Endeavour's Last Flight – As Seen From Space
Photo: Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Last Flight As Seen From Orbit
“Late last week, the Space Shuttle Endeavor flew atop a 747 into White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The shuttle continued its journey to Edwards Air Force Base in California. In October, The Space Shuttle Endeavor will be moved via road to a special display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. During the flight, DigitalGlobe captured an amazing image of the shuttle.”
What is that light blue color in front of the plane?
If you read the article, it explains why. It has something to do with the fast moving object and the way the satellite collects the data to create the photograph… I did not quite get it, but the explanation satisfied my curiosity.
It’s artifact from the satellite’s line sensor (push broom sensor) and filtering.
It’s Endeavour’s spirit animal.
A technical totem?
For another stunner of Endeavour on final approach , see Stephen Confer’s large image at Astronomy Picture of the Day ( http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/) for 26 September taken down a busy boulevard in L.A.
In that set check out the photo http://condor.slice1.com/cg…
Some very lucky passengers sitting in the right-hand windows seats on that American 777 waiting for takeoff. Although unless the pilot announced it over the PA probably only a started few happenened to be looking out the window at that moment.