Space Shuttle Atlantis at Night a Few Days Ago

[DavidCBaker]

Who knows where this is supposed to be posted, but here goes. A good friend of mine is the pilot of the next shuttle (Mission #122) Here's Dex's new ride, the space shuttle Atlantis. Both shots were taken ca. 9:15p Wed night, right after they removed all the protective shield and lit up the Xenon lights. We were standing in a field, about 450 yards away. These were shot on a tripod at ISO400 with a Canon 1Ds Mark II, using a manual mirror lockup to keep the vibration down.

First shot, a wide one on the launch platform, was taken with a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L, with the lens set at f/2.8, using IS, -0.7ev, 1/80 shutter speed, at 148mm focal length:

http://www.el-paseo.info/downloads/nasa/webwide.jpg

Second shot, a close-up of shuttle vehicle itself, was taken with a Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3, with the lens at f/5.6, no IS (lens doesn't have it), +0.7ev, 1/40 shutter speed, at 329mm focal length:

http://www.el-paseo.info/downloads/nasa/webtall.jpg

Shuttle is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon--we'll see! Anyway, it was fun to get a chance to shoot these.

[asysin2leads]

Nice shots. #2 seems a bit soft to me. God speed to Dex and his crew.

[Trainboy]

Wiiiickeeeed!!! The second shot may not be sharp, but I guess sometimes you can't help it ;)

[andrewhuxman]

Nice shots lucky you to be able to be there.You gonna photograph the launch? That would be an awesome expierence. Welcome to POTN. Seems to me the bottom part of # 2 is sharper than the upper part . But thats just me.

[Buttkicker]

You Lucky person being able to get so close to this wonderful 'craft' I would love to see one of the 'Lift offs'
thanks for posting
cheers Chris

[Ben Daniels]

Superb! Especially the first one for me. The Shuttle is still an unbelievable craft.
God speed to the Captain and crew.

[slartibardfast]

Very envious of your location :D
the top shot is great and if you do take pics of the launch you have got to put them up

Andy

[TopGear1Ds]

Oh man.. dead sexy! I feel my aerospace roots tingling!

I'm going down for a launch in the near future. I want to see a shuttle launch before they're retired, but I sure won't have a view as good as yours! Good luck, and congratulations to your friend. That is a serious accomplishment!

[SuzyView]

I love the shuttle. I've only seen it on its belly at the A&S and it's still beautiful.

[PhotosGuy]

Very nice!

[drandtus]

Very cool. All the best to Dex and crew!

[JSJR4]

Awesome shots. That is so awesome that your friend is the pilot. I bet you will be hearing some amazing stories when they arrive safely back on earth. Thats so cool that you got to go so close to the shuttle. Cant wait to see some pics of the launch

[RCoulter]

Awesome captures!

[Canonista]

On a scale of 1 to 10, the coolness factor is like eleventy billion!

[DavidCBaker]

Thanks for the kind remarks. The launch was just scrubbed again, and now it looks like it won't be until January. So, we're headed home, but hopefully we'll make it back for the launch.

Here are two shots of Dex on motorcycle trips we've taken. In the first one, I'm on the left and he's next to me. In the second one, he's posing by his bike on a trip we took to the Copper Canyon in Creel, Mexico.

http://www.el-paseo.info/downloads/cc5/goodbye.jpg

http://www.el-paseo.info/downloads/cc5/bikedex.jpg

[SBCmetroguy]

Godspeed... hope his mission is a safe one.

Not that this really is important, but space shuttles scare me ever since I watched Columbia fall to the ground over Texas and Louisiana in pieces. That was one of the scariest, saddest moments of my life and I was merely on the ground watching it. Even worse than watching Challenger blow up in 1985 or 1986. I guess with Columbia the real shock and horror was knowing it was happening in the sky right above me rather than seeing on TV happening somewhere else.

Even worse than that, a few years ago my wife and I were at a restaurant here in Shreveport when we watched a hot-air balloon hover our heads on fire, dropping flaming debris everywhere. We stood and watched in shock as the second balloon crewmember fell to her death from probably 100-150 feet up.

Back to the shuttle... I'd love to be there for the launch. What an amazing sight!

[john_s]

Great shots. Looks stunning.

Hope your friend has a safe and successful mission when they get the "go".

[*Sonic*]

Shame the mission has been scrubbed

Awesome shots, any idea why the flag is back to front next to United States ?

[rabbs]

That first shot is a cracker.....good job!

[Jamie Holladay]

Nice shots David.

[gkwood]

nice shots good luck to your friend

[jtikompressor]

Shame the mission has been scrubbed

Awesome shots, any idea why the flag is back to front next to United States ?

iirc the flag is supposed to be displayed as if flying. They are also like that on ambulances and what have you.

Great shots!!

[ssidiv3r]

I like the first shot. Very crisp and clear. I hope Dex and the rest of the crew make it up and back safely

[89AKurt]

Awesome shots. I would love to feel a launch (understand it's bone jarring).
Fun to scroll down with the second shot, like it's taking off.