"Disappearing Endeavor," March 2008

Disappearing Endeavor

I've posted this photo before, but considering that I've let this blog slide a bit of late (a little over a month, sadly), I thought it was worth reposting the image now that it was selected for a New York Times gallery of reader-submitted photos. It's only 12 images of shuttle launches -- no contest or prize or anything -- but cool nonetheless. Not bad for my one and only launch and a less-than-ideal viewing point and low cloud cover. Not my best night shot, either, but considering the timing, I'm happy to include it.

"Shuttle launch," Florida, March 2008

Taking the shot

Back in March, I checked off another item on my list of life goals and attended a launch of the space shuttle in Florida. "Attended" in the sense that I saw it live -- it's hard (or at least requires plenty of advance planning) to get to any of the viewing points at Kennedy Space Center.

What was for me a pleasure trip, a photo opportunity and a vacation was -- for the astronauts aboard, engineers in Mission Control and scientists involved -- a job, a research mission, a chance to learn more about our world and the universe it inhabits by breaking the surly bonds of earth and soaring into the heavens.