- www.starznbarz.com
- Launch photos taken from the roof of this building, about 500 feet up, just above the American flag.
History was made at 3:44 A.M. EST on May 22, 2012 — but let's return to the recent past for a moment. It makes the future sweeter.
Saturday, May 19, 4:54:59 a.m., Cape Canaveral, FL.: We're hunkered down in the predawn darkness along the causeway in the deep grass, tripods pushing against a ropeline to be sure we're as close as possible to the Air Force launch pad where the Falcon 9 rocket stands venting gases. A NASA official has just gone down the press line exhorting everyone to be sure we're not standing in a fire ant bed (you would know if you were). The launch countdown is heard from unseen speakers in the darkness, 5…4… final focus check, video on record, 3…2…1…liftoff!! fire, smoke,roar of engine — then nothing but silence — wait, the rocket is still there, the sky is not lit up…..crap!
Press photographers mutter in the darkness, swatting skeeters, then the NASA press official speaks up. "OK,folks, that's all, there is no other launch opportunity tonight, let's pack it up and get back on the bus." The drive back to Tampa Bay is always longer than the drive over to KSC.
An alert from NASA media comes Monday afternoon, problem solved, next launch attempt is Tuesday at 3:44 a.m. — no sleep tonight, load the gear, fuel the truck, head for the other coast.
There are a couple of no-shows in the press area and a spot opens up to photograph the launch from the roof of the VAB (vehicle assembly building). It's about 500 feet up and overlooks the Air Force launch pad — perfect!
The view from the VAB is spectacular — even at night. I set up tripods and focus the cameras, night launches go from pitch dark to sun bright in a few seconds, it's easy to screw up. The NASA officials that accompany you to the roof turn up their NASA radios so we can hear the countdown……
3:44 a.m., May 22: History is made. The sky lights up in the pre-dawn hours over Cape Canaveral, and for the first time a private American company has built and successfully launched a commercial rocket to the International Space Station.
The Spacex Falcon 9 rocket with the Dragon capsule will attempt to dock at the ISS and deliver about 1,200 pounds of supplies. It is also carrying the cremated remains of 308 people, including Mercury astronaut Gorden Cooper and James Doohan, the actor who played "Scotty" in the original Star Trek TV series. The ashes will be dispersed into space. Spacex is a private company, and that is one of the services it offers.
If the docking is successful, the United States will no longer have to rely on nor pay inflated sums to Russia to supply the ISS. We will however, have to pay them to transport crews to and from the ISS until the new manned flight program and equipment is operational — by most estimates, at least five years away.
This is the first step toward America returning to a viable, profitable space program. That it was accomplished by a private company with a vision to provide a service that does not rely on taxpayer money makes that step even more historic.
More photos after the jump.
This article appears in May 24-30, 2012.