SpaceX Falcon Heavy/USAF STP-2 Launch

SpaceX

USAF STP-2 launch from LC-39A

In line by the Rocket Garden.

Waiting at midnight alongside Banana Creek... two and a half hours to go.

600mm + 1.4x teleconvertor + haze = this is as good as it gets?

5D Mark III plus 600/4L IS Mark III.

Ignition!

Liftoff!

Just starting to climb away from the tower.

Passing the lightning wires.

About to clear the tower.

You can just see the top of the tower at the very bottom of frame.

Flare from the incredibly bright exhaust plume of the Falcon Heavy.

SpaceX Falcon Heavy, on the way to space!

Exhaust gases lit up by 27 Merlin engines.

USAF STP-2 rides into space atop a plume of flame.

Exhaust gases lit up as the side boosters begin their boostback to the landing site.

Side boosters and center core high in the atmosphere, boosting back to landing.

Both side boosters about to land.

Past 3:00am now, waiting for buses back inside the Apollo/Saturn V Center.

Second stage engines of the Saturn V.

F-1B's are huge engines.

Lunch at Waffle House.

Steak and eggs, hard to beat the classics. Especially when paired with hashbrowns!

Because you need 12.5mpg?

No swimming... because of alligators?

Not sure what kind of soup...

The standard introduction at places like this.

The chef at Hokkaido Steakhouse is having way too much fun.

Onion ring volcano.

Expected the fried rice, but not the noodles... a lot of food!

Very old, very simple Star Wars game.

Off to the Apollo/Saturn V Center at Kennedy Space Center to watch SpaceX launch USAF STP-2 on a Falcon Heavy. 11:30pm launch got pushed to 2:30am, but it was a successful launch!

At 3.9 miles from LC-39A, the Apollo/Saturn V Center was the closest viewing area for the general public for this launch. They included a buffet and drinks at least, if you were willing to wait in line, and an ample viewing area that was packed very early-- got in line for the buses from the main visitor center complex to the Apollo/Saturn V center before 8:00pm and it was packed by the time I got there. Next time... show up the full 5 hours early, instead of 3 hours early like the bus boarding time suggested??

The launch itself was impressive. You see the launch before you hear it, and the sound rumbles through you. 27 Merlin 1D's burn bright, even more impressive than Delta IV Heavy's three RS-68A's, and the pair of double sonic booms as the side boosters re-enter the atmosphere adds to the spectacle. The Apollo/Saturn V Center building behind you means the sound goes through you twice. Seeing an orbital rocket launch in person is well worth staying up all night for if you can afford it!

Getting back to the main visitor complex took a full two hours... so the rest of the day was a bit rough. *grins*