The First Shuttle Launch After the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
Scrubbed twice before going up on US Independence Day (4th of July)
NASA Space Shuttle "Discovery" Launch
Titusville, FL
July 4, 2006
Click on Photo to see Full Size
"Shuttle Up!"
photo by R. Duvall
I captured this launch in 2006 by using a special bracket I fabricated that held my cell phone at the exact spot
it needed to be on my binoculars in order to focus and avoid vignetting. I simply watched the launch in one eyepiece
while the camera recorded from the other eyepiece.
Cell phone cameras did not then have anywhere near resolution and quality of today's cameras!
Unfortunately I did not notice or could not clear some dust spots on the lens.
This was my first ever rocket launch experience. It left me wanting many more!