I missed it. Guess last minute change. Thanks Jim for the call.
Here is a vidio link to msnbc.om
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30893900
They made the call just minutes before we had to head for the runway (about 15 minutes before the de-orbit burn).
Here are the shots I was able to get. Base was closed to the public, even the lakebed viewing site as they didn't have enough bodies for security due to the long weekend.
Many thanks for posting those great pics of the shuttle Atlantis. <rob> <thumbup> <thumbup> <tcat>
Thanks Jim. GOOD CATCH!!!! Guess the pilot did not make a request for a low pass and buzz the tower and make the top guy in tower spill his coffee.
Jim,
Did the PAO folks say anything about a media visit to the mate/demate facility this time?
Alan
Awsome Pics Jim <thumbsup> <shuttle>
Quote from: gfydad on May 24, 2009, 01:54:21 PM
They made the call just minutes before we had to head for the runway (about 15 minutes before the de-orbit burn).
Here are the shots I was able to get. Base was closed to the public, even the lakebed viewing site as they didn't have enough bodies for security due to the long weekend.
Great shots Jim, I was in SD when I heard they might land in Cali, sweet ;D
I think that is your best shuttle shooting yet Jim!
Kevin
aero-engineer
Thanks all!
I shot it manually at 1/500 and f/9 with an exposure comp at +03.
On the way back from the Zeppelin shoot I stopped by LAX and shot a few to get the settings where I was comfortable with the results.
A visit to the mate/demate device is still dependent upon staffing and scheduling as Atlantis is scheduled for another launch in August. My guess would be less than 50% possibility.
Getting out to NASA for the sunrise also yielded this little gem. ;)
Quote from: gfydad on May 24, 2009, 11:46:40 PM
Thanks all!
I shot it manually at 1/500 and f/9 with an exposure comp at +03.
On the way back from the Zeppelin shoot I stopped by LAX and shot a few to get the settings where I was comfortable with the results.
A visit to the mate/demate device is still dependent upon staffing and scheduling as Atlantis is scheduled for another launch in August. My guess would be less than 50% possibility.
Getting out to NASA for the sunrise also yielded this little gem. ;)
Nice :)
Quote from: phantomphan1974 on May 24, 2009, 02:59:51 PM
Thanks Jim. GOOD CATCH!!!! Guess the pilot did not make a request for a low pass and buzz the tower and make the top guy in tower spill his coffee.
LOL <rolf>
Great catch Jim ;) <thumbsup>
Jim,
Email from Alan Brown confirms that there probably won't be a mate/demate media event.
Alan
Quote from: akradecki on May 26, 2009, 08:56:22 PM
Jim,
Email from Alan Brown confirms that there probably won't be a mate/demate media event.
Alan
If anyone in the group is credentialed media, it looks like the Dryden PAO is going to have an event at the M/DM this Friday. Email me if you want details.
I just received that, but I'll be up at Madera tomorrow thru Sunday. Good thing I was able to make it last time. ;)
Now, if they can just hold off the ferry flight until Monday... :-[
Quote from: gfydad on May 27, 2009, 05:02:30 PM
I just received that, but I'll be up at Madera tomorrow thru Sunday. Good thing I was able to make it last time. ;)
Now, if they can just hold off the ferry flight until Monday... :-[
You mean it's all up to me to give Beth a hard time in your absence?? Since you're not going, do you know if Deaver is?
The thunderstorms that rolled through the AV this afternoon halted work on Atlantis and scrubbed the media event. Something about not wanting to get hit by lightning or have the tailcone blow all the way to Barstow. Closest we got was the Dryden PAO office. Jim, you're in luck...they're saying Monday morning ferry departure at the earliest.
What is that C-141 way in the back?
It's one that's been sitting stored for the last several years out on the North Base ramp.
Alan
Quote from: akradecki on May 29, 2009, 09:06:07 PM
The thunderstorms that rolled through the AV this afternoon halted work on Atlantis and scrubbed the media event. Something about not wanting to get hit by lightning or have the tailcone blow all the way to Barstow. Closest we got was the Dryden PAO office. Jim, you're in luck...they're saying Monday morning ferry departure at the earliest.
Great pix ;) When we were in Vegas early this week they had lightning too, crazy weather
As per the Sunday morning press briefing, departure of Atlantis from Edwards is now set for Monday morning, just before sunrise. If they stay true to tradition, they'll be taking off northeast-bounds, which means that you should be able to see it from the 58 along the north side of the base.
Good luck Alan and Jim if you guys good!
Quote from: akradecki on May 31, 2009, 07:31:59 AM
As per the Sunday morning press briefing, departure of Atlantis from Edwards is now set for Monday morning, just before sunrise. If they stay true to tradition, they'll be taking off northeast-bounds, which means that you should be able to see it from the 58 along the north side of the base.
Before Sunrise,?? early departure to keep "Looky-Loos" and APSoCal Photographers away....?
Quote from: rander on May 31, 2009, 11:10:49 AM
Before Sunrise,?? early departure to keep "Looky-Loos" and APSoCal Photographers away....?
Yah, >:D
Quote from: rander on May 31, 2009, 11:10:49 AM
Before Sunrise,?? early departure to keep "Looky-Loos" and APSoCal Photographers away....?
Naw, just so that they can get the most distance out of a flight day. They have to go low level (10 to 12,000 ft) and make several stops for fuel, and they have to stay VFR, avoiding any weather, so it can take a couple of days to get across the country. Thus it's typical to leave as early as possible. Here are some shots of the last one, last December, when again they left right at sun-up. Makes for some fantastic shooting!
Is there good access like the photos above for this departure? I wouldn't want to make the drive out there if I had to be outside of the area and only get it after the take-off.
Quote from: akradecki on May 31, 2009, 03:59:10 PM
Naw, just so that they can get the most distance out of a flight day. They have to go low level (10 to 12,000 ft) and make several stops for fuel, and they have to stay VFR, avoiding any weather, so it can take a couple of days to get across the country. Thus it's typical to leave as early as possible. Here are some shots of the last one, last December, when again they left right at sun-up. Makes for some fantastic shooting!
Very nice shots ;D
Quote from: GTagami on May 31, 2009, 06:52:00 PM
Is there good access like the photos above for this departure? I wouldn't want to make the drive out there if I had to be outside of the area and only get it after the take-off.
Access was even closer to the runway this time, but these events always require advanced credentialing through NASA, and they accept freelancers as long as you can demonstrate that you're legitimately shooting for a publication.
KNBC Ch 4 link: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Shuttle-Hitches-Ride-Out-of-California-Desert.html
Here's a gaggle from today. :)
Quote from: phantomphan1974 on June 01, 2009, 12:13:54 PM
KNBC Ch 4 link: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Shuttle-Hitches-Ride-Out-of-California-Desert.html
Hey...you can see me and Jim right up next to the runway!!
Two APSoCal'ers...
Cool! Needless to say we had front row seats. <laughing>
A few to compliment Jim's posting....
And a few more...
Great shots Jim and Alan! <apscs> <shuttle> <thumbsup>
Quote from: Fernando Sedeno on June 01, 2009, 03:20:47 PM
Great shots Jim and Alan! <apscs> <shuttle> <thumbsup>
I agree Great shots!!!!!!!And Thank You for the Early morning effot to " get the shots"!! <thumbup> <thumbup> <thumbup> <tcat>
Wow, it just doesn't get any better than that. Great job!! You guys captured some awesome shots! Can someone sneak me in next time?!!! ::)
Great shots guys, beautiful 8)
Yeah great shots and nice to put a face with a name. I see Jim and the tripod in the back.
An interesting report from one of the 747 SCA pilots carrying Atlantis showed up on the net at http://www.patriotfiles.com/forum/showthread.php?p=433669
I wanted to make sure that this was legit, so I contacted the PAO officer I correspond with at Dryden, Alan Brown (Jim knows him well), and asked about it. This is what he wrote back:
"The pilot who identifies himself as "Triple Nickel" is a Johnson Space Center pilot who was indeed the left-seater on the fourth leg of the ferry flight of Atlantis to KSC — I checked the flight manifest. He is relatively new as the pilot-in-command of the 747 SCA, and that may have been his first flight with the shuttle on top. I understand he has plenty of 747 and heavy transport experience, so his comments in his blog about the flight reflect his minimal experience in the SCA."