Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-129 pics

[Z06 Rocket]

I went to the launch Monday 11/16/09. It was a great weather day and a perfect launch. I took these pictures from SR50 and US1, which is along the coast of Titusville about 12 miles west of the launch pad. Not too bad considering the distance. I was no where as close as Madn3ss was for his pictures of STS-128 in his previous post. Some of the later pictures were better even though the Shuttle was much farther away (sometimes 35-45 miles downrange acording to the NASA announcer on the radio while I was taking the pics). I think the higher the Shuttle went the less of the ground haze I had to deal with. I am pretty stoked about getting the solid rocket booster seperation pictures.

[Z06 Rocket]

Booster separation pics.







Fire's out, but the boosters are still visible falling away from the shuttle.

[PSIBrad]

Those pics are amazing!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[als2052]

No matter how many times they take off and land, it never gets old...what an amazing feat we should all be proud of...it is time though that we start setting our sites on other planets besides the moon...

[navy2kcoupe]

Rocket...........what kind of a camera and lens did you use to get those shots?
Fantastic pix no matter what!
Andy

[Z06 Rocket]

Originally Posted by navy2kcoupe

Rocket...........what kind of a camera and lens did you use to get those shots?
Fantastic pix no matter what!
Andy

Originally Posted by Pres712

Great shots!!! I went over for a night time launch and it has to be one of greatest thrills of all time!

What camera/lens did you use? Tripod?

Thanks! I have a Nikon D5000 camera and purchased a Nikon "Nikkor AFS VR Zoom" lens thats rated at 70-300mm zoom. No tripod, just holding it up to my face over the shoulder of the guy standing in front of me. The guy was very kind and offered to let me stand in the bed of his truck to get over the heads of all the other people watching from the same area. Some of the pictures I further zoomed slightly with digital zoom in a photo viewing program before posting them on line. The pictures are something like 12 mega pixels or something similiar that so a digital zoom for a small increase doesn't bother them too much.

[navy2kcoupe]

Originally Posted by Z06 Rocket

Thanks! I have a Nikon D5000 camera and purchased a Nikon "Nikkor AFS VR Zoom" lens thats rated at 70-300mm zoom. No tripod, just holding it up to my face over the shoulder of the guy standing in front of me. The guy was very kind and offered to let me stand in the bed of his truck to get over the heads of all the other people watching from the same area. Some of the pictures I further zoomed slightly with digital zoom in a photo viewing program before posting them on line. The pictures are something like 12 mega pixels or something similiar that so a digital zoom for a small increase doesn't bother them too much.

Nice setup! I've got one of the original Nikon D70's with a 70-300 NON VR lens, and I like it a lot.
I've been thinking about getting a VR lens, but just haven't pulled the trigger yet. Maybe one of these
days I'll get the chance to see one of the launches and finally get to see what it is that all of you
have been saying.
Andy

[Pres712]

Great shots!!! I went over for a night time launch and it has to be one of greatest thrills of all time!

What camera/lens did you use? Tripod?

[85vette]

Those are great shots!

[Lou G]

Great pictures Rocket. I have watched a few launches but never seen the booster rockets separate. I know exactly where you were. Great spot to see these babies go up.