Space Shuttle Endeavour Lifts Off!
February 15, 2010
Photographer: Stacy Giefing; Stacy's Web Site
Summary Author: Stacy Giefing; Jim Foster
The photo above shows the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS 130) lifting off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on February 8, 2010, at 4:14 a.m. This was its final scheduled nighttime launch. The exposure time here was a little over six minutes. Note the slight discontinuity in the Shuttle's track, just past the apex of the arc. This is possibly where the solid rocket boosters separated from the Space Shuttle. Also of interest are the diffraction patterns near the Shuttle track and at bottom right, which result from the bright light of the Shuttle's rockets interacting with minute water droplets in mid-level clouds. One aspect of the STS 130 mission is to deliver the Tranquility module to the International Space Station. Photo taken from Jetty Park, Port Canaveral, Florida.