Space Shuttle Discovery

I shot this photo the morning of a scheduled launch at Kennedy Space Center. The STS-119 mission will deliver to the International Space Station the final set of solar arrays needed to complete the station’s complement of electricity-generating solar panels, and through them provide the space station with enough power to accommodate its expansion to a full crew of six in 2009.

STS-119 Launch

Discovery lifted off Launch Pad 39A at 7:43 pm which was 15 minutes after sundown. The smoke trail left behind by Discovery turned a bright golden yellow when the Sun’s rays hit it.

Sun Lights Up Smoke Trail