Florida Residents share images and footage of: STS-119/Discovery Launch

I thought it would be cool if Florida residents would share images and footage of: STS-119/Discovery Launch.

Many others that cant just look into the sky and see it probably want to experience what its like for us - being so very close.

Its an experience that only lasts fractions of seconds each time. Of course the remnants seen here remain for some time... the actual shuttle is only visiblle for secs - if that.

It just disappeared this time. There one moment - not the next as seen here. This is immediately after it went out of view.

Anyway - nothing fancy... just a shot from the shuttle from my lil piece of the Earth. I encourage all members to post your footage and images as well! If I didnt live close enough to experience this - I would love to be shown in images and video!

I do hope Y'all will post your footage and images!

Launch Time: 7:43 p.m. EDT. This was shot at 4:44 from Tampa, Florida. I must admit, it did look beautiful against the pastel sky. Please, enjoy!

reply to post by Little One


Hi Little One,

I too am in Florida and witnessed the launch tonight. (Although I reside in Tampa, I was in North Florida at the time on Amelia Island.) Approx. 140 miles North of KSC. I agree it was a spectacular sight right at dusk. (Much different from an actual night launch. It looked like your shot, but rather facing South. ( Sorry, I didn't have my camera as the batteries were dead from shooting over 500 shots of cars at the Concours event earlier in the day.)

I could clearly see SRB separation, lingering trail, then Shuttle became a white dot.

Inasmuch as I have viewed several Shuttle launches as a native Floridian (including first 6 from NASA / KSC Press site.) They never cease to impress. There were thousands of spectators lined up on the beach to view. I am happy there is still interest. IMO, Astronauts are true heroes.

Next time I will be more prepared, I promise.

Oh well, link to a decent slide show:
news.yahoo.com...;_ylt=AvOPClTvwJmHVHHHliBlLtlxieAA;_ylu=X3o'___'FlcWFuNHZ0BHBvcwMzBHNlYwN5bl 9yXzNzbG90X3NsaWRlc2hvdwRzbGsDc2xpLWV2LWxpbms-#photoViewer=/090316/480/512e1f62b4034dd2a230ddd61d855cb3

I like the idea of this thread.

( I assume you meant your photo was shot a 7:44 ? )

Regards...KK

[edit on 15-3-2009 by kinda kurious]

reply to post by kinda kurious


KK howdy,
My buddy just sent me a launch pic from Clermont FL
Could you tell me how to load an email image? On this site.
Yep I'm a greenhorn.

REPLY TO Donny 4 Million:

ATS has recently implemented a new policy / procedure for doing so, although I have yet to use it.. (ATS Media Portal.)

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Perhaps OP could be if assistance here, It appears he / she is utilizing it properly.
(I am guessing by the icon, I could be wrong.)

Regards...KK


[edit on 15-3-2009 by kinda kurious]

Testing Media portal:

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/a3873b165493.jpg[/atsimg]

If this is working, follow the link in my prior post to media.abovetopsecret.com

Log on w/ UN & P word
Upload your photo to album. ( various options )
Select it, link is below to cut & paste. ( I wish for a button: copy link to clipboard.)

Does anyone know max image size specs? ( My first attempts were cropped.)

Open for shortcuts from anyone.

Regards....KK

[edit on 15-3-2009 by kinda kurious]

Great give me awhile and prayer. They are good pics
Appreciated

reply to post by kinda kurious


You have a nice ride there!
I am on dial up, 7mb file and new policy = bed time.
I am sure there will be lots on the news.
Thanks again
PS a u2u with an email add and I could send the file
good night

I drove over to Kennedy Space Center Sunday to see STS 119 launch.

The shuttle launch is simply an amazing sight. Video or photos cannot capture the magic of witnessing it in person..

Here are some pictures I took from my mobile phone:

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/25cf86d2e23e.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/7309ea4366ee.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/0197f04210bc.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/8d48790c8283.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/5e674b7843d8.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/be05b89c90e9.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/a717c3f2bd7f.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/4aaf3ccd540b.jpg[/atsimg]

In the last photo, you can see the booster rockets have separated & are falling back down to Earth.

AND.
A quickly edited video as well:







Media portal should have an option to re-size photos.. It would help with organization.

Enjoy

Wow! Great stuff!

Its so wonderful how it doesnt matter where you are... you see pretty much the same thing. Standing on my dock in the Keys or standing at the space center... it is indeed all the same.

It doesnt matter if you see it shoot up from the trees as it does when hundreds of miles away from the space center, such as in the Keys or Tampa. Its no different than where they allow you to stand to view it.

You see the SAME thing - really cool. Next time I will be in the ocean though so I can see it longer.

If you live in Florida - no use in going to the space center unless you enjoy being around massive amounts of people, traffic, bull# - youll see the same thing from where you are! Just look to the Horizon!

Great work Y'all! I hope we see more more more!

xoxo

Originally posted by Little One
If you live in Florida - no use in going to the space center unless you enjoy being around massive amounts of people, traffic, bull# - youll see the same thing from where you are! Just look to the Horizon!

Eh, on this I must disagree, but mostly just if you have a good telephoto lens or telescope. Here's what I got with my scope directly across the river from the cape with a clear shot straight at the launch pad
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/07266a18608f.jpg[/atsimg]
files.abovetopsecret.com...

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/735eb4ce6a9c.jpg[/atsimg]
files.abovetopsecret.com...

I think waiting at the river paid off, and since I grew up there I knew the backstreets to bypass every bit of traffic.



[edit on 16-3-2009 by ngchunter]

Which launch was this you posted? Looks cool!

Yesterdays launch was around 7:45. It didnt get dark for close to an hour after the launch.

reply to post by Little One


These were from last night's launch. It may not have seemed that dark to the naked eye or in wide field shots, but I was looking due east on the horizon where the sky was darkest. I was also shooting with an exposure that, although slower than what I would use for a daytime shot, would be fast enough to avoid blurring due to manual tracking and overexposing the orbiter's engine plume (so as not to blur it into the SRBs' engine plumes). I would have liked to shoot in raw so that I could capture more dynamic range and perhaps avoid underexposing the top of the shuttle a bit, but I shot in JPG mode so that I could do longer continuous bursts with the camera without buffering.

[edit on 16-3-2009 by ngchunter]

reply to post by ngchunter

Great pictures
Does anyone else have anything interesting to share?

reply to post by Little One


As much as I hate this state ( lived here all my life) this is one of the great things about it. And I have to disagree with your sentiment. There is nothing like being at the Cape when that baby launches and FEELING the rumble in your chest. I live in Orlando so I see all of the launches quite well but I would rather be right there.

Its sad that it is 'no biggie' to locals because then people don't bother to take videos or images.

I too was hoping to see more awesome stuff - knowing we have a massive amount of Floridians on board. But, because of the reason mentioned earlier - people just dont pay it much attention here.

Maybe we will have some late entries!? That would rock.