Pictures of Space on Florida's Space Coast

Published by Kirby on 01 Apr 2011

Tribute to Space Shuttle Endeavour

Space Shuttle Endeavour

Space Shuttle Endeavour is about to make its final trip from Launch Complex 39A for mission STS-134 at Kennedy Space Center. With only two Space Shuttle launches left, I wanted to share my favorite photo of Space Shuttle Endeavour, with the Crawler Transporter in foreground, which I shot when I worked at CCAFS. View more Space Shuttle Tribute Images.

The photo above is of Endeavour sitting in wait on Launch Complex 39B for the STS-400 mission which never launched. STS-400 was the Space Shuttle contingency support (Launch On Need) flight, which would have been launched if a major problem had occurred on Space Shuttle Atlantis during STS-125.

Currently, Endeavour is set for lift off in mid April. See my Space Shuttle Launch Schedule for more information about the mission and times and dates of more launches.

So far, Space Shuttle Endeavour has been on 24 missions with 148 crew members, spent over 280 days in space, orbited the earth 4,429 times and traveled 103,149,636 miles. I wish Godspeed and a safe flight to Endeavour and her STS-134 crew.

Published by Kirby on 20 Oct 2010

Grills Seafood & Tiki Bar – Best Mahi Sandwich and Great Place to Watch Space Shuttle Discovery’s Final Launch

If you looking for a great place to watch a Space Shuttle launch, there may be no better place than Grills Seafood & Tiki Bar at Port Canaveral. Space Shuttle Discovery is set to launch in early November for one of the scheduled last two Space Shuttle launches.

Grills serves what is possibly the best Mahi sandwich on the planet. I know it’s the best I’ve ever had. The sandwich is officially called the Grilled Fish & Cheese. It’s served with either Mahi or Tuna, with grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms & smothered with cheese on a fresh toasted roll.

Grills offers a great view of the Port, and is possibly one of the best places to spend the day away from the crowded beaches and causeway the launch will attract. Check the Space Shuttle Launch Schedule for up to date information, times and dates. Sunrise Marina, which shares the waterfront space with Grills also offers fishing charters.

Published by Kirby on 15 Apr 2010

Orion Spacecraft

I shot the larger photo above on 4/10/09 behind my place in Cape Canaveral as this Orion spacecraft mockup was being towed by one of the shuttle booster recovery ships as it was undergoing water testing. The inset photo is courtesy of NASA.

President Obama was at Kennedy Space Center today trying to calm fears over the upcoming layoffs and the potential economic disaster on the Space Coast that will involve laying off thousands of workers when the last space shuttle launches. One plan being offered by President Obama is to use the Orion Spacecraft as a rescue vehicle for the International Space Station.

Published by Kirby on 19 Nov 2009

Liberty Star Towing Solid Rocket Booster at Jetty Park

Liberty Star towing Atlantis Booster

Yesterday I photographed the Liberty Star at Jetty Park towing one of the solid rocket boosters (SRBs) from the STS-129 mission in which Space Shuttle Atlantis launched from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on Nov 16 at 2:28 p.m. EST.

Liberty Star

The way the SRBs are retrieved from the Atlantic after a launch is pretty cool. The SRBs themselves will be refurbished and readied for a future shuttle launch from KSC.

Atlantis Booster

The SRBs are 149.16 ft long and 12.17 ft in diameter, weigh 1,300,000 lb at launch.

Published by Kirby on 28 Oct 2009

Ares 1-x Launches from Cape Canaveral

Ares 1-X launched from KSC

The possible next generation manned launch vehicle, the Ares 1, launched today from Kennedy Space Center. The Ares 1-X test launch was spectacular. Go NASA!

Ares 1-X launch from Cape Canaveral Beach

Here’s my view from my place at the beach in Cape Canaveral .

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