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photos.ALBj.net → 2009 → Space Shuttle Launch, March 15, 2009

Spectacular launch just after sundown. After a few moments, the orange beams from the sun illuminated the upper portion of the smoke trail, and then turned white as the shuttle climbed even higher.

Waiting for the shuttle launch
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Just seconds away
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3, 2, 1, liftoff!
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Liftoff
Sorry for the weird reflection of the bright light in my camera lens. Kinda strange.

Reflection on the water
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Reflection on the water
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Space Shuttle Launch
Sorry for the weird reflection of the bright light in my camera lens. Kinda strange.

Starting to see the orange sunset illumination from the sun
Sorry for the weird reflection of the bright light in my camera lens. Kinda strange.

Starting to see the orange sunset illumination from the sun
More camera lens oddity—what is the dark halo around the smoke in these shots?

Space shuttle launch
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Space shuttle launch
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Beginning to level out
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Check out the shadow streaming off the smoke trail!
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Trail of many colors
Now the shuttle is high enough that the smoke trail has risen above the golden sunset tones and the brighter white light illuminates the smoke.