[ Return to Flight - Launch of Discovery ]
This gallery contains images from the launch of space shuttle Discovery from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was the first launch since the Columbia accident in February 2003.
[ Titan 4B Launch on 14 Feb 2004 ]
Photos of the launch of a Titan 4B carrying a Telstar6 Satellite from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral AS, Florida.
[ Titan 4B Launch on 30 April 2005 ]
Launch of a Titan 4B carrying a Galaxy 3 satellite from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral AS, Florida. This was the final Titan launch at the Cape Canaveral AS. The Titan lift system has been retired and had its final launch ever at Vandenberg AFB, CA a couple months after this.
16-JAN-2003
Space Shuttle Columbia's Final Launch
This photo shows the launch of the space shuttle Columbia on its final voyage. It was taken from the central housing area of Patrick Air Force Base, which is the home base of the 45th Space Wing.
It's ironic that, as we all stood there watching, we realized that this was probably one of the most beautiful day launchs in a while. As you can see, the sky was perfectly clear and blue.
Nov(?) 2000
Endeavour on the Pad
There are signs along the roads leading to the launch pads that read: "No Stopping Any Time". Okay, so I stopped for a couple minutes....This photo was shot back late 2000.
05-FEB-2004
Lockheed Atlas 2AS Night Launch
The launch of a Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida. This was taken from my backyard in Melbourne.
05-FEB-2004
Lockheed Atlas 2AS Night Launch - Moonlit Contrail
The contrail from the launch of a Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida.
22-NOV-2002
Space Shuttle Endeavour on Pad 39-A
This was taken of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on Launch Pad 39-A, with the moon rising in the background. The launch was the final for Endeavour before the Columbia disaster. The launch for this particular evening was scrubbed due to winds. We came back the following night for the eventual launch. Launch pad 39-B can be seen in the middle.
09-DEC-2006
Shuttle Night Launch
This is my first attempt at a night launch with this camera. Obviously, I need to work at it...lol.
08-JUN-2007
Where Nature Meets Technology
The United Launch Alliance rocket and payload assembly building stands in the background, while birds pay a visit to one of the many islands in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station are both located within the Merritt Island NWR and Cape Canaveral National Seashore complex.
08-JUN-2007
Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch Plume
As you can probably tell, the exhaust plume drifted some before I took this. The launch pad from which Atlantis lifted off is the structure to the right. The one to the left is the other Shuttle (and former Saturn V) launch pad.
08-JUN-2007
Space Shuttle Atlantis - Booster Seperation
This is a shot of the solid rocket boosters as they separate from the external tank and shuttle assembly. This occurs approximately two minutes after launch.
Please check out the other launch photos in this gallery. Thanks!
08-JUN-2007
Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch
08-JUN-2007
Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch
Today's launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. I'm not entirely happy with this lense. I'm thinking it's time to upgrade.... Anyways, check back, as I'll have other shuttle shots posted tonight and tomorrow.
08-MAR-2007
Atlas V Launch from Cape Canaveral AS
19-story Atlas rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Air Station, 8 March 2007. The rocket was carrying six satellites for the US Air Force and Navy.
19-JAN-2012
Delta Booster Release
The small red dots along the bottom of the streak are the boosters falling away. It was quite something to see with the naked eye. Even so far down range, it was clearly visible from where I stood - even without magnification.
19-JAN-2012
United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket launch
United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket launch from Space Launch Complex-37 at 7:38 p.m. EST with the Air Force’s Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) satellite. As seen from Pineda and US1
26-NOV-2011
Atlas - Curiosity Rover
I was browsing through my photos from a couple weeks ago and saw this one. Although it's very tiny and nearly faint, I thought it wasn't too bad a capture considering I was hand-holding the 70-200mm L series lens. This photo shows the boosters separating from the Atlas rocket carrying the Curiosity rover.
You'll probably have to view this in the "original" size. The boosters are extremely faint white dots to top and bottom of the exhaust plume (left).
26-NOV-2011
Atlas Launch Carrying the Curiosity Rover
Taken from near the Pineda Causeway. This lens is much better than the cheaper one I also have.
25-OCT-2010
Sunrise Over Launch Pad 17A/B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
28-OCT-2009
Ares I-X Launch
As seen from Patrick Air Force Base.
03-APR-2009
Atlas 5 launch from Complex 41
14-NOV-2008
Night Launch of Endeavour
Due to a "technical error" on my part, I again missed the horizon portion of the launch. I had somehow set the camera to 'timer' instead of remote. oh well... This is the Endeavour's night launch from Kennedy. It was beautiful.
10-NOV-2007
Boeing Delta 4 Heavy Launch from Launch Complex 37B
The first launch of a Delta 4 Heavy in nearly three years. The rocket carried a Defense Support Program satellite into orbit. In the foreground are the lights of the Eau Gallie Causeway in Melbourne, Florida at a location approximately 30 miles from the launch pad.
10-OCT-2007
Atlas V Launch - Wideband Global Satcom
The Atlas V launch Wednesday night as seen from the beach near the Cocoa Beach Pier (foreground). The rocket, powered by a Russian-made kerosene/LO2 engine, placed a military communications satellite into orbit.
19-SEP-2012
Farewell Endeavour!
Endeavour on piggyback as it flies over Patrick Air Force Base, Florida just after sunrise. Endeavour made a series of farewell overflights of the Space Coast, notably KSC, both Air Force bases and Walt Disney World.
17-APR-2012
Space Shuttle Discovery on the SCA
Over Patrick Air Force Base, Florida
17-APR-2012
Leaving Home
The Space Shuttle Discovery, atop the SCA heading north along the Indian River Lagoon over Patrick Air Force Base.
17-APR-2012
Shuttle SCA at Sunrise
Disclaimer: this is not a representation of what I really saw last Tuesday. I had all these grand plans to capture a shot just like this. I had my spot picked out and I was ready. Unfortunately, timing doesn't always work in my favor. By the time they flew past, around and back again, the sun had already risen much higher than this. This is a composite of two pictures I took that I later put together in Photoshop.
Since an opportunity like this will never again present itself, I made this mainly to illustrate what I was looking to accomplish and remind myself, now, what could have been if only I worked in a skyscraper where I could've gotten a better angle..LOL
08-FEB-2012
Apollo 1 Memorial Plaque
This is an image of the Apollo 1 Memorial Plaque on the remaining structure of Launch Complex 34. Launch Complex 37 with the United Launch Alliance Delta IV building is in the background.
08-FEB-2012
Launch Complex 34 - Apollo 1 Memorial
At 1831 hours, on Friday, 27 January 1967, Lt. Col. Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Lt. Col. Edward White and Lt. Cmdr. Roger Chaffee were killed during what was supposed to be a test for the first of the Apollo lunar missions.
This image shows what remains of the launch pad. The rounded pipes that make up the ring were used to spray water onto the concrete pad below.
LC34 was used only once after the Apollo 1 tragedy - for the launch of Apollo 7.