STS-123 night launch photos...enjoy!!

[Stag]

Well it was worth staying up for...holy crap - it was awesome. You knew it was spectacular when the just slightly after lift off and the sky lit up, the entire crowd went "Ohhhhh" instead of the usual cheering, then they cheered!!
Simply fantastic!

Enjoy the pics, I am happy to share them...

Pre-Launch

Last seconds before ignition

Ignition

Lift Off

 

[Stag]

Climbing...

Into the clouds

 

[Stag]

Launch pad after the launch

 

[zephramc]

Awesome.

Thanks for sharing Stag.

 

[Johnny Rico]

Great footage on HDNET as well.

 

[Darth_Daver]

I want to get to Florida and see a STS launch before they retire them... I just need some reason (and money) for the travel... Nice photos btw, thanks

 

[drasche]

Nice pictures, Stag, thank you. I wish I could do a wallpaper with the ignition one, it's beautiful.

 

[Stag]

Nice pictures, Stag, thank you. I wish I could do a wallpaper with the ignition one, it's beautiful.

I can email you the pic if you want.

 

[Squiggy]

It turned the press site (the area around the countdown clock) from night into day as well. I left my camera at home but I'll post what I can when I can.

Cool pics! Were you around Port Canaveral?

 

[TerriO]

Those pictures are great, Stag. Thank you for sharing them!

 

[RevDMV]

Thanks for the pics. Too bad the cloud deck was pretty low, you would have been able to pick up the booster seperation at night pretty well.

 

[B.J.]

Nice pics! The only shuttle launch I've been able to see in person was back in 1996, and it was a 3am launch. Absolutely amazing! We happened to have a perfectly clear night where you could see all the stars. In an instant it was daytime, and all the stars disappeared. And the SOUND! That sound was just indescribable, because even from several miles away, you felt it more than you heard it. Not something I'll ever forget.

 

[Johnny Rico]

Nice pics! The only shuttle launch I've been able to see in person was back in 1996, and it was a 3am launch. Absolutely amazing! We happened to have a perfectly clear night where you could see all the stars. In an instant it was daytime, and all the stars disappeared. And the SOUND! That sound was just indescribable, because even from several miles away, you felt it more than you heard it. Not something I'll ever forget.

Yeah, a couple launches ago, I think last August's launch, the HDNET feed was awesome. 5.1 sound with thunderous LFE. It started off somewhat muffled, but as it rose the thunderous bass boom started to kick in and I was practically blown out of my seat. Then the engine crackle started up in the rear channels.

For some reason lately, the last two or three launches haven't had that great of sound. I don't know why.

 

[Stag]

It turned the press site (the area around the countdown clock) from night into day as well. I left my camera at home but I'll post what I can when I can.

Cool pics! Were you around Port Canaveral?

Yes, I was on the Air Force base over by the cruise ship terminal.

 

[Ronald Held]

Nice pictures, thanks.

 

[Squiggy]

Here are a few from the Press Site:

 

[TerriO]

Oh, that second picture is just .

 

[flux_29]

Very nice, its just one of those things that never gets old.