After having her stay in space extended by a day, Atlantis returned to the Kennedy Space Center just before 6am on July 21, bringing to a close the thirty year run of the Space Shuttle Program.
Tagged: Florida
My stay in Florida for STS-135 coincided with the launch of a ULA Delta IV carrying an Air Force Block II-F GPS satellite at 2:41AM EDT. This provided me the opportunity to not only witness a night launch, but to try for a streak photo. The above image is a 5 minutes exposure at f/22 at 50ISO on a 5D MK II with a 24 1.4L II lens. For a first attempt I’d say the image is a success. As far as capturing the arc of the rocket, it falls a little short. I should have chosen a wider lens for the shot, and taken it at 20 or even 16mm. I also should have allowed for a little bit more time for the lens to acclimate to the warm Florida air. A bit of fog on the lens accounts for some of the haze visible around the streak. I guess I’ll be planning another trip down here at some point to give this shot another attempt.
I’ve spend the past week or so in Florida prepping for the final launch of the Space Shuttle Program. After bad weather earlier in the week and a forecast that we were sure wouldn’t allow for a launch, space shuttle Atlantis embarked on the 135th and final mission of Shuttle Program. I feel privileged to have been able be part of this chapter of American history and see the shuttle fly for the final time. Now onto landing!
