WT5L Blog

STS-119 (Discovery) successfully launched last evening at 2343z 15 March 2009 on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The timing of the launch and the near-perfect weather made for a spectacular view since the lower part of the climb-out was in the earth’s shadoow and upper part was in full sunlight. Here is an image of the initial climb-out from my location approximately 35 miles south of the launch pad. (Click on the image to view full-size):

The vapor trail was actually the most impressive aspect of this launch. In the image below, the vapor trail is expanding and deforming from upper-level winds and taking on orange and yellow hues from the setting sun. The bright dot to the right of the vapor trail is the shuttle main engines and the two dots below it are the solid rocket boosters. About 3 minutes after launch, we received the low, “rolling-thunder” reverberation that we sometimes get if conditions are right. (Click on the image to view full-size):