STS 125 Shuttle Launch

[wally0206]

I made a mistake and used a 2x on the 600mm,my 50D also crapped out too.sent it to canon today. but here's a few pics, the rest are here..http://www.flickr.com/photos/occams_razor/sets/72157609245805093/detail/


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/3528802300_70e11d4f94_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2178/3528012617_8c2dbbfdd4_b.jpg

[gjl711]

Very cool.. I love the first one.

[Mike Salway]

Stunning! I want to be there for one of those, one day!

[gjl711]

Stunning! I want to be there for one of those, one day!
Better make it quick. Not many more launches to go, then mothballs for the STS. :(

[troypiggo]

Wish I could make mistakes as awesome as those. Great shots.

[RadAL]

how many are in 2010 and generally what days?

[wally0206]

NASA Shows 7 Launchs left.
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html

[Desertraptor]

Great shots
Sad they are retiring them off. Crazy I think.

[Zoso23]

very cool. I love watching these launches.

[Celestron]

When did you take these ? These are great shots for sure but wasn't there alot of haze and clouds there this last time ?? I have a friend that sent me a photo of the launch also and the place he was at was 8-miles from the launch pad and his is very hazy and he said it was very hazy that morning and the shuttle quickly went into the clouds ??? Your picts are clear as a bell with no haze and no clouds anywhere ??? My friend used a Canon 40D with the 100-400 f/4L lens on a tripod so his should have been the same as yours .

[stargazer77517]

Take it from a guy that works at the Johnson Space Center, and knows a few of the photographers that shoot Launches for NASA for a living...Its hard to expose the obiter over the brightness of the SRBs at liftoff. These are a tad dark but, as for the clarity, these are just as good...Great job on these!!!! You did it very well.

[Tom Foolery's Dad]

Great shots
Sad they are retiring them off. Crazy I think.

Well, NASA's current objective is to go back to the Moon and Mars, so they are designing a new type of spacecraft to take on that challenge. Project Consellation. You should check it out. The Orion program looks really neat.

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/moonmars/index.html

[wally0206]

Thanks for all the comments.

I was at the Nasa Causeway 6 miles out. Tickets for 6/13 are at the same spot. I might use a 800mm this time,but I will never use a 2x again that was my biggets mistake.and i did use IS but I think that from my experiance that it is not worth it.better to just use cable release. I also will use a drop in filter next time,this launch is set for 7am on 6/13.

there was haze,but I am not too good with photoshop.so most of my images are to bump exposure or sharpen maybe add a little vibrance. but the haze was not as bad were I was verus titisville due to the angle of the sun. just my opinon

I hope that the next president brings the shuttles back.

[Bill Boehme]

Can you elaborate on the problem with using a 2X teleconverter -- is there anything other than loss of two f stops.

[Tom Foolery's Dad]

I hope that the next president brings the shuttles back.

You guys need to learn more about the space program. The shuttle was decided to be decommissioned AWHILE ago. The shuttle has alot of flaws, and costs alot more than a single use capsule that the Orion program is using.

Plus the shuttle is useless trying to go to the moon and Mars.

[wally0206]

In my opinon the shapness was greatly reduced on the 600mm in these shots due to the IS mirror slap issue with the 600mm, the 2x just decreased the amount of sharpness even more. I may have been very happy with out the 2x,but it is also fair to say that the IS on the 600mm could be the reason my photos weren't as sharp as they could have been and not the 2x as the main issue.

I understand that the current president did not give an order to stop the shuttle program. But any president can give the order to continue the program.Our current president has said that he dosn't support the shuttle program to continue any longer.

[Bill Boehme]

In my opinon the shapness was greatly reduced on the 600mm in these shots due to the IS mirror slap issue with the 600mm, the 2x just decreased the amount of sharpness even more. I may have been very happy with out the 2x,but it is also fair to say that the IS on the 600mm could be the reason my photos weren't as sharp as they could have been and not the 2x as the main issue.

I understand that the current president did not give an order to stop the shuttle program. But any president can give the order to continue the program.Our current president has said that he dosn't support the shuttle program to continue any longer.

Thanks for the information about the 2X. I would have to agree that it soften images a slight bit based on my bird photos. My 1.4X is considerably better in maintaining sharpness. However, I believe that the great majority of softness is due to the IS -- I don't know if the 600 has two modes like the smaller lenses, but even mode 2 produces noticeable blur when I use my lens 70-200 lens for moon shots. I presume that you are using a Wimberly gimbal mount or a similar gimbal mount for the lens. I have found that any other type of tripod head is unsatisfactory for BIF shots.

Airframes have a useful service life based on a large number of things including structural fatigue as one of the primary factors. They have already gone past their original design service life which makes each additional mission increasingly risky. In some cases, the inventory of spare parts has been depleted and "lifetime buys" have already been executed (which is an industry way of saying that they are no longer available without a HUGE cost impact because the facilities, tooling, and/or expertise no longer exist). The fact that that there is not a seamless follow-on program can be attributed to the cumulative impact of the "squeaky wheel syndrome" due to budget constraints over several previous administrations. Now, it is too late to turn back the clock on the shuttles.

[wally0206]

Yep the 600mm has 2 IS modes as well, but I should have know better than to use it. to be honest I really don't like IS that much. I know that there are conditons were it is a benefit,but not too much for what I shoot.

My opinon is we shound never stop the shuttles missons,we should with out doubt build newer models regardless of the cost. there is too much we can learn from each of the missons that take place.even the smallest detail could be the biggest discovery to us is so many differant aspects.

but I am bias I think going in to space is great thing for all!!

[Bill Boehme]

..... I think going in to space is great thing for all!!

I wholeheartedly agree. It is sad that space exploration has been on the back burner for so many years.

[Desertraptor]

Well, NASA's current objective is to go back to the Moon and Mars, so they are designing a new type of spacecraft to take on that challenge. Project Consellation. You should check it out. The Orion program looks really neat.

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/moonmars/index.html

Yep already onto that one when it was announced. Still rather see the shuttle than what equates to a return to the past with basically Apollo/Saturn MkII
Albiet more modern.

If Richard Branson can build a spaceship to take passengers into space then surely NASA can build a more cost effective shuttle. If not due to human error/judgement we would still have 4 maybe 5 shuttles in service.
Aircraft life can be extended as proven by the likes of the P3 which will have been in service here for almost 50 years before it's retired. Why? Because it's a damn good plane for the work it performs just as the shuttle is great at doing it's job.

[Tom Foolery's Dad]

Yep already onto that one when it was announced. Still rather see the shuttle than what equates to a return to the past with basically Apollo/Saturn MkII
Albiet more modern.

If Richard Branson can build a spaceship to take passengers into space then surely NASA can build a more cost effective shuttle. If not due to human error/judgement we would still have 4 maybe 5 shuttles in service.
Aircraft life can be extended as proven by the likes of the P3 which will have been in service here for almost 50 years before it's retired. Why? Because it's a damn good plane for the work it performs just as the shuttle is great at doing it's job.

I couldn't agree with you more. NASA does a good job, but they are a government organization which tends to breed inefficiency. Remember the whole X-33 space plane that was supposed to replace the shuttle? That would've been great...

[Desertraptor]

Maybe NASA should take government funds and out source R&R and construction.
Too much wastage when government is involved.

[Bill Boehme]

Maybe NASA should take government funds and out source R&R and construction.

They do ... and always have. For the budget that they have, they do remarkably well.

[710 Studio]

Beautifully done! I have complete shuttle envy. =] Incredible set.

[scottlpool2003]

They are really good pictures, you've captured them amazingly.

[Calindy]

LOVE your photo's! I live in SOCAL and the shuttle MAY land here tomorrow, but they will NOT have the viewing area open at Edward's AFB. I have seen 2 land so far there. Anyway, we are thinking of going to Florida to see a liftoff in August. Where is the best place to go to take pictures for a liftoff??

[wally0206]

Either The Nasa Causeway(est. 6miles) or along the indian river in titsuville (est.10 miles). the casueway sells out within 2-3 minutes. but there are alot of places along the river that are free,to $10-$20 to park depending on the spot,just get there about 4-6 hours before to get a spot.

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/view/view_shuttle.html

[Calindy]

Either The Nasa Causeway(est. 6miles) or along the indian river in titsuville (est.10 miles). the casueway sells out within 2-3 minutes. but there are alot of places along the river that are free,to $10-$20 to park depending on the spot,just get there about 4-6 hours before to get a spot.

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/view/view_shuttle.html

So is it worth it?? I mean can you really see enough? What lens would be best? We are going from SOCAL to Indiana, but may go to Florida first. It is a LOT out of the way, so I want to make sure we should do it.

[jgrussell]

Despite your disappointment with the 2x, that is a shot I would be thrilled to have gotten myself.

[wally0206]

for me in my opinon it is worth it,the causeway or on the river bank. But I love to shoot and it is only about 1 1/2 hours drive for me.I used a 600mm last time at the causeway. I used a 400mm on the river. on 6/12 I might use the 800mm from the causeway again. but it is hard to give advice on it being worth it. it is a really long day and the traffic leaving is very heavy 28 miles took 4 1/2 hours one time, and the shuttle is out of sight within 30-40 seconds from liftoff.

but myself I enjoy it!!

thanks everyone for the comments.

[Calindy]

for me in my opinon it is worth it,the causeway or on the river bank. But I love to shoot and it is only about 1 1/2 hours drive for me.I used a 600mm last time at the causeway. I used a 400mm on the river. on 6/12 I might use the 800mm from the causeway again. but it is hard to give advice on it being worth it. it is a really long day and the traffic leaving is very heavy 28 miles took 4 1/2 hours one time, and the shuttle is out of sight within 30-40 seconds from liftoff.

but myself I enjoy it!!

thanks everyone for the comments.

I appreciate your response, thanks!

[Aidenswarrior]

wonderful shots