Science
Passenger Takes Stunning Pics of Shuttle Launch From Airplane Window
- Posted on May 16, 2011 at 3:54pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Stefanie Gordon says her flight from New York City to Palm Beach, FL was “freezing.” But her Twitter account is hot right now after she posted two pictures during her flight capturing the space shuttle Endeavour launch from her airplane window. Even NASA has now taken notice. And it should — the pictures are breathtaking.
Here’s the first one:
And this is the second:
Gawker placed the pictures side-by-side:
Late this morning, NASA recognized and promoted the pictures via its official Twitter account:
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Comments (120)
baparks
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:05pmokay, so now that you’ve seen this shuttle launch contrail (which is effectively similar to a missile), it should give new meaning to the “non-missile” launched off the west coast not to long ago … remember the non-Chinese launch off the west coast as a warning or have we forgotten that one … looks similar to me …
Report Post »MSNBCFTL
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 8:50pmamazing view
Report Post »bitter clinger
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:00pmI dont know why nassa was impressed that had nothing to do with muslem esteem.
Report Post »Stacey
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:52pmAwesome!!
Report Post »one more shuttle launch after this….
…..I remember the first one…
I remember Challenger—I cried all day!.
…the end of an era.
66 bronco
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:44pmHey isn’t that just a airplane contrail? It’s look just like the one over So Cal but at 35,000 feet. So, do we have confirmation that the Shuttle? Just saying……. lol
Cool pics…..truly one and million chances to see the Shuttle launch from that vantage point!
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:44pmSo this is what the last launch looks like? How exciting. Keep that in your minds kids. You’ll never see it again.
Our ancestor’s will be excited when they dig our bones out of the Earth, knowing no American could leave the planet due to an Executive Order of the Communist spawn of Islam. Just think of how much we’ll never discover now. Allahu Obama. Obama be praised.
Report Post »oldasdirt
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:40pmSpace—-The Final Fronteer.The US is soon to be a “No go for launch”Very sad.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:37pmHow come we never had this photo before? It should have been fairly easy to have a military jet loitering in the area for the shot over the past couple of decades who could have gotten a real great shot. Maybe its because its the second to the last voyage that they did not mind air traffic close enough to see this spectacle.
Report Post »BorderCollieFeeder
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 10:55pmWe were wondering the same thing. I live on Merritt Island and heard a commercial jetliner go over right before hearing the Shuttle and so did my husband and one of our employees as they stood in the parking lot of our office. I was watching from the back yard at home – a few miles from the office and thinking the plane must be a military jet (although they sound different – Patrick AFB is right across the river). Today quite a few people here were talking about hearing a non military aircraft during this time. How odd that it could have been this plane! Very cool pics – she wasn’t that far away. Very surprising they were this close as the airspace is heavily restricted during launch time. We will miss our big, beautiful birds here on the Space Coast.
Report Post »flsnipe
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:37pmCool
Report Post »On The Bayou
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:31pmHope they enjoy the ride seeing how it will be the last one. Obama has reasigned Nasa employees. Their new task in the Obama addministration is Muslim Outreach.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:26pmWe were all part of the “Space Age” and should be proud of it.
Report Post »A marvelous time to be alive.
Many happy returns.
Czar Casm
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:34pmSpace age? Then where’s my flying car? I want my flying George Jetson car!
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:08amGo drive off a cliff, you’ll have your flying car, not for long, but you’ll be flying. LOL.
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:24pmI wonder if she knew what she was photographing at the time – these are amazing.
Report Post »TraceyM
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:20pmHow cool!!!
Report Post »Warphead
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:20pmLife is often marked by memorable moments. This was one of those moments for Ms gordon. Really cool. I only wished I could have seen it. My two really remarkable moments were, approximately 2:00am driving toward Atlanta a meteor passed right over my car and exploded just after it passed. Awesome cool. Second I was watching a very bright star that was moving across the night sky. It suddenly made a 90 degree turn and accelerated at tremendous speed until it disappeared from sight. Really awesome freaky cool.
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 6:18pmI once flew from DC to Boston on a clear night. Saw fireworks from above the whole way down. Boston, NY, Philly, DC. Very cool. Another flight was from Chicago to NY on a low-ceiling day. When we got to NY, all you saw was the tops of the Empire State Bldg and the twin towers “floating” in a sea of cotton. Sadly, no one will see that sight again.
Report Post »Reagan was Right
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:19pmI was in the Bahamas on Andros Island when the first one launched and on a clear day,we saw nothing.
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 6:16pmThat’s what too much rum usually does to ya. LMAO
Report Post »anutter
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:18pmAfter the last shuttle launch in July, we could still take such cool pics…in Russia.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:20pmI will, [if they let me] straight from the peoples beet farm.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:18pmIm frustrated enough to buy a pair of those mexican boots to change my luck and my mood.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:10pmHa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 6:15pmI just ordered a pair online. Next stop? 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, baby!
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:16pmonce an american icon, was built by Americans, and maintained by proud Americans, now it is over this is a sad day for American pride, we will now have to pay the Russians millions of dollars ,just to go to space,and what is even worse,we will pay them to take Americans to space with our American ingenuity and pride,
Report Post »republitarian
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:39pmI know it’s hard to swallow our pride send them up on a Russian craft, but it’s a short term business deal and the Soyuz is a very reliable system. Soon private industry will provide other options. Now that the science module has been been added to the space station, we just don’t need that extra space on a transport vehicle. They were built to perform all functions and they served well in that regard.
Report Post »familyforchrist
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 12:37pmyeah that was sad to see american imagination take off for the last time…but thats how obama wants it! Please tell me there will be smarter people at the polls in 2012!!!! Please everyone, let obama know that we don’t want to support baby killing and we dont want to pay for oil that we have already paid for and that we want to support americans that fight for this nation and we support the american imagination that has made this country what it is….. or what it was. We need to put God first again and support Israel
Report Post »simple thought
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:15pmcool pitchers
Report Post »SingerGuy
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 6:07pmI once took a picture of a pitcher. It was full of lemonade and ice and had some nice condensation on the outside of the glass.
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 6:12pm@Singer: were you down by the boarder? you see alot of pictures of pitchers by the boarder. LMAO
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:12pmNO
ASPIRATIONS
SUPPLIED
ANYMORE
Thanks to Obama
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:24pmHey, but everyone will one day have “free” healthcare.
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 6:14pmYep, and did anyone else notice that NASA seems to have time to check Twitter? Hi, I’m Steve. I work at NASA. My job is to tweet. Sheesh, must be a union slot.
Report Post »JimmyP
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 9:25pmHey Eric T.Red State,
Now com‘on there’s still the primary responsibility of NASA – remember?
Yeah, that’s right. It is to boost the morale of the Moos-slim community until you are caught saying it in front of the media then you are supposed to shut yer pie-hole!
Wasn’t that how it was splayed out a couple of months ago? Just how the heck can you keep the Moos-slims upbeat when you’re wasting all that American Exceptionalism?
HEH-HEH we gotcha Barry!
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:11pm@sean_mc
Report Post »And sadly the last one.
Oahujack
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:04pmGee, the launch I saw on TV had no cloud cover to shoot through..could that be because NASA does not launch manned flights through this type of cloud cover..just wondering where the pix came from???
Report Post »Oahujack
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:23pmwait.. I was wrong.. just checked.. plenty of cloud cover
Report Post »GENEPAGLIARI
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:25pmSir, perhaps you blinked or turned away momentarily. We clearly saw a cloud layer on this a.M.’s launch.
Report Post »GENEPAGLIARI
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:26pmHowever, it was a staged cloud cover.
Report Post »brickmoon
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 6:25pmI think we should look into this cloud cover-up. Say it loud! I’m a clouder, and I’m proud!
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 3:59pmAnother story to soothe the savage beast? Come on blaze.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:03pmCome ON.
these beat those goofy shoes a MILLION to one!
these are STUNNING… and American! to boot……
Report Post »nocomment
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:04pmI cannot understand why there are frequent complaints regarding the varying content on The Blaze. An incessant stream of ‘political crapola’ can make you NUTS.
I enjoy the ‘side stories’ Blaze… keep ‘em coming.
Report Post »Sean_McPherson
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:05pm@LET US PREY Ease up, it’s a very cool picture/article.
Report Post »BlazingInSC
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:44pm@Let Us Prey – And just who are you preying on anyhow?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:45pmA nice little story every now and then breaks the monotony of politics.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:22pmStoic one, American for now. We’ll soon be paying the Russians to do this for us.
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 6:06pmMan does not live on dread (sic) alone, Prey. LMAO
Report Post »IM-UR-HUCKLEBERRY
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 11:14pmI TOTALLY agree with NOCOMMENT’s post ~
“I cannot understand why there are frequent complaints regarding the varying content on The Blaze. An incessant stream of ‘political crapola’ can make you NUTS. I enjoy the ‘side stories’ Blaze… keep ‘em coming.”
Blaze, keep up the great variety of articles and thank you!
Report Post »woodenbadger
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 3:58pmThat is far out.
Report Post »Lord_Frostwind
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:48pmThere are few sights as beautiful as watching the space shuttle take off, especially when it is dark and you see it light up the sky. I will miss it.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:59pmYeah, it’s a shame that the child-in-chief has decided that this is one program that no longer needs to be funded. But, boy, those nice folks at Planned Parenthood sure could use a handout!
Report Post »nocomment
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 3:58pmVery Cool.
Report Post »CowboyExpat
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:55amVery nice….
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 3:55pmWould this be catagorized as a near miss?
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:01pmWOW!
WOW!
(cap sens)
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:02pmDon’t think so .. you can see the “trail” from the other side of the state .. I can see it from Southwest FL right on the Gulf of Mexico .. and it launches from Merrit Island on the Atlantic.
Report Post »PatriotSmith
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:03pmwow thats pretty awesome!
Report Post »kendeer
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:30pmonly if your name is moochele obama
Report Post »GENEPAGLIARI
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:30pmNo, but she (the photographer) could be categorized as a dear miss.
Report Post »samnjoeysgrama
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:35pmOnly in horse shoes, hand granades, and Michele Obama’s protected airspace.
Report Post »Obama Snake Oil Co
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:39pmOnly if Michelle was onboard…and Jill…..
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 4:55pmLast launch someone had actual video from a plane pics just dont do it anymore :) I saw a launch in ‘91 was unreal to hear that monster break the sound barrier
Report Post »seayalater73
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:06pmMy boss let me play hooky to see a launch before we deployed last time around. Those old birds sure do tear up into the sky quicker in person than on video. Set off car alarms all around us in Titusville, which only made people cheer louder! The people in that area are super friendly, too. All of it made me feel a lot better about my own upcoming “trip.”
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:12pmThat’s neater than a new puppy.
Report Post »JennaSide
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:20pmonly if michelle obama was on the plane ;-)
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:20pmLooks a lot like the trails photographed off the California coast. You, the ones that weren’t a missile.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:45pmIncredible and WOW in one instant!!!
Report Post »Some people are in the right place for the right event, and wonders happen.
Secret Squirrel
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:48pm.
Report Post »Nice work!
When you see the shuttle live, you get a sense of how it is hauling ….
um,……..it’s going really fast.
SquirrelNYC
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 6:28pmWe caught a glimpse of a shuttle going into the sky once..from NYC! It was in the evening and it was dark enough to see the glow from the ship, and it helped that we knew what direction to look in. It ascended and then suddenly vanished. That was pretty cool.
Report Post »ColoradoDad
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 7:12pmWow…I used to live in Cape Canaveral, Florida back in the 80′s and I say some pretty spectacular launches, but I never say one at this view. That is absolutely awesome! At first I thought it was a pretty good picture and that was the ground at the bottom, but when I read that it was the shuttle breaking through the clouds my jaw dropped. I tell you, that is american ingenuity at it’s finest!!! God speed Endeavor crew~God bless each and everyone of you and your families.
Report Post »Quack Addict
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 7:25pmNASA is a complete waste of billions of dollars. Cut the program.
Report Post »arx
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 8:18pmseeyalater…where you going?
Report Post »aro5o75
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 8:23pmOnly if Moochelle had been on board.
Report Post »carnifex
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 8:56pmWent to see a night launch decades ago. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Went to see a night landing too… OMG total fail-lol original landing time was supposed to be around 12 am. they had to circle the earth several more times because of weather. so it was around 4 or 5 am. So we’re standing around on this bridge, freezing our toochus off, bored outta our gourds. Then it starts coming in.. the crowd of about 100 diehards (those that stayed) started to mull…someone had a boombox playing the live feed over it… suddenly we hear “BOOM< BOOM" the guy beside me sez "where is it?" I look at him and say"man, its gone!" Dang thing has no running lights, you can;'t see diddlie. Best/worst time I ever stood on a bridge, in the middle of a night I ever had. Until I went to see the bats under the Congress Street Bridge in Austin TX. but thats another story-lol
CHIVALRY–NOT ALL GIRLS LIKE IT. JUST THE ONES WORTH DYING FOR.
Report Post »Oil_Robb
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 11:13pmA waste of tax payers money
Report Post »Mee the People
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:44amlike
Report Post »Heather Mae 74
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 7:35pm@ QUACK ADDICT
Report Post »NASA is not a complete waste of money soooo many of the technologies that we use has come as a result from space exploration ie… MRI’s, Cellular, GPS, New strong metal alloys, ect. too many to remember or list. Not to mention all of the highly skilled people who will be without work in the Space Coast and other aerospace cities (houston, atlanta). Nasa’s was a great asset and I hope the next president will fix this stupid mistake