojane    says:

They've landed it out here (in CA), but I'm pretty sure they've never launched it from anywhere but Kennedy Space Center.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

mikeblitch says:

The clouds were indeed formed by the smoke/steam trail of the shuttle trajectory. While most people were rushing to the cars for Space Center gridlock, some of us hung around and watched as the different winds swirled around into the smoke/steam trails, at first just shifting into seemingly different directions like stretching a snake, and then lazily into the pattern that was pictured. It was definitely the highlight of a beautiful day out and successful launch.

I posted some personal experiences (though probably not interesting to the general public) on my blog; mikeblitch.blogspot.com

I also posted a link to some of the pictures I took. I place all my photos into the public domain, so feel free to do with them as you please, w/ or w/o any credit. [http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=vnlbugz. a5amn37r&x=0&y=b13uzd]

Mike Blitch (Tampa Fl)
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

jencardew    says:

According to the Florida Today, these clouds are from the shuttle, they took similar pictures from the Cape yesterday. Link here:www.floridatoday.com/floridatoday/blogs/space team/2007/06...
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

stevophotos    says:

Ditto what mikeblitch said. We watched the smoke trail for about thirty minutes after the launch as they swirled put on an incredible post-launch show. Incredible!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

peter_jensen says:

We had our cameras in the trunk so I didn't get any photos on the drive home, but watching these clouds while stuck in traffic on 528 eastbound last night after the launch made me really appreciate my sunroof!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Ape Lad    says:

Thanks, all of you.
Is there anything similar that happens after a daytime launch?
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

dimockn1 says:

sorry, but what does 'Tagged!' mean please?
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Ape Lad    says:

To the right of the photo there are several "tags" listed, so when people search a word (Icarus, in this case)on flickr, this photo will be one of the results.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

wirehead    says:

You know, I am super-bummed when I saw SpaceShipOne fly becaue I didn't get cool stratospheric clouds. :(
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

eeyorenada    says:

PSSHHH.. every one knows thats the guardian of The Gate of Xerxes. Gosh.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )