eksath From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 1135 posts, RR: 27 Posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 3599 times:
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Photo results of high speed engine off shuttle night landing (almost pitch darkness)
I was runway side for STS:123 return. It was pitch dark and there was mosquitoes,assorted other bugs,gators and snakes around. It sure was a memorable landing. The photo result of the experience is here:
Dazed767 From United States of America, joined exactly 14 years ago today! , 5447 posts, RR: 53 Reply 1, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 3423 times:
Wow great set Suresh! What's up with the Nasa G-II with the nose gear up??
Dazed767 From United States of America, joined exactly 14 years ago today! , 5447 posts, RR: 53 Reply 3, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 3375 times:
Quoting Dazed767 (Reply 1): What's up with the Nasa G-II with the nose gear up??
Nevermind looked at one of your photos:
The STA flies at the same speeds, dive angle and approach trajectory as the Shuttle. To do this, the main gear is lowered (not nose gear) and the aircraft engines are thrown into reverse in-flight.
eksath From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 1135 posts, RR: 27 Reply 4, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 3294 times:
This one. I meant focal length of 50mm at the time of the shot. I should have been more clear with the details. Sorry!
I used this:Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens
Quoting Dazed767 (Reply 3): Nevermind looked at one of your photos:
Sure. Let me add some more context.
For up and down on each mission, the STS plays an important role as there is an astronaut shooting approaches at the SLF making sure that in case of an abort (for up) or in a landing that the SLF is visible and that there is no rain clouds,fog etc cutting into the safety magins. Launch Control and Mission Control relies on the STA to give real time feedback of weather to supplement what the USAF weather squadron is providing from other sources.
As the orbiter rolls to wheels stop, the STA has traditionally flown above her to check her out and also as a welcome gesture. On this particular mission (currently billed as Atlantis's last), this final gesture was very poignant. As the orbiter's last seconds of flight ticked down, there was a heightened sense of reverence watching the standard operations unfold. Atlantis emerged out of the last heading alignment circle opened air brakes and put her nose down to start her dive for the runway. At the same time, on the corresponding opposite side of the runway threshold, I picked out the STA turning in a slower and delayed version of the shuttle path. So moments after Atlantis whizzed by me, I started tracking the STA coming in right after her in the same flight attitude. The two images you see are her chasing after the orbiter which is still rolling down the runway at this point. Just at about wheels stop (perhaps the final one for Atlantis), N946NA gave her customary salute to Atlantis.
walter2222 From Belgium, joined Sep 2005, 1272 posts, RR: 31 Reply 5, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 3111 times:
Quoting eksath (Thread starter): At the end of the gallery, I put a day landing shot as a reference to contrast with the night landing.
Lovely pictures! I was almost writing "as usual", but these kind of pictures should not be described that way, they are awesome!
Quoting eksath (Reply 4): Sure. Let me add some more context.
Thanks for that extra explanation! Most welcome!
Quoting Dazed767 (Reply 3): The STA flies at the same speeds, dive angle and approach trajectory as the Shuttle. To do this, the main gear is lowered (not nose gear) and the aircraft engines are thrown into reverse in-flight.
Wow! Is this flying, gliding (or falling like a brick)?? That must be a hell of an experience!
eksath From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 1135 posts, RR: 27 Reply 6, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3010 times:
The STA is in kinda of a skydive in which the person is trying to get maximum speed in a forward direction instead of falling straight down. It is amzing to see it hang in the air at altitude. I have some shots of her in flight and I will try and dig them up.
JeffM From United States of America, joined May 2005, 3266 posts, RR: 53 Reply 7, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2880 times:
Suresh,
Your images never fail to amaze me. By far the most interesting photos on the site imo!
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