LADEE First Stage Separation

Published in National Geographic Daily News - September 9, 2013 -- "Stunning Photos of NASA's Nighttime Moon Launch" news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/09/pictures/130909-...

 

I was fortunate to be vacationing with my family in Fenwick Island, DE when I learned of the upcoming launch of the LADEE spacecraft on a Minotaur 5 rocket. The launch was from the NASA Wallops Island Flight Center about 50-60 miles south of my location. I was amazed by how bright and vividly the launch illuminated the southwestern sky at my viewing point. I expected the rocket to appear like a satellite; I was completely floored to see how bright and dramatic the launch was from 50 miles away!

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