Be Kind: Take an astronaut to launch this week.

After a couple of delays, the SDO launch finally took place. It was kind of exciting to be able to take part in the media process with the other attendees. The Atlas V rocket was able to liftoff without any delay through a clear sky. Right at launch time a rainbow developed as the rocket took off with an astounding view of some visible concentric rings that spread out as it punched through the cloud layer and went supersonic. A lot of people were excited to see the real mission finally start and eagerly anticipate the data that will be coming out soon. I think I even captured a few shots right as the rocket went supersonic. You can just barely see it over the nose of the craft in the top few shots.

Here is a link to some replays of the launch itself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qvX9ZeSys8&feature=related

Clairvoiant meeting canceled due to unforseen events.

Everyone arrive at the Kennedy Space Center visitor Canter early in order to load up and get transported to the viewing area. Being invited guests, NASA set us up at the Saturn building viewing area, pretty much the closest location one can be to the shuttle pads. The SDO module aboard the Atlas V rocket was being launched from the Air Force side, but we still had a good location. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating and the launch, even after being pushed all the way to the end of the launch window, had to be canceled and pushed to the next day. After getting back, we had the day to do other activities. I ended up catching one of the IMAX 3D movies, participated in the Shuttle Launch Experience (not nearly as good as the EPCOT Mission to Mars simulator) checked out the other exhibits, and had lunch with some of the other correspondents.

I'd like to say more but I've run out of time and space.

After the previous morning's scrubbed launch, I finally got to see NASA's STS-130 mission of the launch of Endeavour. It went up right at 4:14AM and was a lovely sight. Tomorrow starts the activities related to the launch of the SDO module aboard an Atlas rocket that is hopefully scheduled to be sent up around 10:30AM Wednesday.

Video recorded by my Olympus camera

Video recorded by iPhone 3GS

NASA: There's no such thing as a free launch.

After several failed attempts, I finally got to see my second shuttle launch up close. I have been pining to see a night launch for a long, long time. On Monday I drove to Cape Canaveral for a 1:30AM launch only to see it canceled due to weather just ten minutes prior to the end of countdown. Just before heading over, I learned of a hash part at a friend's home as a welcome back party. So instead of battling for a parking spot and sitting around for a few hours, I hung out with the group for a while. About 30 minutes before launch we walked the two blocks to local park for a good viewing spot and direct view of the shuttle pad. After seeing previous videos (e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P282wFz_Pgg) I knew this was one site I did not want to miss. Unfortunately, this is the last planned launch in total darkness before the end of the current shuttle fleet next year. The new shuttles probably will not be ready for a while, so I was not going to miss this opportunity. I loved how the entire sky light up as the multi-million dollar roman candle arced across the sky. I was only disappointed by the lack of sound or chance to really feel the vibrations as I was able to experience the first time. Apparently this mission had a light payload, thus not requiring as much thrust as is normal. There is something about space flight that really drives the imagination and sense of wonder. The pics didn't come out as well as I'd hope as I found it difficult to anticipate the intensity of the light and ended up having my aperture a little too high I think, but I was glad to have been able to simply sit back and enjoy being a witness to such an event, especially when able to do so in the company of a few friends.

What a strange pattern the shuttle of life can weave.

After at least 5 failed launch attempts, the space shuttle got to finally lift off from Kennedy Space Center for its rendezvous with ISS. Being and afternoon and mid-week launch, I couldn't travel over to the east coast, so I had to merely settle for a rooftop viewing from the Channelside Parking garage in downtown Tampa. Timing worked out very well since I was needing to be there for a social event at Splitsville upscale bowling place for a charity event. It was just clear enough to see it climb altitude for 30 seconds or so before disappearing into the haze. I've resolved myself to try to watch every night launch in the future; if not from the Titusville area itself then at least from a good vantage point as I am sure that even on the west coast, the night sky would be absolutely light up.

I love dinosaurs, women that communicate how they truly feel, elves, and other fantasy creatures.

After at least three other attempts, I figured this would be the time to make it to Cape Canaveral to do some kayaking and see the shuttle launch. I was supposed to go on one of the previous kayak trips when I canceled last minute due to a need to work over the weekend; later learning the launch was scrubbed due to a leak. My next attempt was a trip over for one night; heading out around 10PM, arriving and setting up cameras and sleeping on the mattress in the truck only to find out that it was canceled (same fuel leak issue) after I woke up, and then driving back home to make it to the office by 9AM.

This time it looked as if everything was ready with a clean check of the fuel systems, decent weather, and closing window of launch opportunity. I got everything packed up for an overnight kayak with a local kayaking group and was excited about the chance to finally see another launch. Just as I was literally pulling onto the entry ramp for I-4 to head to Cape Canaveral, I got a call from my friend Dave saying that the shuttle was, once again, scrubbed. Apparently a storm the previous night had seen a lot of lightning activity, so everything had to be recertified for flight status. Not to waste an afternoon and fully loaded camera, I decided to just take the opportunity to hit a small theme park I had seen so many times before but never got myself to visit, Dinosaur World. Since the interstate system was developed, so many roadside attractions completely died off or are even now just barely surviving; Weeki Wachee, Silver Spring, cypress Gardens, Sunken Gardens, etc. I really didn't know what to expect here, only really being attracted due to the huge roadside advertising. I was pleasantly surprised by the theme park. Even without the 50% coupon from the Entertainment Book, the normal price of ~13 wouldn't have been too bad at all. The models of all the 'animals' were really well done where I was expected some kind of very simple structures, many of these were quite large in scale. This was a great little spot where I could play with some HDR photography. Being a very shaded area, things would have come out much better if I thought to bring the tripod along, but at least many of them turned out decently. If you're ever looking for a random activity to do for the day, then I think dropping by here would definitely be worth the time. Though I could barely pronounce any of the scientific, or even common, names, I still learned a few things. After wandering for a couple of hours, I next hit the nearby winery for an impromptu wine tasting. For $3 bucks one could try several wines on the list, including sweet wines with blueberry or peach infusion. I actually picked up a couple of bottles to somewhat build up something more of a collection for the game room wet-bar.

I've posted some of the better Dinosaur World photos here; http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2353714&id=5026895&l=4a7385dbb1

"What a strange pattern the shuttle of life can weave." - Frances Marion

Finally after one aborted attempt a year ago, I got to experience my first shuttle launch. I arrived a few hours early and was able to pick up a NPS Passport Stamp for the Canaveral National Seashore at the park headquarters in Titusville. Unfortunately the rest of the park is closed several days prior to shuttle operations, so I couldn't collect any others.

I found a decent area on US 1 just north of Hwy 50 that was a small city or county park with a dock. I figured this would be a good spot (with a view of the pad) to also be able to hear and feel the liftoff. My friend Sophie and one of her associates had spent the day at the Kennedy Space Center and after finishing there came to join me in a space I had reserved.

I think a shuttle launch is something all kids should get a chance to experience as it really can help open the wonders of science. I was surprised as to how long it took for the sound to travel the 12 miles after ignition. I used my Canon XT with 300mm zoom lens to get most shots and was fairly pleased with the performance. Next time I'll definitely have to borrow another extra camera so I can try to get some time lapse shots. I will try to make future launches so I can get more shots and also really get a chance to watch the while sequence instead of focusing on the camera, but had no regrets about it.

While we were waiting for traffic to die down a bit (massive number of people all trying to leave at once is insane), we watched as some really near smoke/steam trail formations formed overhead. It is a shame that undoubtedly most people missed this aspect that I would suspect to be fairly unique, and actually quite stunningly beautiful. While I'll have to work with schedules to see if I can make future day launches, I will undoubtedly make every attempt to go to the next night launch, whenever that may be as the pictures I have seen would make any attempt at viewing this spectacle worthwhile. Here is a link to a NAVY study concerning the noctilucent cloud contrail or 'shuttle clouds'. More infor can be found also at http://www.spaceweather.com/with a nice Flickr set that showed off some of the colors at http://www.flickr.com/photos/35423990@N00/sets/72157600329483616/

Does anyone know how to string together a series of pictures into a movie files (or even one of those animated GIFs)? It is something I've always wanted to try. Pictures can be found here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=vnlbugz.a5amn37r&x=0&y=b13uzd

Update: I found a neat little service call Glickr that will take a series of up to 10 photos and put them into an animated GIF, but I am still looking for a way to take more of them and build it into something larger. Here is a sample of what it produced by that site;



After looking around a bit more, it seems that Microsoft Movie Maker does what I've been wanting, at least in making some of my pictures into movie. I love technology! Here is an example of the movie [~1MB] I created with the pictures I took of the launch.

http://mblitch.googlepages.com/shuttlelaunch2.wmv

I'm going to try to embed it into this blog post as well.

Rumour has next shuttle mission carrying several cows. It'll be the 'herd shot round the world'.

After what has been one of the best years ever, I suppose it was time for my karma to be a bit depleted. I was planning on checking out the shuttle launch last Thursday, but the weather and other things had darkened the sky too much, so it had to be scrubbed. I was hoping the weather would stay bad through the weekend since I already had plans, but apparently it cleared up enough on Saturday for what i heard was a pretty spectacular liftoff. I suppose misfortune is really the kind of fortune you just cannot miss. I have been in Florida for 10 years and have yet to see any kind of smoke or light plume from a launch. Hopefully if things go well, they will have more missions and not wait another 4 years before the next launch.

Still not sure what is going on this weekend. There are a few outdoor events in South Tampa that might be interesting. I'm still planning an Everglades trip for the end of the month since the new sea kayaks I picked up a few months ago are looking lonely hanging on the garage wall. I'd like to do the 100 miles, 6-7 day trip between Everglades City and Florida City, but have to somehow work out the logistics of getting back to the start. I figure it'll be a good way to get away for a while and enjoy the environment for a bit.