launches to the ISS
Nov. 14, 2008 7:55:39pm EST
Click here to read about the STS-126 Mission!
(To see the STS-126 landing photos click here!)
(To see Endeavour/747 depart Edwards AFB click here!)
Moon rise over Pad 39A
Sunrise the day of remote camera setup!
The STS-126 Crew departs the O & C building about 4 hours before launch.
Astronauts board the Astro-Van for the 20 minute drive to the launch pad.
Main Engine start at T-6.6 seconds!
T-0 and liftoff at 7:55:39.052pm EST!
This photo was taken from the roof of the 520 ft VAB which is about 3.5 miles away.
Night becomes day!
This is one of 3 cameras I setup on the roof of the VAB. This camera with a 20mm lense
was setup behind me and triggered before launch.
My 2nd camera was clamped to the railing in the middle of the photo.
Also, the light over my head is the full moon.
1 minute 58 seconds after launch!
NASA Launch commentator Candrea Thomas gets her tie cut by Launch Director Mike Leinbach.
This tradition dates back to the beginning of the space program where folks get there ties cutoff after
there first successful launch.
Here is a mockup of the Water Recovery System (launched on Endeavour)
which designed to convert urine into ultra-pure water for drinking, food preparation, personal hygiene and oxygen generation.
Photographer's Carleton Bailie & Gene Blevins reset there cameras after they were accidentally ran over by a escort van.
Space Shuttle Endeavour with the RSS around the Orbiter the day before launch.
On the right is the Sound Suppression System water tank. That water starts flowing over the pad 15 seconds before launch.
A 10 ft Alligator visits the launch pad area.
Nice to know something is guarding my cameras!
We were back at the pad picking up cameras 2.5 hours after launch.
(To see the STS-126 landing photos click here!)
(To see Endeavour/747 depart Edwards AFB click here!)