STS-116 Space Shuttle Discovery Night Launch

[Gforcebond]

night lauches are so cool

[chennaieagle]

There's no limit to human mind,This is one of those proofs

[Victory1981]

I like Day and Night Launches both. However, it's amazing how the whole sky lights up when the shuttle goes off at night. I seen this launch 80 miles away beautifully lit up the whole sky. Living in Florida especially the cental part you have the advantage of seeing the shuttle go up.

[endeavourandpanda]

Personally I perfer launches during the day time and they are more exciting

[ancestron]

well, I respectfully disagree. Piloting any craft is inherently more difficult at night, plus the illumination from the SRBs is more brilliant.

[endeavourandpanda]

well i understand but i disagree with you of course but i like day launches

[ovatsug1]

theres nobody piloting the launch, its all automated from what i understand

[ancestron]

No, this is STS-116. Bill Oefelein, pilot; Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter, mission specialists, astronauts Mark Polansky, commander; Sunita Williams, Expedition 14 flight engineer; ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang and Robert Curbeam, mission specialists.

[jacko39]

those things are awesome at night.

[mattouli]

4500 mph ?! I had no idea it was THAT speedy!

[ShadenGheist]

Actually, in the remaining 5 minutes to orbit, the shuttle will reach approximately 17,500 MPH.