Waiting on Discovery
Harryb
Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
Hi y'all,
Living on Florida's Space Coast its almost mandatory that you show some interest in the space program. Whenever there's a shuttle launch folks trek out to various spots on the river to watch the shuttle launch. They get there hours before the launch to get a good spot and they also get to bake in the sun.
some kill the time by fishing
they almost never catch a fish
some find more mundane ways to kill the time
I hang out with the drinkers
while we bake, fish, drink, watch TV, etc Discovery sits on the pad
folks prepare to get "The Shot" with very tiny cameras
invariably the word comes down on the first day "Cancelled"
This was the only airborne sight
Now everybody hops in their cars and wait a long time for the traffic to move so they can go home. I head for a restaurant on the river where I can take a few pics and have a few more Coronas.
Discovery naturally launched on its third try when I couldn't be there. I will try again when the next launch gets scheduled because its a fine excuse to drink a bunch of Coronas.
Living on Florida's Space Coast its almost mandatory that you show some interest in the space program. Whenever there's a shuttle launch folks trek out to various spots on the river to watch the shuttle launch. They get there hours before the launch to get a good spot and they also get to bake in the sun.
some kill the time by fishing
they almost never catch a fish
some find more mundane ways to kill the time
I hang out with the drinkers
while we bake, fish, drink, watch TV, etc Discovery sits on the pad
folks prepare to get "The Shot" with very tiny cameras
invariably the word comes down on the first day "Cancelled"
This was the only airborne sight
Now everybody hops in their cars and wait a long time for the traffic to move so they can go home. I head for a restaurant on the river where I can take a few pics and have a few more Coronas.
Discovery naturally launched on its third try when I couldn't be there. I will try again when the next launch gets scheduled because its a fine excuse to drink a bunch of Coronas.
Harry
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
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So how often to they do a mission these days? When I was a kid, it was such a BIG DEAL! Now, you just don't hear about them anymore. Of coarse, it would probably help if I watched the news!:D
- Kevin
i always look forward to your shots.. i never could get the taste of the coronas but i dang sure knock down a few buds.
Thanks for stopping by Kevin. I think they are planning a couple of more flights now that the last one was so successful. The next one is tentatively scheduled for next March. That would be great because the temps will be much lower.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Thanks for the very kind words Curtis. As hot as it was out there that day any brand of suds would have done the job.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
I am so sorry to have disappointed you Gus. However let me point out to you that I had to fight the traffic going there and coming back; I had to sit out there in some heavy duty heat for hours; I had to keep my 11 year old granddaughter entertained for those hours; I had to pay $10 to park so I could sit around in the heat; I had to put up with an unending stream of rugrats who wanted to look at Discovery through my 500mm lens (I should have charge dthe buggers for a peek, then I would had been able to afford a few more Coronas at the inflated price they were selling them for). I put up with all of that and then they cancelled the frigging launch.
Now on top of all of that I have to live with the knowledge that I "slapped you with a cancellation". I just don't get no breaks. :cry
Here's a link to a pic from a friend who was able to go out there when the launch went off.
http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=79665
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Sorry that there was no launch that day. March sounds like a funner time for the watchers though, lots cooler!!
A launch is a good excuse for a Corona, but then no one really needs an excuse for another Corona
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
www.edhughesphoto.com
For this launch (maybe the same day?), we were in Epcot and looking in toward the coast when we heard it was scrubbed. It was stormy every afternoon that week...
Hey PF
I'm looking forward to the March launch and hoping that I will finally get a shot of a shuttle launch. With luck it will take 3-4 tries giving me 3-4 days on the river drinking Coronas. Not a bad way to spend a few days.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Thanks Ed. If you want to see a shuttle launch come on down next March. Just make sure you can spare a few days because I have yet to see one go off on the first try.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Thanks Chris and I envy you seeing a night launch. They have stopped launching at night so that's a sight that we won't see again.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Hey Mushy,
Thanks for the kind words. I am hoping to do better with the March launch. They usually don't land at the KSC so its usually not possible to get a shot in my area. When they do land close by security is so tight you couldn't get a decent shot.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Bugs
Spiders
Flowers
Thanks Al and to be honest I would have stopped at the restaurant and had some brews :slurpeven it there had been no rush.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Haven't been to a launch, but seen plenty of landings.
Columbia, on the first landing from space of the shuttle program.
28693846-M.jpg
God bless them.
Unsharp at any Speed
Thanks, those were my two favorite shots too. I just heard that there's supposed to be a launch next month so I should have another crack at it.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
But where's the photo of the Corona? Or was the bottle moving too fast to capture?
Moderator of: Location, Location, Location , Mind Your Own Business & Other Cool Shots
Thanks Angelo. When it was full I was too busy with the Corona to take a shot and when it was empty it was just too sad a sight to shoot.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Moderator of: Location, Location, Location , Mind Your Own Business & Other Cool Shots
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I was standing at the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) during the last night shuttle launch (11/23/2002).
It went from night time to daylight in about 5 seconds!
Here is a shot of Endeavour as she clears the tower:
And one about 50NM downrange:
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
-et
I cropped it a tad, not more than 10%
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
No problem both shots were on subject.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"