Boeing Delta IV Heavy - USA - Air Force | Aviation Photo #1585299

Aviation Photo #1585299 Boeing Delta IV Heavy - USA - Air Force

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1 of 136

Aircraft

USA - Air Force
Boeing Delta IV Heavy

Location & Date

Cocoa Beach - Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Skid Strip (XMR / KXMR)
Florida, USA - November 10, 2007

Caption

Delta 4-Heavy roars into orbit with DSP-23, the final Defense Support Program missile-warning satellite, at 8:50pm EST from Launch Complex 37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, November 10, 2007. Delta 4-Heavy, over 23 stories tall, is the world's largest rocket by height and most powerful unmanned booster.

Photographer

Ben Cooper

136 USA

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Cross-Data

Photographer

Ben Cooper

Airline

USA - Air Force

Version

Boeing Delta IV Heavy

Generic Type

Boeing Delta

Basic Type

Boeing Delta

Location

Cocoa Beach - Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Skid Strip

Region

Florida

Country

USA

Date Photographed

November 10, 2007
Correction

[ Medium Large ]

Distinct Views: 300,413
Photo Added: September 28, 2009

Comments (128)

Anonymous

14 years ago

Omg thats close!!! Great shot!

Cheers
Daniel

Anonymous

14 years ago

AMAZING!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Wow! tell us how you got the photo! id imagine it would be a bit too warm to be standing there:p

Anonymous

14 years ago

How is this photo possible!? Wow

Anonymous

14 years ago

Ben, that's a five star photograph you have there mate!! Outstanding! And I bet it got a little warm under the collar for you?! Brilliant.
Spencer Wilmot.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Amazing shot. Was the camera triggered remotely? Tony

Anonymous

14 years ago

Just wow! you must have been standing real close!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Wow, that is something else.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Just wow.. 5*

Anonymous

14 years ago

Simply awesome shot! I have no idea how it possible to take such picture. I suppose that camera was in some shelter, wasn't it?

Anonymous

14 years ago

Absolutely amazing!!! How could this not be a 5 star?!?!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Very impressive and exceptional view, great job!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Excellent angle!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Ben, I've followed your work closely on Spaceflightnow, and it's wonderful to see an a.net upload from you! Beautiful shot.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Amazing, i didnt believe my eyes at first when i saw this photo.

Anonymous

14 years ago

This is a photo for spaceliners.net

5 stars man.

Anonymous

14 years ago

I sure hope you weren't standing this close to that thing when the photo was taken.

Anonymous

14 years ago

OMG that is amazing no idea how you got it but love it

Anonymous

14 years ago

Not an aircraft at all (the Space Shuttle is quite an airplane), but surely an amazing picture!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Whaaaaaaa?!?!?! How in the world did you get this incredible shot? I'll assume you took this remotely, but I would imagine the camera was in some heavy duty enclosure to survive. One of the most breathtaking shots I have ever seen!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Simply amazing. A one-of-a-kind shot!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Nice exhaust shock waves.

Anonymous

14 years ago

How did you gat that picture

Anonymous

14 years ago

Uh...amazing shot... yes,how did you get that shot? I always envy those guys who work on the other side of airport fence. But now, all the people should envy you Mr Cooper!

Anonymous

14 years ago

I don't think any exposed human body can endure the heat and sonic wave at this distance. Nonetheless, excellent capture and awesome composition!

Anonymous

14 years ago

This is a truly awesome and powerful photo! The angle from which the picture was taken adds to the massive size of the rocket... truly unique!

Anonymous

14 years ago

10-stars shot! How on Earth did you take this picture!??! Fantastic!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Given double hearing protection, I would LOVE to stand so close, the feeling in your chest from standing so close would be immense! But of course I know that this was a remotely taken picture, no man could be so lucky to feel the power of a trio of RS-68 engines putting out a combined 2+ million pounds of thrust! Even standing this close to a B-1B at full afterburner is a near religious experience.

Anonymous

14 years ago

That's a photo from another dimension :o
Congratulations, Ben. Awesome work. Cheers - ZakHH

Anonymous

14 years ago

Fantastic! Superb! Outrageous! Unbelievable! That's the most interesting pic I've seen here at A.net in about half year. Congratulations, Ben, you should be very proud of you.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Can you not be shocked by the unique angle of this shot?

Anonymous

14 years ago

Unbelievable! No words!!!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Top Photo Mate.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Beautiful photograph! never before seen power on airliners.net!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Just quietly, how do u get that close to a rocket?

Anonymous

14 years ago

The noise must be insane at that range.

Anonymous

14 years ago

This looks like an illustration of the future from a 1960s science text book. Amazing.

Anonymous

14 years ago

This has to be one of the best ever photos on A.net! Truly 5 stars!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Wow, this is amazing. How did someone get this shot?

Anonymous

14 years ago

Breathtaking, 5 stars!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Among the greatest photos I have ever seen - congrats!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Wtf, immediately hit the tumbnail on the main screen ***** thnx

Anonymous

14 years ago

Phenomenal photo. Never seen anything like it. Thanks.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Just amazing!!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Thanks for the comments. For those saying they would like to be this close to feel it in your chest, well, you can feel that from three miles away which is the closest we get to shuttle launches and for the above launch as well. This camera in particular was not protected for this launch and the lens that took it was destroyed. But the camera still works! And yes, any time you see a closeup image of a shuttle or rocket launch it was taken using a remote camera, set off by sound or anothe rmeans.

If you were able to stand this close and lived to tell about it (unlikely) you would certainly never hear anything again as we are talking some 160-180dB right next to it, far more than any jet engine from an equivalent distance. Hope this helps answer some questions! Thanks again.

Anonymous

14 years ago

What an amazing photo. It's a shame that it only has about 20k views...less than your typical boring cabin shot.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Great shot!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Phenomenal shot! Kudos for the dedication... and may the lens rest in peace =P

Anonymous

14 years ago

Wow. Just wow.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Awesome angle, incredibly close up. Magnificient indeed.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Pure win

Anonymous

14 years ago

WOW! Now that's HOT! Literally! Awesome camera angle! Animates an amazing event!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Those are some badass guardrails.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Outstanding, dramatic shot! A great view from an angle you don't normally see!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Great angle with very fine detail, especially from the rocket boosters

Anonymous

14 years ago

You gave up your camera lens to take this. Nice !

Anonymous

14 years ago

What amazing detail of a rocket at launch - just phenomenal to be so close. I think the loss of lens is worth it to get such a great photo - congratulations!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Awesome, just awesome

Anonymous

14 years ago

The action, the perspective, and -- of course -- the ejaculatory moment.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Awesome photograph- great composition, dramatic lighting, and a subject that brings a whole lot of wonder.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Hard to get shot, very rare circumstances, wasn't on site had to preset settings

Anonymous

14 years ago

Simply Amazing. The lighting in the photo is phenomenal, almost has a HDR ring to it. The reflected light from the boosters, and the shadows it cast, gives the launchpad an otherworldly feel to it. Beautiful. Hope the lens you lost weren't too expensive?

Anonymous

14 years ago

Goood shot

Anonymous

14 years ago

In a word - Stunning!

Anonymous

14 years ago

The detail, the perfect timing, the contrast & the lighting bring across all the power of a launch. (and it is just pretty)

Anonymous

14 years ago

How do you even start trying to figure out the lighting for something like this? Not to mention the sonic energy alone would shatter most items containing air-voids. Great one-off shot, this bird is not coming back to land!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Angle is very important in a shot like this, and you nailed it.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Raw power

Anonymous

14 years ago

Kudos, sir. This is one amazing shot. I would love to know how you knew what exposure settings to use.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Its real and at the same time absolutely unrealistic...

Anonymous

14 years ago

All that's missing is the heat blast tearing you to pieces!

Anonymous

14 years ago

It's real, yes? Looks like a collage. Amazing!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Great subject!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Fantastic! This picture brings back memories. I made many trips down to the Cape while living in Daytona. I actually saw this launch!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Perfectly composed, the planning that went into it really shows.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Awesome!!! It boggles my mind to think of the force and power under this bad boy!!!!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Simply amazing!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Incredibile. I have no other words to discribe

Anonymous

14 years ago

INSANE PHOTO! I love it!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Incredible angle

Anonymous

14 years ago

Pijemi from France
Superbe et pour cela il faut prendre les riques necessaires .

Anonymous

14 years ago

Unreal angle, great framing!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Kinda magic :)

Anonymous

14 years ago

Incredible te way the photographer thought about the heat, maybe loose the camera and storage the pictures before the heat hit the camera. I suppose it would be really hot close there...and my camera is not design to suffer too hot!! ;-)

Anonymous

14 years ago

Simply beautiful

Anonymous

14 years ago

Amazing, superb!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Super. No komments

Anonymous

14 years ago

Cool idea! Great !

Anonymous

14 years ago

Rare sigth

Anonymous

14 years ago

Big and Power!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Gooooooood =)!!!

Anonymous

14 years ago

There are only a few times in life a man is allowed to cry. Nailing that perfect photograph is one of them.

Anonymous

14 years ago

A perspective that I have always wanted to see - terrific.

Anonymous

14 years ago

I liked both the angle of the shot, which did well to convey the sheer size of the spacecraft, and the way the exhaust from the rocket engines looked.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Wow the sheer power of it all!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Great!!

Anonymous

14 years ago

I Wonder how mr. Cooper take this photo from close distance

Anonymous

14 years ago

Absolutely amazing. Worth losing a lens for!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Brilliant framing, beautiful crisp focus.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Brilliant!

Anonymous

14 years ago

I'd like to know how you had put whe camera right under the launch..

Anonymous

13 years ago

The crisp detail and dynamic framing is just amazing! (I feel like I'm about to be burnt to a crisp, just looking at it.)

Anonymous

13 years ago

Great one. Nice grain of the film.
I liked the fact that the camera did survive to this; Poor lens, though!
I read an article about your photo and came here in search, very nice.

Anonymous

13 years ago

WOW, GOOD BUT SCARY!

Anonymous

13 years ago

Just amazing....i don't know what to say!

Anonymous

13 years ago

The noise and heat must be very high at that point. May I know what kind of ear plugs and anti-burning-lotion you used!! (Ali Aminzadeh)

Anonymous

13 years ago

What a great inspiration you had to take this picture, never seen something like that before. The power of that photo is increadible.

Anonymous

13 years ago

I love you!

Anonymous

13 years ago

Burn baby burn

Anonymous

12 years ago

One of the best photos on this site. Perfect timing, composition, angle, coloration, etc.

Anonymous

12 years ago

Probably the best part of this photo is that it is a great big symbolic rude finger to the forces that bind us to the earth...

Anonymous

12 years ago

Power of love !

Anonymous

12 years ago

Full marks! Never seen a launch so close before. Film and TV images are normally fuzzy but the clarity of this shot is incredible.

Anonymous

12 years ago

Tripple Cigarette Lighter.

Anonymous

12 years ago

So hard to believe this is real! you mustve been unbelievably close to this i dont know how you managed. The lighting is spectacular and the picture truly captures the awesome power of the experience

Anonymous

12 years ago

Throttleable Engine at 102% Thrust, Next to the Energia, this is some serious firepower

Anonymous

12 years ago

Awesome.
The power of those rockets really shows. It's like a big finger saying
I'm off to Space.

Anonymous

11 years ago

Fantastic shot. Would love to see a picture of what was left of the camera afterwards!

Anonymous

11 years ago

An absolutely awesome picture - gives a perfect sense of the Atlas' raw power as a booster. And the contrast of its amazing glare against a jet black sky is amazing. Top marks!

Anonymous

11 years ago

YESSS, WELL SAID DEFENSE!!

Anonymous

11 years ago

Thanks. However, it is a Delta (Delta IV-Heavy) not an Atlas.

Anonymous

11 years ago

Unbelievable planning... what a shot!

Anonymous

11 years ago

Damn it man, this thing really look like an illustration from the sixties or something. Sorry about your camera lens, but sacrifices are sometimes necessary LOL... and, in this particular case, definitely worthwhile. You see, this is just insanely awesome. No science fiction movie can come even close to this in the "awe factor" department, in my opinion. Really a kick-ass job, buddy!

Anonymous

9 years ago

Extraordinary and outstanding picture!

Anonymous

8 years ago

Wonderful.....

Anonymous

8 years ago

Awesome American power.

Anonymous

8 years ago

How can you possibly get that close to a launch?! Blows St. Maarten away in my opinion! I just think of Billy Bob Thorton and John Cusak getting blown around from wake turbulence in Pushing Tin :p Amazing shot!