space pic episode 3

Fri Sep 05, 2003 8:06 am by kimk

SIRTF Streak

Credit & Copyright: Ben Cooper

Explanation: Streaking skyward, a Boeing Delta 2-Heavy rocket carries NASA's Space InfraRed Telescope Facility (SIRTF) aloft during the early morning hours of August 25th. The dramatic scene was recorded in a time exposure from the pier in Jetty Park at the northern end of Cocoa Beach, Florida, about 2.5 miles from the Cape Canaveral launch site. SIRTF (sounds like "sir tiff"

will explore the distant Universe in infrared light as the fourth and final satellite observatory in NASA's Great Observatories Program. The three other large astrophysics satellites were designed for higher energies in the electromagnetic spectrum, with the Hubble Space Telescope operating near visible wavelengths, the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory instruments sensitive to gamma rays, and the Chandra Observatory detecting cosmic x-rays. SIRTF has been launched into an Earth-trailing solar orbit to reduce its exposure to infrared radiation from our fair planet. Cooled by an on board supply of liquid helium, SIRTF's infrared detectors will operate at near absolute zero temperatures. Presently, SIRTF's systems are undergoing a 90-day check out.

personally, i'd like to know what the streak is.. is it a satelite going down to earth burning up or.. what?

da astronomer

Fri Sep 05, 2003 10:46 am by freighter fighter

its the rocket launching, just look at the picture

Fri Sep 05, 2003 11:25 am by kimk

ain't it suposed to like head *upwards* ?? why is it like arching?

and call me the astronomer

Fri Sep 05, 2003 12:48 pm by freighter fighter

because its uh...launching..methinks the streak on the upper left is lensflare, seeing as its a time exposure

Edited by - freighter fighter on 05-09-2003 13:49:55

Fri Sep 05, 2003 1:03 pm by Fear Factor

Dunno what kind of rocket that is, but probably the lower/first part of the rocket has run out of fuel and was jettisoned. Some rockets carry up to 3-4 parts of disposable rockets once each part's fuel is exhausted. The intention was to lighten the burden of the remaining rockets.

Fri Sep 05, 2003 1:12 pm by kimk

must have jettisoned the entire rocket..

Fri Sep 05, 2003 1:34 pm by mustang

Rockets don't go straight up, they have to pitch before breaking free of the atmosphere so they can get into orbit. If they go straight up they break free of orbit, have to turn, do a burn and then try to hook back into orbit, which is stoopid. It's a waste of fuel and would be a fairly dangerous procedure.

So pitching is the way to go, plus that's a time delay photograph hence the streak and the blurry heads.

Edited by - Mustang on 05-09-2003 14:38:16

Fri Sep 05, 2003 1:55 pm by Arcon

why are the people moving in bullet time? are you the matrix?

-arcon
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Fri Sep 05, 2003 5:58 pm by freighter fighter

its a time exposure photo arcon

Fri Sep 05, 2003 6:52 pm by Tachyon

Going 300km up high is easy. The hard part of attaining orbit is getting enough speed (17,500 mph for a space shuttle, it varies depending on altitude) sidways so that as you fall back torwards earth, you are moving sideways fast enough that it's about equal with the curvature of the earth, so you're sort of perpetually going around it in circles. Going straight up would be a very short trip

Sat Sep 06, 2003 12:48 am by Arcon

i know ff, i was trying to add a bit of humor.

-arcon
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