Shuttle Launch

[paulh428]

Hey, all. I am taking a trip to Florida and coincidentally there's going to be one of the last space launch involving the space shuttles program. Anyways, I was wondering if there's any tips on taking pictures of a shuttle launch. Mainly tripods. I don't own a tripod and I know that's a big no-no so I was wondering if people can give me any recommendations. Thanks.

[WVCoalMiner]

Well hope you are staying there for a while because for now all the shuttle launches are on hold pending investigation into why the foam came off at this week past launch. So maybe you will get to see it or maybe not????? Who knows with NASA LOL

Oh yeah and about the tripod there are many "cheap" models out there but do yourself a favor and buy a full size heavy duty one. You'll thank yourself later if you do. Those small light flimsy ones are not worth the hassle. I have a nice full size heavy duty Ambico I got for less than $100 and I love it.

Shuttle Flights On Hold Due to New Foam Loss Problem
July 16, 2009

About the last thing NASA needs right now is a new problem to solve, but that’s exactly what landed on its plate following Wednesday’s launch of Endeavour on a space station construction mission.

It’s a new twist on an old nemesis -- the insulating foam on the shuttle fuel tank. NASA redesigned the tanks after losing shuttle Columbia and its seven-member crew in 2003 due to a heat shield breach triggered by a piece of foam debris that fell off the fuel tank and hit the ship’s wing during launch.


Endeavour’s launch was marred by the loss of several pieces of foam from a new area of the tank, a part that had not previously been a problem.


“We have a bit of a mystery on the foam loss,” shuttle program manager John Shannon told reporters on Thursday. "It's from an area that we typically don’t expect foam to be lost."


During Endeavour’s climb to orbit on Wednesday, several pieces of foam were seen peeling off the inter-tank area, a section between the hydrogen and the oxygen tanks. Shannon said the foam in that area is thin, machine-sprayed  and not subject to the intense cold affecting other parts of the insulation.


The foam fell off Endeavour’s tank late during ascent, when atmospheric forces were minimized, so that the debris did not have enough force to slam into the orbiter and cause damage. But if the shedding had occurred earlier during the flight, it could have been a different story.


"We're not worried about this one (Endeavour), but we need to understand what's going on for the next flight,” Shannon said.