November 13, 2006: Shuttle launch from above

Undertoad · 11-13-2006, 08:52 AM

Happy Monkey sent me to this blog entry which has these lovely launch shots, but the entry gets it wrong as HM notes; these are probably not from the ISS, but from some sort of NASA chase plane. What's alarming and annoying is the usual date stamp which as xoB notes elsewhere on the Cellar, tend to ruin every photo they appear on. It makes it seem like this is some sort of vacation shot, but surely no commercial jet is allowed to get this close to the airspace.

Still, I hadn't seen them before and they are striking. I hadn't seen any launch images from above before - only from the ground, which is striking enough.

busterb · 11-13-2006, 10:00 AM

Nice.

Elspode · 11-13-2006, 10:58 AM

Possibly a chase plane crew member's personal camera? I mean, I can't imagine what scientific use such obviously nontechnical photos would have served, so I'm guessing that someone just took the opportunity to get a quick personal shot or two while they were on board the chase plane.

cooties · 11-13-2006, 12:11 PM

According to Snopes, it's (likely) the NASA/JSC WB-57 High Altitude Research aircraft.

(and so ends my first post)

11-13-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooties

According to Snopes, it's (likely) the NASA/JSC WB-57 High Altitude Research aircraft.

(and so ends my first post)

Welcome!

Does anyone have a link to a larger version?

xoxoxoBruce · 11-13-2006, 06:04 PM

Looks like it's taking off from A Big Blue Marble....uh, you can use that.

fargon · 11-13-2006, 12:23 PM

kewl

Saknussem · 11-13-2006, 12:26 PM

Really awesome image.

I saved it, zoomed it WAY in on my PC (good monitor, high res, etc etc) and still could not QUITE make out whether that light thing-a-ma-jiggie at the top of the smoke trail is the SHUTTLE or the flame from its engines. Anyone?

barefoot serpent · 11-13-2006, 12:59 PM

My guess would be the flame from the SRBs since they have not finished burning.

edit: and the shuttle, from that distance, would be less than a pixel.

Undertoad · 11-13-2006, 01:20 PM

Great F.P. coot, thanks for the detail.

Wombat · 11-13-2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

What's alarming and annoying is the usual date stamp which as xoB notes elsewhere on the Cellar, tend to ruin every photo they appear on.

Yes they are always annoying. Luckily these ones are over very plain areas so they could easily be disappeared with Photoshop or similar.

Great shots all the same!

SPUCK · 11-14-2006, 01:36 AM

Notice the sky has got black in it but is NOT all black. This is not the ISS. Since it is NOT all black.. But it is from a higher than normally achievable altitude, (because of the black), so it is from a high altitude platform.

Neat pictures! Wish I could see the originals.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-14-2006, 12:36 PM

There's a bunch of satellites taking pictures all the time, could be one of them. Or maybe part of Google's plot for world domination.

Flint · 11-14-2006, 12:39 PM

Like this: Google Announces Plan To Destroy All Information It Can't Index?

SPUCK · 11-14-2006, 01:59 PM

Here we go:
http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/l...chasejets.html

11-13-2006, 08:52 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	November 13, 2006: Shuttle launch from above Happy Monkey sent me to this blog entry which has these lovely launch shots, but the entry gets it wrong as HM notes; these are probably not from the ISS, but from some sort of NASA chase plane. What's alarming and annoying is the usual date stamp which as xoB notes elsewhere on the Cellar, tend to ruin every photo they appear on. It makes it seem like this is some sort of vacation shot, but surely no commercial jet is allowed to get this close to the airspace. Still, I hadn't seen them before and they are striking. I hadn't seen any launch images from above before - only from the ground, which is striking enough.

11-13-2006, 10:00 AM	#2
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Nice. __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

11-13-2006, 10:58 AM	#3
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Possibly a chase plane crew member's personal camera? I mean, I can't imagine what scientific use such obviously nontechnical photos would have served, so I'm guessing that someone just took the opportunity to get a quick personal shot or two while they were on board the chase plane. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

11-13-2006, 06:04 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Looks like it's taking off from A Big Blue Marble....uh, you can use that. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-13-2006, 12:23 PM	#7
fargon Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: La Crosse, WI Posts: 8,924	kewl __________________ Annoy the ones that ignore you!!! I live a blessed life I Love my Country, I Fear the Government!!! Heavily medicated for the good of mankind.

11-13-2006, 12:11 PM	#4
cooties Rapscallion Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5	According to Snopes, it's (likely) the NASA/JSC WB-57 High Altitude Research aircraft. (and so ends my first post)

11-13-2006, 12:26 PM	#8
Saknussem Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 93	Really awesome image. I saved it, zoomed it WAY in on my PC (good monitor, high res, etc etc) and still could not QUITE make out whether that light thing-a-ma-jiggie at the top of the smoke trail is the SHUTTLE or the flame from its engines. Anyone?

11-13-2006, 12:59 PM	#9
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	My guess would be the flame from the SRBs since they have not finished burning. edit: and the shuttle, from that distance, would be less than a pixel. __________________ Chooses rowing vs. wading Last edited by barefoot serpent; 11-13-2006 at 01:06 PM.

11-13-2006, 01:20 PM	#10
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Great F.P. coot, thanks for the detail.

11-14-2006, 01:36 AM	#12
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,911	Notice the sky has got black in it but is NOT all black. This is not the ISS. Since it is NOT all black.. But it is from a higher than normally achievable altitude, (because of the black), so it is from a high altitude platform. Neat pictures! Wish I could see the originals.

11-14-2006, 12:36 PM	#13
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	There's a bunch of satellites taking pictures all the time, could be one of them. Or maybe part of Google's plot for world domination. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-14-2006, 12:39 PM	#14
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Like this: Google Announces Plan To Destroy All Information It Can't Index? __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

11-14-2006, 01:59 PM	#15
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,911	Here we go: http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/l...chasejets.html

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