Some rockets that lift off from the Space Coast emit a long, thick trail of smoke that can be colorfully lit by the late-day sun or blown around into interpretive shapes after the spacecraft reaches orbits. Others, such as this Atlas V rocket Thursday, are just plain lame. The launch was at 7:52 p.m., one minute after sunset, but the rocket flew in the 501 configuration for the first time. In the 501 setup, a bulbous upper portion of the rocket housed the experimental Air Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, which looks like a little space shuttle. But the Atlas V that carried the vehicle into space, where it likely will stay for months, lacked solid rocket boosters and their signature contrails. This made for something that look essentially like a torch being hurled through the air. Photos from my fellow photographers: here.
Making the launch even uglier was my location near some industrial storage containers at Port Canaveral.
A spectator films the rocket with her iPhone on the deck of Fish Lips, a restaurant at Port Canaveral.
The Atlas V without boosters leaves only a brief trail after it climbs into the higher, colder atmosphere. But that's it.
The rocket nears a crescent moon.
I liked this spider effect as the rocket faded into the distance.
The only cool part was when the payload faring dropped off the rocket and glimmered in the sunlight. This is tightly cropped from a photo shot at 200mm. I didn't have my big 500mm handy, unfortunately.
The only cool part was when the payload faring dropped off the rocket and glimmered in the sunlight. This is tightly cropped from a photo shot at 200mm. I didn't have my big 500mm handy, unfortunately.
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