Rocket’s Red Glare

    After motor burnout, my night bird soared silently up, separated into two sections, and deployed a satin white parachute at apogee. The two blinking sections spun tethered together like two dancers embraced in a delirious spiral across the Milky Way.

    It was cool.

    The rocket performed perfectly and landed softly on the desert playa. Next time, I plan to try some funky propellant from Animal Motor Works.

    Comments and faves

    1. Telstar Logistics, shawnhoon, Ramón Peco, PhOtOnQuAnTiQuE, and 73 other people added this photo to their favorites.

    2. Telstar Logistics (71 months ago | reply)

      I got a little light-headed as we approached the apex. But I kind of liked that.

    3. photofriendly (71 months ago | reply)

      Night shots of rockets are the best!

    4. nels1 (71 months ago | reply)

      awesome shot! such a clear night with all the stars showing up as well!

    5. _sarchi (71 months ago | reply)

      some interesting detail big

    6. msamaclean ©...be back soon!...;-) (71 months ago | reply)

      No video? Well looks like a fabulous time & site! What a great clear sky !

    7. jurvetson (71 months ago | reply)

      no night vision video... but I do have some day launch footage that I will process over time....

      sarchi: I love the the multi-colored stars.

      nels1: There are so many stars to be seen there (clear air and no light pollution for many miles, and hidden behind mountains). You can even see spiral arm texture in the Milky Way. Might be like what you'd see in the outback.

      Telstar: yes. Wait till you see it on the green, blue and MIdas brake filing propellants....

    8. TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³ (71 months ago | reply)

      How beautiful... a red tango crossing One hundred billion stars... Under the Milky way tonight, that is. |-)

      A great visual remix methinks! ♪♫

    9. Todd Huffman (71 months ago | reply)

      The stars look great too, one of my favourite things to do on the Playa is just lay there and look at the sky. Last time I was out there we brought a 13 foot diameter trampoline (don't ask how) to lay on while we looked at the stars.

    10. nels1 (71 months ago | reply)

      yeah, we're pretty lucky down here with our incredibly clear skies. recently at the sydney observatory, i saw saturn with such clarity and radiance that it was almost like a spiritual experience!

      if you haven't already seen it, you may enjoy this film called The Dish which is based on a true story. here is the tagline: As Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, our only link was a satellite dish in rural Australia with a few bugs (And a few hundred sheep).

      p.s just came across this incredible observatory...i'm sure the view is pretty clear from there too!

    11. Juli's pix (71 months ago | reply)

      Love it!
      Seen in the group;I Saw The Light

    12. *RS* [deleted] (71 months ago | reply)

      Gorgeous sky!

    13. CMR OO 77 (71 months ago | reply)

      Wow that's awesome. Love the sky too, so clear and so many stars.

      (ACTION NOW)

    14. jtuason (71 months ago | reply)

      Very cool shot!

      >>>seen on
      1-2-3 group

    15. zTransmissions (71 months ago | reply)

      pretty freaking cool

    16. cherryvega (65 months ago | reply)

      Hi, I'm an admin for a group called The Future is Here (they just don't know it yet), and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

      --
      Found in a search. (?)

    17. deadlyartichoke (62 months ago | reply)

      such a cool shot!

      ArtsApart.co.uk

    18. AGrinberg (61 months ago | reply)

      Cool! Looks like fun!

    19. jurvetson (58 months ago | reply)

      thanks y'all.

      I included this photo in the EMRR rocket review

    20. CatsFive (55 months ago | reply)

      What a geek you are.

      Hence, I vote you can stay. =)

    21. mellyssa™ (53 months ago | reply)

      amazing!!

      straordinaria friend!

    22. cameraman344 (40 months ago | reply)

      Outstanding pic! excellent launch there. I look forward to seeing the next one!

    keyboard shortcuts: previous photo next photo L view in light box F favorite < scroll film strip left > scroll film strip right ? show all shortcuts