Future Perfect
Capping a perfect mission and tracking southward, space shuttle Discovery (left) and the International Space Station (right) disappear into orbital sunset over the Centre Island pier, 16 hours before Discovery’s final landing at Kennedy Space Centre.
Need For Speed
Turning the skyline into a blur, the ice sailboat prepares to break the sound barrier.
Discovery Xenon
High-powered Xenon lights illuminate space shuttle Discovery on the launch pad at LC-39A after rollback of the Rotating Service Structure, for STS-133’s first launch attempt in November of 2010.
STS-133 RSS Rollback (timelapse)
The Rotating Service Structure is rolled back from space shuttle Discovery for the final time, revealing the veteran orbiter over the course of 45 minutes for launch the next day (click the play button to view the timelapse).
Launch of STS-133 (audio)
[audio:STS-133.mp3] Space shuttle Discovery roars into orbit, the crackling thunder of her twin Solid Rocket Boosters threatening to overwhelm the microphone. Note: if the audio player doesn’t appear, click the title (Launch of STS-133) to view the actual post.
STS-133 Launch Panorama
Space shuttle Discovery soars into the Florida skies, as seen in this 180° panorama taken from Astronaut Road. The massive Vehicle Assembly Building can be seen on the right, and Launch Complex 39B on the left. (Click image to view larger.)
Branch
Space shuttle Discovery reaches for the sky on her final mission, consuming over 20,000lbs of propellant every second. Coincidentally, the Ongiara’s maximum vehicle load just happens to be 20,000lbs, which the shuttle consumes every second.
Camera Assistant
An alligator floats in the swamps of Kennedy Space Centre, a good reminder to be careful when setting up remote cameras.
Stork Stack
A brown pelican (previously misidentified as a stork) sits on a piling used to secure the barge that transports the shuttle’s External Tanks. The top of the STS-133 stack can be seen in the background.
Roll Maneuver
Space shuttle Discovery begins her Roll Program, turning the vehicle 180° so it ascends to orbit in a “heads down” position. Here the Roll Program gives a perfect view between the External Tank and the orbiter.
Staging Progression
About two minutes after liftoff in a sequence called “staging”, Discovery’s SRBs (Solid Rocket Boosters) separate from the External Tank to begin their parachute-controlled decent to the ocean below for recovery. (Click image to view larger.)
Overflight
The International Space Station, with a full complement of visiting vehicles from all participating nations, soars in orbit over Toronto at 7:02 P.M. This is a stacked set of eight images, the gaps in the trail are caused by the ~1 second delay between shutter actuations.
One More Time
Space shuttle Discovery lifts off from the launch pad for the final time. Within twenty seconds of missing her launch window and being forced to abort, she had a flawless ascent to orbit.
SSME Stabilization
Space shuttle Discovery’s SSMEs (Space Shuttle Main Engines) stabilize after ignition in this sequence. From left to right, the rough orange flame stabilizes to form a smooth blue flow, displaying the characteristic “Mach diamonds”, formed by the supersonic flow of the engine’s exhaust.
Pillars of Fire
Riding twin pillars of fire, veteran space shuttle Discovery embarks on her final voyage to orbit from LC-39A. After this final mission, she’ll be processed and turned over to the Smithsonian for permanent display.
Cpt. Tom
A gem from the archives: it’s January 2004, and the temperature has just plummeted by over 20°C. Plastic shatters, pipes burst, and hydraulic lines fail. Without hydraulic pressure, the crew of the Ongiara are unable to raise the Ward’s Island dock, effectively trapping the ferry Island-side. For two hours everything was tried, including something enterprising […]
Remote I Liftoff
While we don’t get too many space shuttles around these parts, it was the Island’s environment that let me build and test the remote camera enclosures that led to this photograph, the launch of space shuttle Atlantis (STS-132), from beside launch pad 39A. While launch is targeted for a specific date, things don’t always go […]
VAB Liftoff
Shedding over 20,000lbs of propellant (both solid and liquid) every second, space shuttle Atlantis (STS-132) clears the tower as seen from NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building.
VAB Focus
Checking focus on Canon’s 800mm f/5.6 L IS lens on the top of NASA’s VAB, in preparation for the ‘first final flight’ of space shuttle Atlantis. The final photographs from this setup can be seen here and here. Photo courtesy of Trent Smith, NASA Pad B Transition Project Lead. Lens courtesy of Lens Rentals Canada.
VAB Panorama
Space shuttle Atlantis, STS-132, soars into a clear Florida sky on her ‘first final flight’. This is a 180° panorama taken from the roof of NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building, showing the sprawling space complex and the myriad swampy waterways that crisscross the area. Click the image to view larger.
Conflagration III
Spring equinox, and the humans come out to perform their annual rituals on Ward’s Beach. Oddly, the trees had a different burning pattern this year: their thermal columns were much shorter. Compare to this tree at last year’s equinox bonfire (thanks Alice!).
Snowbirds
The Snowbirds fly overhead in tight formation, performing for the CIAS (Canadian International Air Show).
Christmas Nuke
A 180° panorama of a well-aged Christmas tree going up in 30-foot flames during the annual Spring Equinox bonfire on Ward’s Beach. It’s astounding how much potential energy is stored in a small tree after drying out for three months.
Island Community 2008
A majority of the Toronto Island community comes together for a group portrait on Gala Day, 2008. This panorama is available as special 36″ or 48″ wide panoramic prints, see Boutique Pricing for details.