Photo Narrative of the Last Space Shuttle Launch
July 4-8, 2011
By Sean Sullivan
All photographs by Sean Sullivan (all rights reserved), unless otherwise noted
All photographs by Sean Sullivan (all rights reserved), unless otherwise noted
I was at the Kennedy Space Center press site covering the launch of Atlantis on flight STS-135, the last launch of the space shuttle program. I arrived on July 4 to cover the arrival of the astronauts from Houston, and stayed through the launch four days later. Covering a launch countdown can be a very intense experience, and the following series of photographs give a taste of what it was like to be there for this historic event.
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The astronauts arrived at the Kennedy Space Center.
Set up our Rangecast audio feed equipment at KSC press site.
Then I found a place to watch the fireworks from Merritt Island.
The Dragon capsule on display (first commercial spacecraft to return to Earth)
A close-up of a rainbow pattern on the spacecraft (inside a thruster?)
One of my cameras doing a timelapse series of images at sunrise
Sunrise over launch pad 39-A
Beautiful colors on the clouds
Someone took a photo of me photographing sunrise
The timelapse camera captured the first light of the sun
My timelapse camera continuing after sunrise
Making sandbags - NASA requires them on tripods placed this close to a shuttle launch
News conference - weather forecast and countdown status briefing
Remote camera photographers waiting for access to the launch pad
I set a timelapse camera to record my placing remote camera equipment at the pad
The trip was to position equipment, but not finish setup, and electronics were left off
Getting the 15 sandbags out in advance was especially helpful
On our way to launch pad 39-A to set up remote cameras
The bus dropped us off at the main camera site
Waiting for a van to take me inside the pad perimeter fence
Watching other photographers setting up at the main camera site
This is from a timelapse camera recording the process of activating the cameras
The timelapse camera captured an image of a visit by the NASA escort
I paused during a rainshower, and AP took a photo of me with the cameras
One of my remote cameras, set up and ready for launch
A view of the same camera from the front side
It's the second camera from the left in this view
The camera site is only 700 feet from the space shuttle
A peek at the custom hand-built camera firing system
My other four remote cameras, set up and ready for launch
A closer view of the cameras
A view of these four cameras from the front side
Sound sensor, tripod with bungee cord to secure, raindrops on outer bag
Control electronics are in the center box
In context, along with cameras set up by other photographers
Taking shelter in the NASA escort's van during heavy rain
Side view of the space shuttle launch pad
Other photographers setting up a camera in the rain while under plastic sheeting
One of my remote cameras took a photo of Atlantis through rain on the lens
NASA retracted the RSS revealing the shuttle, but KSC was still very wet
Someone took a photo of me with Atlantis
Line of photographers viewing Atlantis
Tropical stormy day, bad forecast for launch time, we all anticipated a delay
Returning to the bus when NASA said it was time to go
Satellite uplink trucks in the KSC press site parking lot
Second viewing opportunity in twilight with the xenon floodlights
The shuttle is taken to the pad on a crawlerway of rocks that get crushed
Close-up view of Atlantis
Yes, these cables are indeed underwater
Looking towards the countdown clock
Remote camera twilight photo of Atlantis through rain on the lens
It stopped raining around midnight, but it was still overcast
The xenon floodlights at the launch pad illuminated the clouds
Atlantis was fueled overnight - night view from a remote camera
The same camera showing Atlantis after sunrise
NASA took a photograph of Atlantis on the launch pad - my cameras are marked
A closer view of same image (1 camera by left arrow, 4 cameras by right arrow)
Astronauts were all over the place at KSC press site
Media and NASATweetup attendees waiting for Atlantis astronauts
Atlantis astronauts on their way to the space shuttle
Looking down the viewing line as the Atlantis astronauts depart
I set up my tripod (second from left) along the water at press site
Photographers along the water's edge at the KSC press site
Artists were there as well, recording their impressions of the day
At launch time, nothing happened - we couldn't hear countdown, and it held at
T-31 seconds
Main engine start (seen from the stand-alone remote camera 700 feet away)
Exhaust clouds blowing in front of Atlantis at liftoff
Climbing to orbit
After liftoff, the pad covered in clouds (white from main engine, orange from SRB's)
Liftoff from another remote camera 700 feet away (rightmost in the cluster of four)
View of main engine start from the KSC press site (3 miles from the shuttle)
Liftoff (telephoto view from the KSC press site)
And the last space shuttle ascent to orbit
The shadow of the shuttle's exhaust plume falling across the cloud deck
After the launch, a TV reporter asked me to describe my impressions
I was viewing the launch from directly under the flag by the countdown clock
Someone photographed me while I was taking pictures of the flag
And when I was putting away my equipment after launch
Discussing photography at the KSC press site
The KSC auditorium filling up for the post-launch press conference
And a view of the other side of the auditorium seating area
Veteran reporter Irene Klotz asking a question at the press conference
Launch director Mike Leinbach getting a hug from her after the press conference
Assigned media desks in the KSC press center
Looking towards the front of the KSC press center
Looking across the front region of the KSC press center
And looking towards the back of the KSC press center
Returning to the launch pad for camera pickup
Someone photographed me with four of my remote cameras after launch
And when I was starting to disconnect the camera system at the pad
A good sign when inspecting the film cameras after launch
Someone took a photo of me with the other remote camera
Camera equipment in a pile at the KSC press site before loading into my van
And after a successful launch, it was time to leave the KSC press site
