02/06/18 - The first ever Falcon Heavy launch. Double rocket landing!
Previous BatchNext Batch Traffic on the way to KSC freaked me out |
 Hello VAB |
 This definitely isn't commentary on the SLS. Nope |
 There she is.. Falcon Heavy |
 Our viewing site was at the Turn Basin, right outside the VAB. Thanks to Jeff with the awesome access! |
 The SLS launch platform. It's only leaning a little. |
 Me with blurry Falcon Heavy! |
 Blurry me with Falcon Heavy! |
 Joe managed to get past the security.. rope. Joe goes where he wants |
 And there he goes! Joe just walks across the moat thing and onto the Saturn Crawlerway. No one stopped him because they were too baffled |
 I bought a much needed water here |
 Falcon Heavy! |
 That's a fine looking launch vehicle |
 Jeff and his grandfather! |
 James loves rockets |
 I should've parked right in front of the rope. Oh well. We had some company! |
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 A panorama aronud our viewing site |
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 This guy has a longer telephoto than me |
 The heat haze is a little frustrating but we're SO close. Just under 3 miles |
 Dan's first rocket launch! Well, hopefully the first one that actually launches |
 Spaaaaace |
 VAB! |
 Stay cool in the sun! |
 Jeff is Mr. KSC these days. Very cool |
 The Launch Control Center |
 Another identical picture of Falcon Heavy on the launch pad |
 The side of the VAB |
 Upper level winds keep pushing the launch.. let's play cards! |
 Dan taught me how to play Gin Rummy |
 We played on the grass |
 This was my view when laying in the field |
 Is it time to launch yet? |
 Dan doesn't want to have a second scrub |
 Helicopter! Note the vortex coming off the blade tip |
 I've heard this book is good! |
 Boeing in the old OPF |
 People with some good views on the LCC steps |
 Trying new shots |
 Falcon Heavyyyy |
 How do I get on the LCC roof? |
 We have venting! |
 Are you topping off the oxygen after the venting? |
 Black and white makes things cool |
 Are you sick of Falcon Heavy photos yet? |
 How about a wide shot? |
 How about a picture of Dan taking a picture? |
 Tactical Guy is ready for a launch |
 A lot of venting on the right! |
 It's launching!! |
 It's actually going! |
 Almost cleared the tower |
 The plume is so bright |
 Falcon Heavy has cleared the tower! |
 Go baby go |
 Let's try some more creative filters! |
 You can clearly see how the center core is throttled down a bit |
 Passing through the clouds |
 Up and up and up |
 The crowd went nuts |
 It's starting to tilt over |
 There's the cnotrail |
 Take that, upper level winds |
 It's really pitching now |
 You can see the plume expanding as the pressure drops |
 The contrail left a neat shadow |
 Side core separation! |
 This highly processed photo was the most visible I could make the boost back burn. You can see three plumes at once here! |
 Meanwhile, the steam from the sound suppression system is drifting away |
 Entry burn! I managed to capture it through the clouds. The side cores are slowing down to survive reentry |
 Landing burn!! You can see a green light near the engine plume of the upper core. That's a result of the engine startup sequence |
 That lower one is the same core I saw launch on the Thaicom-8 mission two years ago |
 It's so insane actually seeing this happen right in front of me, less than ten miles away |
 And they stuck the landing! |
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