Space Shuttle Endeavour

[Ned Harris]

Brian: Outstanding series of images. Best I've seen anywhere.

[Brian Lockett]

Brian: Outstanding series of images. Best I've seen anywhere.

Thanks Ned!  I planned the shoot very carefully.  While I was at Edwards, I was informed that the stack would make a pass over the north runways first and then return a while later to the south runways.  After the take-off, I headed directly to LAX and found a good spot in Lot C.  Once the stack made its first pass I headed to Lennox Park, on the east side of the 405, to avoid the circus near Aviation Boulevard.  I found it by searching with Google Earth.  I think that's the first time that I ever photographed an airplane take-off and its landing on the same flight at a different airport.

[Jeff D. Welker]

FAREWELL ENDEAVOR

Yesterday, Joe, Harvey, Jason and I joined (what seemed like) a million or so of our closest friends to photograph Endeavour as it made its final flight into LAX. We eventually linked-up with Kaspar, Chris P., and Chris V. Even with the unbelievable traffic, crowds, heat and other difficulties attendant to visiting Los Angeles, it was truly a wonderful experience. When Endeavor, the 747, and two escort NASA Hornets made its first pass over LAX, the crowd cheered, waived, and cried. Each subsequent pass was met with even more enthusiastic expressions of emotion and patriotism. American flags were held aloft. Freeways shutdown. Businesses stopped work. Folks from every walk of life, young and old, rich and poor, liberal and conservative, stood in unity and unabashedly celebrated this icon of American spirit and achievement.

Frankly, it was something I had not anticipated. After 32+ hours of no sleep and being physically rung-out, I am really glad I went. My actual images of Endeavour are disappointing (technically & aesthetically). Many other AzAP shooters have already posted terrific images that far exceed anything I'll ever post. Much post processing work will be needed to salvage a few reasonable images and I don't care - it was a terrific day. BTW, credit for inspiring the image above goes to Joe - thank you my brother.

[Brian Lockett]

FAREWELL ENDEAVOR

Yesterday, Joe, Harvey, Jason and I joined (what seemed like) a million or so of our closest friends to photograph Endeavour as it made its final flight into LAX. We eventually linked-up with Kaspar, Chris P., and Chris V. Even with the unbelievable traffic, crowds, heat and other difficulties attendant to visiting Los Angeles, it was truly a wonderful experience. When Endeavor, the 747, and two escort NASA Hornets made its first pass over LAX, the crowd cheered, waived, and cried. Each subsequent pass was met with even more enthusiastic expressions of emotion and patriotism. American flags were held aloft. Freeways shutdown. Businesses stopped work. Folks from every walk of life, young and old, rich and poor, liberal and conservative, stood in unity and unabashedly celebrated this icon of American spirit and achievement.

Frankly, it was something I had not anticipated. After 32+ hours of no sleep and being physically rung-out, I am really glad I went. My actual images of Endeavour are disappointing (technically & aesthetically). Many other AzAP shooters have already posted terrific images that far exceed anything I'll ever post. Much post processing work will be needed to salvage a few reasonable images and I don't care - it was a terrific day. BTW, credit for inspiring the image above goes to Joe - thank you my brother.

Jeff,

You are to be commended for making the effort to get to LAX for the arrival.  It was an event not to be missed.

[Joe Copalman]

LAST DANCE

[Chris Janes]

                                                                Farewell and Thank You

Farewell Endeavour by Thunderbird Fan, on Flickr

Watching the Shuttle fly over Tucson was just as exciting as watching the first Shuttle launch as a kid but looking back it really was a sad day. Never again will we see something as powerful and awe-inspiring.

[Jeff D. Welker]

Watching the Shuttle fly over Tucson was just as exciting as watching the first Shuttle launch as a kid but looking back it really was a sad day. Never again will we see something as powerful and awe-inspiring.

Super image - nicely envisioned and executed.

[Chris Janes]

Super image - nicely envisioned and executed.

Thank you, I appreciate that.

[Chris Kennedy]

I think that's the first time that I ever photographed an airplane take-off and its landing on the same flight at a different airport.

It helps that it took them four and a half hours to go 70 miles. 

Nice shots!

[Brian Lockett]

I think that's the first time that I ever photographed an airplane take-off and its landing on the same flight at a different airport.

It helps that it took them four and a half hours to go 70 miles. 

Nice shots!

It also helped that the multiple car accident was on the northbound side of the 405, and not on my side.

[cpasley]

Boeing 747-123 'NASA' and Space Shuttle Endeavour by Chris Pasley, on Flickr

[Brian Lockett]

747-SCA N05NA carrying Space Shuttle Endeavour on a pass over NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards air Force Base on September 20.

The 747/Shuttle stack flies past the Edwards air Force Bse control tower on September 20.

Endeavour on the back  of 747-SCA N905NA rolling down Runway 22 Left at Edwards air Force Base at the conclusion of its penultimate flight on September 20.

The behemoth emerges from the haze over Lot C at Los Angeles international Airport on September 21.

[Joe Copalman]

Some well-worn tiles atop Endeavour's crew compartment.

[phantomphan1974]

What an amazing time it was out at LAX.  It was so wonderful to have so many Angeleos getting into this historic event.   Here are my from that day and Saturday.
Weightless Wonder IV coming in prior to OV-105/SCA arrival.  VIP's?

NASA DC-9-33F  N932NA "Weightless Wonder IV" by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr


NASA DC-9-33F  N932NA "Weightless Wonder IV" by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr

Inbound 2st flyby South runways

OV-105 & SCA N905NA by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr


OV-105 & SCA N905NA by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr


SCA and Endeavor's 2nd Low Flyby of KLAX by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr


OV-105 & SCA N905NA by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr


SCA and Endeavor's 2nd Low Flyby of KLAX by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr

[phantomphan1974]

Waiting to be de-mated by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr


Endeavor waiting to be lifted by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr