SpaceX Launch (143/366)

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I got up this morning at 2:40 AM in order to head out to Cape Canaveral to watch the SpaceX launch. There was a lot of hype and excitement surrounding the launch and after last Saturday’s failed attempt, I was really hoping it would go up today (in no small part because I’m tired of getting up hours before the sun rises).

A bunch of us met up on base (woo! Having KSC badges is awesome) and had a great vantage point for the launch. You probably can’t tell from the picture because it looks so far away. I think that is in part because you are required to be pretty far away so you don’t blow your face away with the sound of the rocket and because I don’t have a super-duper zoom lens. And I’m not that good of a photographer. An example below –

Here is a picture taken by a professional photographer:

(credit)

And here’s the picture I took:

That thing lit up the entire night sky in a way I was not expecting. It was so bright and the rumble beneath our feet was just awesome.

I have to say, night launches are much cooler than day launches (of the two I’ve seen). They’re just more impressive as they light up the night sky. The launch of the spacecraft I’m working on is at 4 AM, so hopefully it’s a good show.

So, congrats to the entire SpaceX team!

P.S. The Falcon 9 launch vehicle is named after the Millenium Falcon from Star Wars.

P.P.S. The Dragon capsule (the spacecraft going to the ISS atop the Falcon 9) was named after Puff the Magic Dragon.

P.P.P.S Working in private industry sure has its perks.